Error H20 in the Ariston and Hotpoint Ariston washing machines

Error code H20 for SM Ariston and Hotpoint Ariston indicates problems with water intake. This means that for normal washing there is either not enough or a lot of it.

Next, you will learn how to fix the problem at home and remove the H20 error.

Signs of breakdown

Visual signs confirm the presence of a problem in the Ariston machine:

Having collected water, the washing machine immediately drains it.
The washing machine does not draw enough water to operate properly.
SM Ariston stopped drawing water.

Be careful! If the display of your Ariston machine (Hotpoint Ariston) shows error H20, followed by another fault code, then the second signal indicates the cause of the breakdown.

Causes and troubleshooting

How can I fix the problem at home? You need to understand the reason why the washing machine gives an error, and then start solving the problem:

Water is not supplied to the Ariston machine. Inspect the supply valve, if it is closed, then unscrew it. Perhaps the water supply to the entire house has been lost.
Read also: Rules for storing potatoes: can they be washed before storing?
With low pressure, the SMA may also display error H20. Again, open the supply valve to full power.
The fill filter is clogged. The fine mesh of the filter does not allow debris to pass through, which may come from the water supply system. Sometimes the filter becomes clogged with small particles, so you need to wash it and replace it.
Self-draining The Ariston washing machine tries to draw water for a long time, then the fault code lights up. The drain hose may be lower than the tank. What to do? Raise the hose to normal level, above the tank.
System failure. Did the code appear for the first time? Try to reset the error by restarting the Ariston machine. Disconnect it from the network for 15-20 minutes. After turning it on, the error should disappear.

You tried all the recommendations, but nothing happened. This means that a real breakdown has occurred, you need to decide: fix it yourself or call a repairman.

Fill valve failure. SMA Ariston does not take water. After entering the program, it issues code H20. The valve needs replacement.
Problems with the water level sensor. The SM fills in an abnormal amount of water or immediately drains it after filling. Check the pressure switch chamber and hose; they may be clogged or damaged. Clean them or replace them with new ones. If the level sensor is broken, it must also be replaced.
The washing machine does not pour water at all or takes it out, but not enough. In this case, error H20 lights up. The reason is in the control unit. Remove and check the block, as well as all its elements - soldering or stripping may be required. If there is a malfunction, the device must be replaced.
The valve's wires or contacts are broken: it will not receive signals from the control board. Check the wiring and replace burnt contacts.

The video will help you clean the fill valve at home.

Ariston washing machine - error code H20 or H2O

Users of Ariston or Hotpoint Ariston washing machines most often encounter error H20 on any washing program, 5-10 minutes after it starts. In this case, the machine can:

do not draw water at all;
add a little water, obviously not enough for washing;
take in too much water (overfill);
Constantly fill and drain water.

Less often, SMA Ariston freezes with code H20 during rinsing, before reaching the spin cycle.

Also, the error may occur only on certain washing programs or may appear and disappear in a chaotic manner. But a characteristic feature of the H2O code is that the separately launched Drain and Spin programs always work normally, without any errors.

Causes of error H20 that you can fix yourself

There is no water supply to the machine. This could happen due to the fact that the shut-off valve for the water supply to the washing machine is closed or there is no water in the water supply at all. In the first case, open the shut-off valve fully. In the second, restore the water supply in the house or apartment.
Weak water supply pressure. The reasons are similar. Or the water supply tap is not fully open, and you need to open it completely. Or the problem is in the plumbing in general.
The filler valve strainer is clogged. The filter installed at the junction of the inlet hose with the washing machine is a fine mesh. It protects the SM from large particles in tap water and becomes clogged over time. Disconnect the hose that supplies water to the washer and carefully remove the mesh filter using pliers. To clean, rinse it under running water or place it in a citric acid solution for 10 to 15 minutes.
Self-draining of water from the tank. Occurs if the drain hose (completely!) and its connection to the sewer are below the level of the washing machine tank. In this case, your Ariston or Hotpoint Ariston will fill with water for a long time after starting the program, and then display error H20. To eliminate self-draining, you need to “raise” the middle of the drain hose above the level of the tank. Detailed instructions for organizing drainage can be found in the instructions for your Ariston model in the Installation section. But if you doubt that you can cope with this task yourself, you can use our washing machine installation service.
Control or display board failure. If error H20 appears for the first time, this may well be the result of a “glitch” in the control module or the washing machine display. Try rebooting your Ariston. To do this, unplug the plug from the socket for 15 - 20 minutes to reset the error. Please note that frequent failures of the control module may be caused by high humidity in the room where the control module is operated.

