What is actually happening
A washer dryer dries by condensing moisture against a flow of cold water rather than venting it, so drying depends on both the heater and the cold water supply working. Lint has nowhere to go in a machine that has no filter you can reach, so it collects internally — and on some makes that shows up as a specific fault code rather than simply poor drying.
The Bosch fault codes that point at this
A Bosch washer dryer will usually tell you what it thinks is wrong before anyone opens it up. These are the codes we hold for this make that relate to not drying:
- E17 — The machine has not taken in enough water in the time it expects, so it has stopped rather than run a cycle dry.
- E29 — The machine has not taken in the water it expected at the start of the cycle, so it has stopped rather than run the drum dry.
- E30 — The machine has tried to fill with water, hasn't got enough in the allotted time, and has stopped the cycle rather than carry on dry.
- E30-10 — The machine has given up waiting for water — it hasn't filled to the level it expects in the time allowed, so it stops the cycle.
- F29 — The machine has started a cycle, called for water, and not seen enough coming in within the time it allows — so it stops rather than run the drum dry.
If yours is showing one of those, that is a much shorter conversation than a general fault — tell us the code when you book and the engineer can often carry the part.
The usual causes on a Bosch washer dryer
- Internal lint build-up restricting airflow, which no accessible filter catches
- A failed drying element or heat pump, depending on the model
- A failed NTC sensor in the drying circuit, often reported as a code
- A restricted cold water feed, so the condenser cannot condense
- Loading past the drying capacity, which is always well below the wash capacity
What you can safely check yourself
- Check the drying load size against the manual — it is usually about half the wash load, and overloading is the most common cause of all
- Note any code shown during the dry cycle, which identifies it precisely
- Check the cold tap is fully open
Still not drying?
Most of these need an engineer once the checks above are done. £66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.
Our engineers work on Bosch machines week in, week out, so they arrive knowing the machine rather than reading the back of it. Local engineers across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.
Call 0115 648 0929 Book online — postcode and number is all we need
Common questions
Why is my Bosch washer dryer not drying?
The wash is fine but the drying part of the cycle leaves everything damp. A washer dryer dries by condensing moisture against a flow of cold water rather than venting it, so drying depends on both the heater and the cold water supply working. Lint has nowhere to go in a machine that has no filter you can reach, so it collects internally — and on some makes that shows up as a specific fault code rather than simply poor drying.
Can I fix a Bosch washer dryer not drying myself?
Check the drying load size against the manual — it is usually about half the wash load, and overloading is the most common cause of all. Note any code shown during the dry cycle, which identifies it precisely. Check the cold tap is fully open. Beyond those checks this one normally needs an engineer.
What Bosch error codes mean not drying?
Bosch washer dryers report this through their own fault codes. The ones that point at not drying are E17, E29, E30, E30-10, F29. If your machine is showing one of those, that narrows it down considerably — each has its own guide on this site.
How much does a Bosch washer dryer repair cost?
£66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.