Wet clothes and an E03 error code on your Hoover washing machine? There’s no reason to think the worst. Sometimes, the E03 error code doesn’t mean you have to make an expensive repair. A Hoover washing machine can have a draining problem for several reasons and many of them you can easily fix yourself.
A washing machine error message is supposed to give you a specific issue affecting it so that you can remedy the situation. The problem is that it doesn’t give the exact cause of the issue. This means that you’ll have to go through the process of elimination to get to the bottom of the problem with your washer.
In this article, I will go over several of the causes of the fault that is leaving your clothes sopping wet.
What does the E03 error code mean?
You might know what the problem is before you even see the warning code displayed since your wash cycle will be incomplete and all the water is still in the drum. This is because there is a problem with the appliance draining the water, hence the error code is displayed. When the machine is not able to drain the water out of the tub it has to shut down. If it were to continue to the spin cycle it would burn out the motor and you would need a new washing machine.
What is your Hoover washing machine not draining?
There is a drain filter pump in washing machines that removes the grey water before the spin cycle begins to help dry the clothes before a rinse. The worst-case scenario for a Hoover washing machine full of water is that there is a mechanical failure with the pump. In that case, you will need to replace it.
However, many other things can cause the drain pump to not be able to work properly without it meaning that there is a pump failure. You will have to go through each of the possibilities to be able to troubleshoot the problem and clear the error code so it can continue to wash properly.
Coin trap filter blocked
Although this is not the most likely cause of the blockages, you should start here since you will need to access the area to drain all the water still in the drum. There is a drain filter that can easily get blocked when a coin or small foreign object slips behind the drum and gets stuck in it.
To check the drain pump filter for a blockage you will need to first disconnect the washing machine from the power supply and then take your wet clothes out of the machine. Next, remove as much water as possible from it. You can try with a sponge and bucket until you get the water that comes up above the drum but will need to drain the rest by following the instructions below.
- Locate the service flap at the bottom front of the washer and open it up
- With some towels at the ready and a shallow receptacle, withdraw the drain hose
- Open the nozzle over the receptacle until the water stops escaping. Replace the nozzle
- Turn the cover cap to the right of the hose slowly in the counterclockwise direction until water begins escaping
- When the water stops emptying pull out the cover that has the filter inside and inspect it
- Remove any obstructions from it and wipe off any sludge from lint and hair that has accumulated on it
- Do the same for the housing for the filter since small objects can get stuck in there
- Once everything is clean, replace the cover cap clip the drain hose back into place and then close the service flap
If there was no blockage in the filter then the fault is elsewhere but you needed to drain the water anyway so it was not time poorly spent. The next place to look is in the hose that drains water out of the machine and into the drain pipe under the kitchen sink.
Once you have gone through all the different permutations that could be causing the problem and none seem to fix it, then it is likely that the pump itself is faulty. If you are handy at all then you may be able to remove the pump and replace it yourself but you do risk voiding the warranty if you do. This is a good time to call the service centre and make an appointment with a technician.
Clogged sump hose
The hose that drains out of the machine and into the sink drain pipe is susceptible to causing the water to not drain properly from washing machines. This is because it is flexible and prone to getting bent. If you moved your machine recently then this could have caused the hose to get bent and block the flow of water out into the drain.
When there are no bends or kinks in the hose then you should see if it is clogged. Lint and debris can easily get caught in this hose since it is corrugated. This gives sludge and other objects a foothold that can then catch other debris and cause a clog. Take the hose apart from the machine and then bring it outside to flush it out with a garden hose.
When you put the hose back into the drain pipe make sure that it doesn’t sit further than 4 inches inside as this can also block the water from leaving if it is too deep.
Kitchen sink drain
The last point of exit is the drain pipe leading out of the house. When these pipes get clogged they send water back into the drain pump in the washing machine which trips the warning code. The first place to check for a clog is the U-bend at the bottom of the pipe under the sink. This is designed to collect debris so remove it and clear out anything blocking it. If it was empty and you remember that your sink had a slow drain then you will need to snake the drain to disrupt any clog further down the line.
Faulty door lock
The machine is designed to stop a cycle when it detects that the door is not closed. This could happen during the drain cycle of the water phase of the programme if the door comes ajar. If you’re lucky, this is because the door was not closed enough to stay locked but was enough for the sensor to pick up that it was closed.
Once you have turned off the power supply and drained the water, open the door and close it tightly to see if you can run a test cycle. If you still get an error then check if the door lock assembly is loose and needs to be tightened. There could even be an obstruction in the door lock itself if lint has accumulated there.
Lastly, the sensor could be faulty and the whole mechanism has to be replaced. While the power is still off try to remove the assembly to see if there is a loose wire. No loose wires mean the door lock assembly will need to be replaced.
Heating element issue
You may encounter a strange phenomenon when you encounter the E03 during the drain programme. If it flashes but you can set the drain mode and it begins draining for a bit and then stops it is likely a faulty heating element. Sometimes the heater element can burn itself out and this throws the washing machine in tilt. It’s a protective measure to ensure that one that is heating too much won’t pose a fire risk.
Unfortunately, replacing it will require a technician. The lucky thing is that it isn’t a major repair and should be quick and relatively inexpensive.
Final Word
Seeing E03 error code faults is not usually something that should cause any worry. Clearing the code from the display and running the wash again isn’t usually something that will require a lot of work. Try to use calling a technician as a last resort and you may be rewarded with a working Hoover washing machine without needing to spend loads of money.
FAQ
Why does my Hoover washer have dirty water in the drum?
Since your washing machine is likely hooked up to the pipes under a sink for the water to flow out of the house, there is the possibility that some of the dirty water from those pipes are entering the washing machine and creating a foul smell. See about rerouting the pipes to make sure that the water can’t easily access the washing machine.
Why does my washer smell bad?
If you haven’t cleaned out your drain filter in a while then it probably has accumulated some sludge in it from the lint and soap scum in the wash. Over time it will begin to smell and even get into the drum affecting the smell of the wash. Make sure to empty the drum of its water and clean out the filter. Then run a test wash at 90° temperature after putting some washing machine cleaner directly into the drum.
