Electrolux Washer Code E21 -Troubleshooting Guide

The wash started and you see an E21 light on your Electrolux washer. It beeps twice or maybe it flashes twice. What does it mean? You can’t answer that question but you see your washer isn’t draining, the drum isn’t turning and there is an unusual noise. 

The Electrolux washer code E21 code is telling you that water isn’t pumping out of the tub quickly enough. The noise you hear could be from a blocked drainpipe. Other associated problems could be a faulty drain pump, pressure sensor, or mainboard. 

The reason why your tub stopped spinning is that the Electrolux has a safety feature that stops the machine if something isn’t working correctly. This isn’t a big problem and is something you can diagnose and fix yourself. All you need is some information and the step-by-step guide listed below to help you through the process. 

There are several checks you will need to do to figure out exactly what is wrong and follow through with the solution. Start with the draining hose first. 

Check the Drain Hose

The problem could be a drain hose blockage. Drain hoses can get moved as the washed is used so it could be in the wrong position to function correctly.

The hose should be no more than 4 inches (10 cm) into the drain. It should have a height level of between 2 feet (60 cm) and 4 feet (100 cm) above the washer’s base. Also, look to see if the drain hose has a kink or twist in it. Straighten out the hose and see if that works.

Check the Drain for Blockage

Noise is almost certainly a blocked drain, so you should check it. To do that, look at the hose connected to the sink trap. Look to see if the sink is draining normally. Then, look to where the drain hose is connected to the water. That is most likely where the blockage is.

You may have to clamp off the hose and remove it to check for a blockage. Be sure to have a bucket and towels ready for spillage. 

Take a Break

This would be a good time to switch off the washer’s power and let it sit for a couple of hours before trying out the wash cycle again. Sometimes, a bimetal fuse cuts power to the pump if the pump is blocked. It works normally after the pump cools down.

If that doesn’t get your washer started again, move on to check the pump and filter for clogs and broken pieces.

Look to the Pump and Filter

The next thing to check is whether the pump and filter are blocked. Cleaning this system includes also cleaning the pump blade. Visible blades can be rotated with a pencil. 

Once you’ve cleaned the pump and filter with clean water, check to see if the washer works. If it does, run it through a small cycle of only water to clear out the drainage system. Afterward, run a diagnostic cycle to pick up on any other codes and warnings. 

The next few steps involve a serious look at the drain pump and mainboard. It may take some time to go step-by-step but doing so will get you to a resolution. 

• First, check the input power supply to the drain pump. It should be 120 VAC.  Anything less than that should prompt you to check wiring connections.
• Assuming that is at proper levels, you will want to look at the resistance measurement of the drain pump. You do this by measuring it with a multimeter on the main board’s connector between J4-3 and J4-4. It should be between 13 Q and 16Q.

You can buy one of the devices to check the resistance at a local hardware store. 

• A bad resistance number should prompt you to measure it directly on the pump. A bad number there means you need to replace the pump. A good number should lead you to check and replace the pump’s wiring.
• A good resistance number on the mainboard should prompt you to check the pump rotor. It may be blocked or broken. Clean it and see if that works. If not, then it will need to be replaced. 

You may not like the idea of digging around in a drain pump but it may be something you need to do to figure out the problem.

• First, unplug the machine. Now, take out the screws holding the panel. Take out the panel. You’ll have to tilt it out and lift it out too.
• Now, the drain pump is connected to the hose and you should be able to visiually find it by looking at the panel’s bottom area. 
• Undo the clamp on the pump and take off the drain hose.
• The next step is removing the belt from motor. You can take the belt off the pump’s flywheel using just your fingers. It should stretch enough for you to remove it.
• Now, turn the flywheel. A failure to turn easily means it’s blocked by something. To find out what, dig down the drain outlet with your finger and touch around the impellers to see if they are broken or blocked.
• Use your other hand to turn the flywheel. You may want to look inside with a flashlight to see if there are broken pieces.
• Remove any clogs. You will need a pump replacement if you see it’s broken. A broken pump means you will need to call a repairman to replace it.

Unique features in this washer include SmartBoost, a feature that mixes detergent and water before the cycle starts. It uses a lot less water than other machines, totaling an average of 4,154 gallons a year. It is smart with energy too, using just 85 kilowatts an hour. This water is Energy Star rated with the title of Most Efficient Clothes Washer 2021.

