What is actually happening
Near the end of a wash the machine runs its drain pump to empty the drum before it spins. If the water level sensor still reads full after that pump has run for its allotted time, the machine stops rather than attempting to spin a drum full of water. Almost always the pump is running but nothing is moving — which is why people often say they can hear it trying.
The Candy fault codes that point at this
A Candy washing machine 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 draining:
- E00 — The machine's main control board has either failed or has never been programmed with the settings for your model, so it can't run a cycle.
- E03 — The machine tried to pump the water out, didn't manage it in the time allowed, and has stopped with a drum still holding water.
- E14 — The machine has decided the water isn't heating up as it should, and has stopped the cycle rather than carry on washing cold.
- E18 — The machine's main control board isn't reading the mains electricity supply properly, so it shuts the cycle down.
- E20 — The machine can't get a reliable reading of how much water is inside it, so it halts rather than risk filling or draining blind.
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 Candy washing machine
- A blocked pump filter — coins, hair grips, buttons and screws collect there and it is by far the most common cause
- A sock or similar pulled through the drum and jammed in the pump impeller
- A kinked or blocked drain hose, or a blocked standpipe / sink trap where the hose empties
- A failed drain pump — it hums but the impeller does not turn
- A blocked pressure chamber hose, so the machine wrongly believes the drum is still full
What you can safely check yourself
- Switch the machine off at the wall before touching anything
- Open the small hatch at the bottom front, have a towel and a shallow tray ready, and unscrew the filter — expect a lot of water
- Clear whatever is in the filter, and turn the impeller behind it with a finger to check it spins freely
- Check the drain hose behind the machine for kinks, and pour a jug of water down the standpipe or sink trap to confirm it runs away
Still not draining?
If the checks above have not sorted it, it needs looking at properly. £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 Candy 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 Candy washing machine not draining?
The cycle has stopped with water still sitting in the drum, because the machine cannot get the water out. Near the end of a wash the machine runs its drain pump to empty the drum before it spins. If the water level sensor still reads full after that pump has run for its allotted time, the machine stops rather than attempting to spin a drum full of water. Almost always the pump is running but nothing is moving — which is why people often say they can hear it trying.
Can I fix a Candy washing machine not draining myself?
Switch the machine off at the wall before touching anything. Open the small hatch at the bottom front, have a towel and a shallow tray ready, and unscrew the filter — expect a lot of water. Clear whatever is in the filter, and turn the impeller behind it with a finger to check it spins freely. Check the drain hose behind the machine for kinks, and pour a jug of water down the standpipe or sink trap to confirm it runs away. Those checks fix it more often than not.
What Candy error codes mean not draining?
Candy washing machines report this through their own fault codes. The ones that point at not draining are E00, E03, E14, E18, E20. 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 Candy washing machine 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.
Other Candy washing machine faults
- washing machine not spinning
- washing machine leaking water
- washing machine making a loud noise
- washing machine not heating the water
- washing machine door will not open
- washing machine will not turn on