Nothing helps, and your Hotpoint-Ariston washing machine still refuses to run the program and displays error H20 on the screen? It looks like a breakdown has occurred, and you can’t do it without the help of a repairman.

Reasons for error H20 appearing on the Indesit washing machine

Error H20 can be caused by electronic or mechanical problems. Typically a failure occurs for several reasons:

Lack of water or low pressure. The washing machine will not be able to draw the necessary liquid if the water supply is completely turned off or if the valve on the intake hose is closed. In the latter case, the tap may also not be turned all the way - as a result, water is poured into the tank too slowly.
Fill valve filter clogged. At the junction of the intake hose with the washing machine there is a plastic mesh designed to retain foreign particles coming from the water supply. If you do not regularly clean the unit, the filter will become clogged and will no longer allow liquid to pass through.
Incorrect drain connection. If the hose responsible for removing waste water from the drum is located too low, then the liquid will simply flow out of the Indesit machine right during the washing process. According to the instructions, the drain must be positioned so that it rises above the tank to the point of connection with the sewer.
Software glitch. If the H20 error is generated by a new Indesit machine, or the code appears on the display for the first time, the problem may turn out to be a one-time problem. It will be enough to restart the unit to continue normal washing.

Serious malfunctions that cause error H20 include, first of all, a breakdown of the drain valve. If it does not open automatically when entering the washing mode, then water does not flow into the drum. If there are problems with closing, a constant overflow will occur, which also makes Indesit impossible to work.

Attention! Valve failures cause voltage surges, strong vibrations of the machine and increased humidity in the room. All factors negatively affect the condition of electronic components.

Error H20 can occur both at the beginning of washing and when switching to the rinse mode.
Service repair requires a malfunction of the water sensor. If it malfunctions, then the control module of the washing machine receives incorrect information about the amount of liquid in the tank, regardless of the actual situation.

Possible faults requiring repair

The service center has already restored the functionality of 5985(!) Ariston and Hotpoint Ariston washing machines. As repair statistics have shown, the following breakdowns most often led to error H20.

The Ariston washing machine does not draw water after starting the wash or when switching to rinsing in any program, and then writes error H20 on the display.

, which “allows” water into the machine when drawing water, has failed

The fill valve needs to be replaced.

pours too much water (overfills water);
or constantly picks up and drains,

and then, completely drains the water and shows the H2O code.

the pressure switch chamber is clogged with dirt;
the pressure switch hose has fallen off, become clogged or damaged (there is a hole in it);
The sensor itself has failed.

remove and clean the pressure switch chamber;
check the level sensor hose, replace it with a new one if necessary;
replace the pressure switch completely

The control board (electronic controller) is faulty - the main chip that controls the operation of the entire washing machine. On the board, the triac for controlling the fill valve, at the command of which water begins to flow, or other radio elements in the valve control circuit (resistors, relays, diodes, etc.) could have failed. The traces of the microcircuit through which the signal is transmitted, or the soldering of radio elements could also burn out. More rarely, error code H20 can be caused by a controller firmware failure or failure of its processor.

All components of the electronic controller responsible for controlling the water supply are checked and replaced if a malfunction is detected. Burnt rations and traces are soldered again. If the firmware fails, the controller is flashed again.

If after the work carried out the error continues to occur or diagnostics show that the processor has failed, then the board is completely replaced.

Water does not flow into the Hotpoint Ariston washing machine and error H20 lights up.

Damaged wiring or contacts in the fill valve circuit. Because of this, the signal is interrupted and an error occurs. Damage is most often caused by vibrations of the washing machine. In private homes, damage to wiring or contacts can also be caused by rodents (mice, rats).

