Indesit Washing Machine F15 Error Code: Heater Control Fault

What the code means

Indesit Service UK's washing machine error code guide lists F15 as "Heater control fault (Washing Machine and Washer Dryers)", with the symptom that the machine is not heating water or pauses during a wash cycle, or on a washer dryer is not drying or pauses during the drying cycle, and the advice to call Indesit to book an engineer. Indesit's technical documentation for the WIL10 washer dryer (the French service file, mod. WIL10FR) gives the engineer's definition: F15 means the drying heater is always active, because the drying relay contact is stuck closed or the drying triac (the electronic switch on the board that turns the heater on and off) has short-circuited. The service steps, in order, are: check the contacts of connector J2 on the main board; check the wiring from connector J2 to the drying heater; check the wiring from connector J3 to the pressure switch; and then replace the main board. In plain terms, the board can see a heater running when it hasn't asked for it, so it stops the cycle to avoid overheating. Because the usual cause is on the board itself, this is rarely a DIY fix. For contrast, the same Indesit guide lists F03 as a temperature sensing fault (not heating), and the WIL10 file lists F13 (drying temperature sensor open) and F14 (drying heater open or unplugged) as separate dryer faults. Indesit doesn't publish a component-level definition of F15 for plain washing machines, so on a washer without a dryer, treat it as the general heater control fault Indesit describes.

Likely causes

• Drying relay contact on the main board stuck (welded) closed, so the dryer heater stays on (Indesit WIL10 service file)
• Drying triac on the main board short-circuited (same file)
• Loose, burnt or corroded contacts at the heater connector on the main board (connector J2 in the WIL10 service file)
• Damaged wiring between the board and the heater, or between the board and the pressure switch (connector J3 in the same file)

Safe DIY checks

1. Stop the cycle and switch off at the wall. Don't keep restarting a machine showing F15: the fault means a heater may not be switching off properly.
2. Unplug it for at least 2 minutes, plug it back in and try a short cold wash. If F15 comes back straight away or as soon as the machine tries to heat or dry, leave it unplugged and book an engineer.
3. If water or washing is trapped inside, let the machine cool, then drain it through the pump filter at the bottom front (have towels and a shallow tray ready).
4. Check the socket and plug for scorch marks or a burning smell, and avoid running the machine on an extension lead.
5. If you're experienced with appliance repairs: with the machine unplugged, you can check that the heater and pressure switch plugs on the main board are fully seated and not discoloured. Testing a triac or relay and replacing the board is model-specific, so stop there and book an engineer, as Indesit advises.

Parts that commonly fix it

Always match the part number to your exact model.

Related codes

• F01 Indesit Washer F01
• F03 Indesit Washer F03
• F05 Indesit Washer F05
• F06 Indesit Washer F06
• F11 Indesit Washer F11

All Indesit codes →

Sources

1. Indesit Service UK: Washing Machine Error Codes (F15 heater control fault on washing machines and washer dryers; not heating, not drying or pausing; book an engineer)
2. Indesit WIL10 washer dryer technical documentation, French, p.15 (F15 drying heater always active, drying relay contact stuck or drying triac short-circuited; check J2 contacts, J2 to drying heater wiring, J3 to pressure switch wiring, replace board)