How do I reset the Electrolux washer?

The wash started and you see an E21 light on your Electrolux washer. It beeps twice or maybe it flashes twice. What does it mean? You can’t answer that question but you see your washer isn’t draining, the drum isn’t turning and there is an unusual noise. 

The Electrolux washer code E21 code is telling you that water isn’t pumping out of the tub quickly enough. The noise you hear could be from a blocked drainpipe. Other associated problems could be a faulty drain pump, pressure sensor, or mainboard. 

The reason why your tub stopped spinning is that the Electrolux has a safety feature that stops the machine if something isn’t working correctly. This isn’t a big problem and is something you can diagnose and fix yourself. All you need is some information and the step-by-step guide listed below to help you through the process. 

There are several checks you will need to do to figure out exactly what is wrong and follow through with the solution. Start with the draining hose first. 

Check the Drain Hose

The problem could be a drain hose blockage. Drain hoses can get moved as the washed is used so it could be in the wrong position to function correctly.

The hose should be no more than 4 inches (10 cm) into the drain. It should have a height level of between 2 feet (60 cm) and 4 feet (100 cm) above the washer’s base. Also, look to see if the drain hose has a kink or twist in it. Straighten out the hose and see if that works.

Check the Drain for Blockage

Noise is almost certainly a blocked drain, so you should check it. To do that, look at the hose connected to the sink trap. Look to see if the sink is draining normally. Then, look to where the drain hose is connected to the water. That is most likely where the blockage is.

You may have to clamp off the hose and remove it to check for a blockage. Be sure to have a bucket and towels ready for spillage. 

Take a Break

This would be a good time to switch off the washer’s power and let it sit for a couple of hours before trying out the wash cycle again. Sometimes, a bimetal fuse cuts power to the pump if the pump is blocked. It works normally after the pump cools down.

If that doesn’t get your washer started again, move on to check the pump and filter for clogs and broken pieces.

Look to the Pump and Filter

The next thing to check is whether the pump and filter are blocked. Cleaning this system includes also cleaning the pump blade. Visible blades can be rotated with a pencil. 

Once you’ve cleaned the pump and filter with clean water, check to see if the washer works. If it does, run it through a small cycle of only water to clear out the drainage system. Afterward, run a diagnostic cycle to pick up on any other codes and warnings. 

The next few steps involve a serious look at the drain pump and mainboard. It may take some time to go step-by-step but doing so will get you to a resolution. 

• First, check the input power supply to the drain pump. It should be 120 VAC.  Anything less than that should prompt you to check wiring connections.
• Assuming that is at proper levels, you will want to look at the resistance measurement of the drain pump. You do this by measuring it with a multimeter on the main board’s connector between J4-3 and J4-4. It should be between 13 Q and 16Q.

You can buy one of the devices to check the resistance at a local hardware store. 

• A bad resistance number should prompt you to measure it directly on the pump. A bad number there means you need to replace the pump. A good number should lead you to check and replace the pump’s wiring.
• A good resistance number on the mainboard should prompt you to check the pump rotor. It may be blocked or broken. Clean it and see if that works. If not, then it will need to be replaced. 

You may not like the idea of digging around in a drain pump but it may be something you need to do to figure out the problem.

• First, unplug the machine. Now, take out the screws holding the panel. Take out the panel. You’ll have to tilt it out and lift it out too.
• Now, the drain pump is connected to the hose and you should be able to visiually find it by looking at the panel’s bottom area. 
• Undo the clamp on the pump and take off the drain hose.
• The next step is removing the belt from motor. You can take the belt off the pump’s flywheel using just your fingers. It should stretch enough for you to remove it.
• Now, turn the flywheel. A failure to turn easily means it’s blocked by something. To find out what, dig down the drain outlet with your finger and touch around the impellers to see if they are broken or blocked.
• Use your other hand to turn the flywheel. You may want to look inside with a flashlight to see if there are broken pieces.
• Remove any clogs. You will need a pump replacement if you see it’s broken. A broken pump means you will need to call a repairman to replace it.

Unique features in this washer include SmartBoost, a feature that mixes detergent and water before the cycle starts. It uses a lot less water than other machines, totaling an average of 4,154 gallons a year. It is smart with energy too, using just 85 kilowatts an hour. This water is Energy Star rated with the title of Most Efficient Clothes Washer 2021.

How do I reset the Electrolux washer?