Damaged wiring must be restored or the cable with wires must be completely replaced.

Burnt or damaged contacts are soldered or replaced with a new contact group.

* The price of spare parts is not taken into account; they are paid additionally. The final price depends on the Ariston washing machine model and is determined by the technician after diagnosis.

If you are unable to get rid of the H20 error on SMA Ariston or Hotpoint Ariston on your own, do not despair! Service specialists will help your equipment. You can call a specialist daily from 8.00 to 22.00 by phone:

Or send an electronic repair request at any time of the day.

After contacting, a specialist will come to you within 24 hours, determine the cause of the malfunction and, if necessary, carry out repairs right at home. After the repair, the technician will check that your Ariston is working properly and will issue a warranty card for up to 2 years.

Troubleshooting algorithm

Let's look at what to do in each specific case:

If the problem is a locked tap, you just need to open it. And the problem with pressure can be solved by contacting utility services, or running the program when water consumption is lowest (late in the evening or, conversely, early in the morning).
Then check the condition of the mesh filter; it is located where the inlet hose connects to the machine. If it is clogged, clean it.
Also check the place where the hose connects to the sewer; it may be kinked or located below the level of the tank, which prevents the normal outflow of liquid.
If a problem occurs with the control board, you will have to send it for diagnostics, after which you will need to reflash it or purchase new elements.
There is a problem with the fill valve, you need to buy a new one.
The liquid level sensor does not take readings correctly, this is either due to the fact that the intake chamber is clogged, clean it. The pressure switch is disconnected or clogged, inspect and, if necessary, replace. If the sensor itself is faulty, then it will need to be replaced with a working one.
The wiring in the filler valve chain is damaged, call this section. If a break is detected, clean the area and solder; if this is not possible, remove the damaged section of the circuit and connect a good one.

Error H20 in the Ariston washing machine what to do

Washing machines that have a modern digital display, in the event of failures or malfunctions, display a special code on the screen indicating a specific error. The self-diagnosis system is also present on the products of the Italian companies Ariston and Indesit. Codes usually start with the letter F and end with numbers. Among them, the H20 error on the Ariston or Indesit washing machine stands out - one of the most common problems on devices from this manufacturer.

In this case, the number 0 should be read as the letter O, resulting in the chemical formula of water. This was done specifically to make it easier to remember the H20 error and its decoding. This code indicates problems in the water inlet system.

What does error H20 mean?

Error code H20 for SM Ariston and Hotpoint Ariston indicates problems with water intake. This means that for normal washing there is either not enough or a lot of it.

Next, you will learn how to fix the problem at home and remove the H20 error.

Signs of breakdown

Visual signs confirm the presence of a problem in the Ariston machine:

Having collected water, the washing machine immediately drains it.
The washing machine does not draw enough water to operate properly.
SM Ariston stopped drawing water.

Be careful! If the display of your Ariston machine (Hotpoint Ariston) shows error H20, followed by another fault code, then the second signal indicates the cause of the breakdown.

Symptoms of a problem

In addition to the H20 error code that appears on the display, the following signs appear indicating problems with the Ariston washing machine:

The device does not draw water or does, but in small volumes, insufficient for the correct operation of the device.
Filling with a very large amount of water.
Constant flooding and subsequent draining of liquid.
During rinsing, the Ariston machine stops and does not enter the spin phase.

These symptoms of error H20 appear in any selected mode of the Ariston washing machine, with the exception of the “Spin” and “Drain” programs.

To figure out how to fix problems and resolve the H20 error, you need to understand what each of these signs means.

The machine does not fill with water

If the washing machine does not draw water or draws in only a small amount, this may indicate a lack of liquid in the water supply or a closed water supply tap at the inlet, as well as a slight pressure, which may be caused by a partially open valve. To eliminate error H20, you need to turn the tap completely and make sure there is water in the water supply system.

The second reason for error H20 is a clogged filter in the filling valve of the Ariston washing machine, located behind the hose supplying water to the device. It is installed to prevent particles of debris from the plumbing system from entering the Ariston device. To fix the problem that caused error H20, you need to turn off the water, disconnect the inlet hose of the Ariston device and, armed with pliers, carefully pull out the filter mesh.

