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E03

Candy E03 on tumble dryer: water tank full or drain fault

Verified with sources3 sourcesReviewed Oct 18, 2026

Technician coming? See the 2 steps they must show you

Front-loading tumble dryer — Sweetie candykimCC0 Image source

Risk level

Low

Urgency

Medium

Quick answer

On Candy tumble dryers, E03 (or E3 on a display and 3 LED flashes with 5-second pauses on models without a display) means the water container is full or there is a problem in the water drainage circuit. Empty the condensate tank, clean the filters, and contact service if E03 returns.

Safety first

Stop and check this first

When the tumble dryer is in use, the drum, door and handle may be very hot if opened before the cool-down phase finishes: use extreme caution when emptying the water reservoir mid-cycle.
Always switch off and remove the tumble dryer plug from the electricity supply before fitting a drain hose or cleaning, and never damage the pipes of the flammable R290 refrigerant circuit.

Safe checks you can perform

Empty and refit the door or bottom water container
Clean both door lint filters and the lower sponge filter
Check the rear drain hose kit routing if fitted
Authorised inspection of the condensate pump and drainage circuit

Leave these tasks to a qualified professional

Do not attempt this professional task: Clear blockages from the condensate water pump and internal drain lines
Do not attempt this professional task: Replace the condensate drainage pump or repair the drain connection

What a technician must be able to justify

Technician visit

These are the steps they must carry out and show you. Tick them as they work: if steps are skipped, do not accept a part swap.

0of 6

Clear blockages from the condensate water pump and internal drain lines
What they doWith the dryer unplugged from the electricity supply, the authorised engineer accesses the lower sump, removes fluff or debris stuck in the condensate pump and internal tubing, and verifies free flow to the water container or rear fitting B.
They must show youthe debris removed from the pump chamber and water pumping cleanly into the container without triggering E03.
In writingthe E03/E3 fault code, cleaning of the condensate pump and drainage circuit, and successful drain test.
Replace the condensate drainage pump or repair the drain connection
What they doIf E3/E03 occurs again upon restarting the cycle after emptying the water container and clearing the hoses, the authorised engineer tests the drainage pump assembly and replaces any failed part using original Candy spare parts.
They must show youthe replaced original pump component and a drying cycle running without error flashes.
In writingthe original spare part reference fitted, leak check of the drainage fittings, and date of repair.

Before accepting a part or repair

Nothing has been shown yet. Do not accept a part swap based on the code alone.

Follow these steps

Note: Follow the documented order. An error code identifies the affected system, but it does not prove by itself which part has failed.

Empty and refit the door or bottom water container
No special tools
Who:
you.
How:
for a door drawer tank, pull it out gently by handle A (it weighs about 6 kg when full), tilt to empty through spout B, insert the base first (1) and push the top into place (2); for a bottom drawer tank, unclip the kickplate, slide the tank out with both hands (about 4 kg), open top lid D to empty it, and push it firmly back into position.
Result that matters:
clear the collected condensate water and seat the container properly so the cycle can resume.
If the water container was full:
empty it completely, push it firmly back into place, and press the programme start button to restart the cycle.
If the container was already empty when E03 appeared:
proceed to check the lint and sponge filters and any external drain hose.
Evidence to keep:
whether the water container was full and whether pressing start cleared E03.
Evidence: Candy CRO E H T heat pump tumble dryer user manual IT/DE/EN/ES/FR (70085346) · Candy UK frequently asked questions and appliance error codes
Clean both door lint filters and the lower sponge filter
No special tools
Who:
you.
How:
pull the two door lint filters A and B upwards in sequence, open them, remove lint with your fingertips, a soft brush or a cloth and throw the fluff in the bin; then remove the lower kickplate, turn the front cover handle anti-clockwise, take out the sponge filter frame and remove dust or fluff from the sponge.
Result that matters:
prevent lint build-up from washing into the condensate pump and blocking the water drainage path.
If lint residue had built up in the filters or compartment:
vacuum out any loose fluff in the housing before refitting the filters and testing.
If the filters and water tank are clean and empty but E03 recurs upon restarting:
check the rear drain hose or call an authorised service centre.
Evidence to keep:
condition of lint filters A and B and the lower sponge before and after cleaning.
Evidence: Candy CRO E H T heat pump tumble dryer user manual IT/DE/EN/ES/FR (70085346) · Candy UK frequently asked questions and appliance error codes
Check the rear drain hose kit routing if fitted
No special tools
Who:
you.
How:
if your dryer uses the rear lower-right drain hose kit to discharge directly into a waste water pipe instead of the tank, check that the hose did not kink when the machine was pushed into place and that the drain pipe is no more than 85 cm above the base of the dryer.
Result that matters:
ensure condensate water can flow freely to the waste pipe without back-pressure.
If the rear drain hose was kinked or lifted above 85 cm:
straighten the hose run and lower the connection below 85 cm.
If no drain hose kit is fitted or the hose is clear and E03 returns after a 1-minute unplug reset:
book an authorised Candy service visit.
Evidence to keep:
routing and height of the rear drain hose or confirmation that the internal tank is used.
Evidence: Candy CRO E H T heat pump tumble dryer user manual IT/DE/EN/ES/FR (70085346)
Authorised inspection of the condensate pump and drainage circuit
Tools required
Who:
authorised Candy Customer Service engineer.
How:
with the tumble dryer switched off and unplugged from the mains supply, the engineer inspects the internal reservoir, the condensate water pump and the internal hoses leading to the water container or rear fitting B.
Result that matters:
clear any internal blockage in the pump or replace a faulty drainage component when E03 persists with an empty tank.
If fluff or debris is stuck in the water pump or internal hose:
the engineer clears the drainage circuit and tests water delivery to the tank.
If the condensate pump or level sensing assembly is faulty:
the engineer fits a genuine Candy replacement part.
Evidence to keep:
findings from the pump inspection and confirmation of normal water collection during a test run.
Removing dryer panels exposes live 230 V wiring and the sealed R290 flammable refrigerant circuit: work must only be carried out by an authorised service engineer with the plug removed.
Evidence: Candy CRO E H T heat pump tumble dryer user manual IT/DE/EN/ES/FR (70085346) · Candy UK frequently asked questions and appliance error codes

