AEG washer dryer E20 error code
What E20 means on an AEG washer dryer
Drain fault: the machine cannot empty water.
Meaning checked by NAC's engineers, 9 November 2026.
What our engineers say
On an AEG washer dryer, the E20 code is a drain fault. It means the machine cannot empty the water out, so it usually stops with water still sitting in the drum and will not carry on with the wash or spin.
Engineers sometimes find the drain pump blocked, and sometimes find the pump has seized, so it can be heard running but the water does not go anywhere. A pump that has been cleared can occasionally seize later on. Engineers have also found the machine working perfectly well, with the blockage in the waste pipe it empties into under the sink. Alongside a drain fault, they have sometimes found a worn pulley wheel causing a clicking sound on spin.
An engineer will usually run a drain cycle and listen for the pump, check the pump for a blockage or seizing, and look at the waste pipe. Clearing a blockage is sometimes enough to get the machine draining again, but a seized pump needs replacing. When a new pump or pulley wheel is needed, it may have to be ordered and fitted at a second visit.
Written by our engineers from NAC's own jobs.
Faults this code turns up with
What our engineers found and fixed for each, from NAC's own repair records.
What we fixed. We'll add what our engineers found, the parts they fitted and what customers typically paid once enough of these repairs are confirmed. How we work out our figures.
Before you check anything yourself
- Switch the washer dryer off and unplug it, or turn it off at the isolator switch, before you touch anything. Our guide to safely isolating an appliance walks you through it.
- An error code tells you where to look, not that it's safe to take the washer dryer apart. Don't remove panels or covers to get at the parts it points to: that's an engineer's job.
- If it involves the mains supply, sealed parts, or you're not confident at any point, stop and book a qualified engineer rather than risk injury or further damage.
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