To clean it, you need to rinse it under a strong stream of running water, and if the dirt is very strong, you can place it in a citric acid solution for 15-20 minutes. This procedure will remove not only debris, but also limescale. After processing, the mesh must be installed back, the hose connected and the water supply turned on.

Filling and subsequent drainage of water

If an Ariston machine fills with water and immediately drains it, and error code H20 is displayed on the screen, this may indicate that the drain hose is connected to the sewer much lower than necessary or has fallen out of the fasteners on the back wall of the device that held it in vertical position.

To troubleshoot an Ariston washing machine that causes error H20 to appear, you need to lift the middle of the hose and secure it above the tank level; for this, a special holder is included with the washing machine. If it falls out of the latch at the back, you just need to put it back.

There may also be situations where the pump filter or the pump itself, drain hose, siphon or sewer becomes clogged. All these elements of the Ariston washing machine also need to be checked.

If error H20 appears for the first time on Ariston washing equipment, this may indicate a failure in the control board or in the device display. To eliminate error H20, you need to unplug the washing machine from the socket and plug it back in after 20-30 minutes. This “reboot” of the device can help in this situation.

If the above methods did not help resolve the H20 error, this indicates more serious problems in the washing machine.

Problem with Indesit machines

A washing machine of this brand may not draw water due to the following reasons:

Impossibility of water flowing into the machine: the tap that supplies water is turned off, there is no water in the riser. It may be that there is water, but the mesh that removes hardness from the water is clogged or the fill valve is faulty.
This error can occur in Indesit washing machines even when water enters the drum, but is immediately drained. Usually the water flows down the drain, but the machine may have a serious leak.

Fill valve failure

If cleaning the filter mesh does not bring results, then to eliminate error H20 you should check the condition of the fill valve of the Ariston machine. To do this you need to do the following:

Remove the top cover of the Ariston washing machine.
Find the required unit and, using a multimeter, diagnose the contacts and wires. They could have been damaged by vibration of the device or damaged by mice or rats living in the house.
Diagnose the Ariston unit itself.
If it is faulty, disconnect the sensor from the contacts and disconnect it from the device body.
To eliminate code H20, purchase a new drain valve and install it.

Water level sensor malfunction

The filling of the required amount of water during washing is monitored by a pressure switch or, in other words, a water level sensor. It transmits data to the control module of the Ariston machine about how much water has been collected. If it is not working correctly, the device may draw very little or a large amount of water, resulting in error H20 appearing on the screen. You can check the condition of this sensor yourself, you just need to know what to do.

To diagnose the condition of the water level sensor of the Ariston washing machine, you need to perform the following steps:

Remove the top cover of the Ariston washing machine.
Find the sensor of interest at the top of the device.
Make sure the pressure tube connection is tight. If it is disconnected or clogged, this will affect the operation of the pressure switch, which means it needs to be cleaned and installed in its original place. If it is torn, it must be replaced.
Using a multimeter, you need to check the contacts of the pressure switch and the wires leading to it.
If the cause of error H20 is not detected, this indicates a malfunction of the sensor itself, which happens very rarely. In this case, you need to purchase a new pressure switch and install it in place of the non-working one.

Control module malfunction

Error H20 in an indesit washing machine is still displayed on the display if there is a fault in the control module. If this problem occurs for the first time, it is recommended to reset the error, unplug the washing machine from the outlet, wait 15 minutes and plug it in again. If the error does not disappear, it is recommended to contact a service center.

In most cases, the control module fails due to high humidity, which causes corrosion of electronic components. To extend the life of your equipment, it is recommended to use dehumidifiers and ensure good ventilation.

Another cause of the malfunction can be voltage drops, causing burnout of the microcircuit tracks, melting of the soldering of radio elements in the valve circuit, etc. To independently determine whether there is a breakdown, you can dismantle the board and inspect it. On the surface of the damaged part there are scorch marks, traces of corrosion, mechanical defects, and burnout areas in the area of coils or capacitors.