Hotpoint Washing Machine F10 Error Code: Pressure Switch Not Sensing Water Level

What the code means

Indesit's technical documentation for the WIL10 (the French service file for the electronics Hotpoint and Indesit share) defines F10 as "absence du signal de plein et de vide": no full or empty signal from the pressure switch. UK Whitegoods' fault code list for Hotpoint WF and WD Ultima machines (the EVO2 electronics) gives the same meaning, "pressure switch not sensing", and says that on models without a display the code shows as a repeating pattern of flashes, ten flashes for F10. The pressure switch is connected to the tub by a thin air hose; as water rises, air pressure in the hose rises and the switch tells the board the drum has filled, then reports again when it has drained. With F10 the board is getting neither signal, so it stops the programme rather than overfill or run dry. Hotpoint's current UK consumer error code list doesn't include F10, so if your manual gives a different meaning, go by your manual. For contrast, on the same electronics F04 and F05 mean the pressure switch is stuck on empty or stuck on full, and F11 is a drain pump circuit fault.

Likely causes

• A loose, dirty or corroded connector between the pressure switch and the main board (the WIL10 service doc's first check is the J3 connector on the board)
• Damaged or broken wiring between the pressure switch and the board
• A blocked, kinked, split or disconnected pressure hose, so the change in water level never reaches the switch
• A failed pressure switch (the WIL10 service doc's final step is to replace it)
• Less often, a fault on the main control board's pressure switch input

Safe DIY checks

1. Switch off and unplug the machine for a couple of minutes, plug back in and try one short programme. If F10 doesn't return, keep an eye on the next few washes.
2. If there's water in the drum, drain it through the pump filter first, with towels and a shallow tray ready.
3. With the machine unplugged, remove the top panel and find the pressure switch, a round part usually mounted near the top with a thin plastic hose running down to the tub. Check the hose is pushed fully on at both ends, isn't kinked or split, and isn't blocked with detergent sludge.
4. Check the wiring plug on the pressure switch is firmly seated and the wires aren't damaged or rubbed through.
5. The WIL10 service doc gives the engineer's switch test, at connector J3 on the main board: continuity between pins 2 and 4 only when the tub is empty, between pins 2 and 3 when there is water in the tub, and between pins 2 and 1 only when the water is above the normal level (over half way up the door glass). If the switch doesn't behave like that, the doc says to check the J3 wiring and then replace the pressure switch.
6. If you're not comfortable working inside the machine, stop after the reset and book an engineer.

Parts that commonly fix it

Always match the part number to your exact model.

Related codes

• F01 Hotpoint Washer F01
• F03 Hotpoint Washer F03
• F05 Hotpoint Washer F05
• F06 Hotpoint Washer F06
• F08 Hotpoint Washer F08

All Hotpoint codes →

Sources

1. Indesit WIL10 technical documentation, French (shared Hotpoint/Indesit fault codes: F10 no full or empty signal; check J3 contacts, pressure switch continuity pins 2-4 empty, 2-3 water, 2-1 over-level, J3 wiring, replace pressure switch)
2. UK Whitegoods: Hotpoint WF and WD Ultima series (EVO2) fault codes (F10 pressure switch not sensing; F04/F05 stuck on empty/full; flash counts)
3. Whitegoods Help: Indesit/Hotpoint error F10 (ten flashes on dial models; pressure switch not sensing correctly; wiring, hose, switch, board)
4. Hotpoint UK: Washing Machine Error Codes (current consumer list, which has no F10; service line 0344 822 4224)