Still not solved

If the error persists, stop here. See what the technician must do and show you.

Where this code applies

A code is meaningful only inside the right product and version context.

Primary scope

System: Appliances
Brand: Candy
Product type: Dryers

Known code variants

Avanttia NG E03
caldera Domusa E03 exceso de presión
Candy dryer E03
Candy dryer E3
Candy dryer water container full E3
Candy secadora E03
Candy secadora E3
Candy tumble dryer 3 flashes
Domusa alta presión de agua
Domusa boiler E03 excess pressure
Domusa E 03
Domusa error E03
Domusa high water pressure
E 03
E 3
E-03
E-3
E03
E3
Error 3
Error E03 Domusa
Saeco brew group dirty
Saeco brew group needs grease
Saeco E3
Saeco engrasar grupo de café
Saeco error 03
Saeco GranAroma error 03
Saeco grupo de preparación sucio
Saeco SM6580 error 03
Saeco SM6580 error code 03
secadora Candy 3 parpadeos
secadora Candy deposito lleno E3

What it means

In Candy's official support documentation and the CRO E H T heat pump tumble dryer user manual (70085346), error code E03 or E3 (shown as 3 flashes of every LED followed by a 5-second pause on models without a display) indicates a water drainage circuit issue because the water container is full or something is blocking the pump. The dryer pauses the drying cycle until the tank is emptied. Seeing E03 or E3 on the dryer does not by itself prove that the condensate pump or any other part is defective.

Warnings and stop conditions

Mediumsource verified
When the tumble dryer is in use, the drum, door and handle may be very hot if opened before the cool-down phase finishes: use extreme caution when emptying the water reservoir mid-cycle.
Evidence: Candy CRO E H T heat pump tumble dryer user manual IT/DE/EN/ES/FR (70085346)
Highsource verified
Always switch off and remove the tumble dryer plug from the electricity supply before fitting a drain hose or cleaning, and never damage the pipes of the flammable R290 refrigerant circuit.
Evidence: Candy CRO E H T heat pump tumble dryer user manual IT/DE/EN/ES/FR (70085346)

Symptoms and causes

Probable causes · in order

Condensate water collection container is fullCommon
Water extracted from the laundry during drying has filled the door drawer tank (about 6 kg when full) or bottom water drawer (about 4 kg when full) and requires emptying.
Evidence: Candy CRO E H T heat pump tumble dryer user manual IT/DE/EN/ES/FR (70085346) · Candy UK frequently asked questions and appliance error codes
Debris or fluff stuck in the water pump or filtersPossible
Candy's official FAQ states that E03 can mean something is stuck in the drainage pump or that dirty filters are hindering water return in the drainage circuit.
Evidence: Candy CRO E H T heat pump tumble dryer user manual IT/DE/EN/ES/FR (70085346) · Candy UK frequently asked questions and appliance error codes
Kinked or overly high external drain hose kit pipeLess common
On models fitted with the rear drain hose kit, pushing the dryer against the hose so it kinks or routing it to a drain higher than 85 cm above the dryer base blocks discharge.
Evidence: Candy CRO E H T heat pump tumble dryer user manual IT/DE/EN/ES/FR (70085346)

Virtual technician

Does E03 still appear after these checks?

Answer a few questions to narrow down the likely cause and the safest next action. Guidance only - it never replaces a professional.

Start diagnosis

Sources and technical references

1
Candy CRO E H T heat pump tumble dryer user manual IT/DE/EN/ES/FR (70085346)
Candy (Haier Europe) · 2025 · manual
2
Candy España preguntas frecuentes y códigos de error de electrodomésticos
Candy (Haier Europe) · 2026 · official_doc
3
Candy UK frequently asked questions and appliance error codes
Candy (Haier Europe) · 2026 · official_doc

Sources: Candy CRO E H T heat pump tumble dryer user manual IT/DE/EN/ES/FR (70085346) · Candy España preguntas frecuentes y códigos de error de electrodomésticos · Candy UK frequently asked questions and appliance error codesreviewed 2026-10-18 · verified

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