My Hotpoint WD72 washer dryer started to report E15 - Check outlet pipes. After some googling, I took the back off and removed the black pipe from the bottom of the drum to the pump. This had a sock and other bits in it so I cleaned it out and thought that would fix it. Unfortunately it still reports the E15 after going most of the way through a cycle. I know it's pumping water out before the E15 appears as I can see it gushing into the waste pipe under the sink. I've checked the black pipe again also but it clear.

Has anyone got any suggestions on what to try next. Is there any way to "reset" the washer maybe? Can I check further into the drum?

Thanks for any help.

Mark Thompson, July 2009

This answer 8 years too late to help you original chaps in this posting ...but I hope this may help others.
I recently had the same issue with my 15yr old WD71, Error Code E15 "Check Outlet Pipes", and machine not progressing into the intermediary spin cycles after initial wash. After checking "everything" ( outlets, level diaphragm sensor etc ) I was just about to give up, then happened on a single posting on the web , which I since cant relocate (!) by a former Hotpoint Engineer who mentioned that a damaged or corroded heating element could be responsible... apparantly any small damage or pinhole corrosion in the outer skin of the element can cause the inside of the element to become slightly wetted . . just enough enough for an electrical leakage to earth .. in turn this being responsible for a false signal interpreted by the control board. The easy check , for me, was to pull of the front, disconnect both sides of the element connections ( insulation-taping them over well, of course ) then running the machine through a wash cycle with the elemnt disconnected. This Cured the problem ! So a new aftermarket pattern element was purchased off flea-bay, fitted, and the issue is now resolved for the last 3 months.
Coincidentally, this also seems to have fixed a seperate issue :- what I had thought was a dodgy door catch solenoid ... which previously had been "chattering away", but required machine to be switched off before it would finally come to rest "unlocked". That issue vanished at the same time.
Hope this helps someone out there :-)

Nic P, May 2017

I am experiencing the same problem. I got e15 checked and cleaned the black outlet pipe and waste pipe, but still getting error code. I put the machine on a acrylics programme to see if its working and now it does not go beyond the 'heating' function. After about 20 minutes i cancelled the cycle, opened the door there was a burning smell in the drum. Can anyone please advise as the what the problem is. Thank you.

Sarah, March 2011

This answer may be late for you now but in case you still have the machine, I will suggest you check the connection under the sink. The blockage may be coming from that end. I have recently had similar problem and nothing I did to the machine helped until something just told me to check under the sink. Fluffs from clothing had almost turned rock solid and wouldn't let water pass. Good luck

Kwame, June 2010

any joy? mine does the same :(

mic, May 2010

Ours was the Heater Element, it sounds strange I know. £13 off ebay and it fixed it.

Tony, September 2009

Did you manage to fix this? Ours is doing exactly the same. I have checked and there are no blockages. The machine will heat the water, wash and empty, but the pump seems to keep running even though the water is all emptied and then the E15 error is shown?

Tony, September 2009