Hotpoint Washer F11 Error Code: Drain Pump Circuit Fault (Water Left in the Drum)

What the code means

Hotpoint UK's washing machine and washer dryer error code guides list F11 as "Pump circuit fault", with the issue "Water remains in [the machine] / not pumping out", and recommend calling customer service to book an engineer. Indesit Service UK, whose machines share the same electronics, lists F11 with the same wording. The Indesit Arcadia service manual (used on Hotpoint and Indesit machines) is more specific: F11 is set when the pump is not wired or the pump driving triac (the electronic switch on the main PCB that powers the pump) is short circuited. Its checks are the pump connector contacts on the PCB (J004 on commutator-motor machines, J11 on three-phase machines), the continuity of the pump winding, which should read about 170 ohms plus or minus 10%, and the wiring between the connector and the pump; the fixes are a new drain pump or a new main PCB. Service notes for the older EVO II module describe F11 the same way: no supply voltage reaching the drain pump because its supply circuit is open. That's the key difference from F05 ("waste pipe blockage or pump issue"), where Hotpoint tells you to check the pump filter and drain hose first. With F11 the pump isn't being driven at all, so cleaning the filter alone won't usually clear it, though it's still the first thing to look at because you'll need to drain the water out anyway.

Likely causes

• Drain pump winding open (burnt-out pump), so the board can't drive it
• Loose, corroded or disconnected plug at the drain pump or at the pump connector on the main board
• Damaged wiring between the main board and the pump (chafed harness, rodent damage, water on connectors)
• Pump driving triac on the main PCB shorted or failed
• Less often, a jammed pump that has overheated and failed open after repeated F05 drain faults

Safe DIY checks

1. Switch the machine off at the plug and wait a couple of minutes, then switch back on and run a Drain or Spin programme. If F11 comes back straight away, it's a genuine fault.
2. With the machine unplugged, get the water out the way your instruction booklet describes for a blocked filter: put a shallow tray and towels down, open the small door at the bottom front, use the emergency drain hose if your model has one, and slowly unscrew the pump filter.
3. While the filter is out, clear any coins, hair grips or fluff and check that the pump impeller turns freely with a finger. A jammed impeller can damage the pump.
4. Refit the filter firmly, plug back in and try a Drain programme again.
5. If you're comfortable working on appliances, unplug the machine, remove the access panel and check that the plug on the drain pump is pushed fully home and isn't corroded. Measuring the pump winding with a multimeter should give about 170 ohms; a reading of open circuit means a failed pump.
6. If it still shows F11, follow Hotpoint's advice and book an engineer, and don't keep restarting it full of water.

Parts that commonly fix it

Always match the part number to your exact model.

Related codes

• F01 Hotpoint Washer F01
• F05 Hotpoint Washer F05
• F06 Hotpoint Washer F06
• F08 Hotpoint Washer F08
• F09 Hotpoint Washer F09

All Hotpoint codes →

Sources

1. Hotpoint UK: Washing Machine Error Codes Troubleshooting Guide (F11 pump circuit fault: water remains in washing machine / not pumping out; book an engineer; F05 waste pipe blockage or pump issue for contrast)
2. Hotpoint UK: Washer Dryer Error Codes Troubleshooting Guide (F11 pump circuit fault, same wording for washer dryers)
3. Indesit Service UK: Washing Machine Error Codes (F11 pump circuit fault, water remains / not pumping out)
4. Indesit Arcadia service manual, fault codes (F11 pump not wired or pump driving triac short circuit; check J004/J11 contacts and wiring, pump impedance 170 ohm +/- 10%, renew pump or PCB)
5. Indesit/Hotpoint EVO II module error codes (F11 no supply voltage at the drain pump, pump supply circuit open)