Candy Washing Machine E20 Error Code: Water Level Sensor (Pressure Switch) Reading Fault

What the code means

Candy Hoover Service's technical note 00188/LB, which covers Candy Smart Touch and Hoover One Touch washing machines with the Invensys power board, lists E:20 as "Difficult reading of water level: defective APS Pressostat generates a wrong frequency value". The APS pressostat is the electronic pressure switch that tells the main board (Candy's "Cuore" power card) how much water is in the drum by sending a frequency signal. With E20 the board is getting a signal, but it doesn't make sense, so the cycle stops. The next code, E:21, is "missing reading of water level", meaning no usable signal at all, and Candy points that one at the wiring, the sensor or the power board. For comparison, E:02 is a fill that didn't finish in time and E:03 is a drain that didn't finish in time. On Candy models with only LEDs, the same note says four LEDs flash together once a second for the number of the error, then pause, and repeat until the machine is switched off. Some repair guides, including iFixit's Candy drainage guide, group E20 with drainage problems, because a drum that's still holding water is one of the things that can upset the level reading; Candy's own description is a sensor reading fault, so treat a blocked drain as something to rule out, not the definition of the code. Candy also notes these machines stay powered in standby even with the knob on OFF, so unplug for at least 30 seconds when resetting.

Likely causes

• Faulty APS pressostat (electronic water level sensor) sending a wrong frequency signal, which is Candy's stated cause
• Blocked, kinked or split pressure hose, or a clogged pressure chamber, between the drum and the sensor, giving a false reading
• Water left in the drum from a blocked pump filter or kinked drain hose, so the level isn't what the board expects
• Loose, corroded or damaged wiring between the sensor and the main board
• Main ("Cuore") power board fault, less common

Safe DIY checks

1. Switch the machine off and unplug it for at least 30 seconds. Candy notes these machines stay powered in standby even with the knob on OFF, so a full unplug is the real reset.
2. If there's water in the drum, put towels and a shallow tray down, open the pump filter at the bottom front, drain the water and clean the filter.
3. Check the drain hose isn't kinked, squashed or pushed too far down the standpipe.
4. Plug back in and run a rinse and spin with the drum empty. If it drains and spins without E20, the reading was probably upset by trapped water.
5. If E20 comes back on an empty machine, unplug it, remove the top panel and find the pressure switch near the top. Check the thin hose running from it down to the drum for kinks, splits or blockages, and blow through it gently to clear it.
6. Check the sensor's connector is pushed fully home. If the hose and plug are fine and E20 still returns, the pressure switch is the usual part to replace.

Parts that commonly fix it

Always match the part number to your exact model.

Related codes

• E02 Candy Washer E02
• E03 Candy Washer E03
• E09 Candy Washer E09
• 5d Amana Washer 5d
• F8 E1 Amana Washer F8 E1

All Candy codes →

Sources

1. Candy Hoover Service technical note 00188/LB (2016, updated 2017): Candy Smart Touch and Hoover One Touch self-diagnostics and error codes (E:20 difficult reading of water level, defective APS pressostat wrong frequency value; E:21 missing reading; E:02/E:03 for contrast; LED flash format; 30-second unplug)
2. iFixit: How to Troubleshoot Drainage Issues in a Candy Washing Machine (groups E03 and E20 with drainage symptoms; filter and pipework checks)
3. ASAP Repairs: Candy E20 washing machine (APS sensor frequency signal out of range; blocked pressure chamber hose, wiring and power board as causes)