- Appliances
- Dishwashers
I20
Zanussi i20 on a dishwasher: water not draining away
Risk level
Medium
Proceed carefully and stop if the check is unclear.
Urgency
Medium
Quick answer
On a Zanussi dishwasher, i20 (also C2, F2, AL6 or two beeps) means a drain problem. Unplug it, clean the filter and the bottom of the tub and check the sink spigot and the drain hose are not blocked or kinked.
Safety first
Stop and check this first
- Water and electricity: unplug before taking out the filter or touching standing water; do not bail out the tub with the appliance connected.
Safe checks you can perform
- Filter and sump
- Sink spigot and trap plug
- Drain hose measurements
Leave these tasks to a qualified professional
- Do not attempt this professional task: Drain pump check
- Do not attempt this professional task: Drain test
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.
These are not instructions for opening or handling the equipment yourself. They are the checks that should support a technical conclusion.
Drain pump check
What they doWith the appliance disconnected from the mains, the engineer checks the drain pump, that the impeller turns freely and that the pump receives voltage when the control calls for draining.
They must show youwhat was blocking the pump or the pump measurement against the manufacturer's specification.
In writingwhat was found, what was cleaned or replaced with its part number and why.
Drain test
What they doAfter the repair, the engineer runs a programme and checks the tub is empty at the end and i20 does not appear.
They must show youan empty tub and the programme finished with no code.
In writingthe programme tested, the result and the date.
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.
Filter and sump
- Who:
- you, with the appliance unplugged.
- How:
- take out the filter from the bottom of the tub as the manual shows, clean it under the tap and remove debris from the sump.
- Result that matters:
- whether the filter had debris holding back the water.
- If it had debris:
- refit it properly and run a programme; if i20 does not return, that was the cause.
- If it was clean:
- rules out the filter; move on to the sink spigot.
- Evidence to keep:
- a photo of the filter before cleaning.
Evidence: Fix Dishwasher Not Draining | Error I20 Guide | Zanussi
Sink spigot and trap plug
- Who:
- you, no special tools.
- How:
- look at the trap spigot where the drain hose enters and check it is not clogged. If the appliance is new or was moved, open that inlet and check the factory blanking plug was removed.
- Result that matters:
- whether the spigot is clear and has no plug.
- If it was clogged or plugged:
- clean it or remove the plug, reconnect and run a programme.
- If it was clear:
- rules out the spigot; check the hose.
- Evidence to keep:
- a photo of the spigot and of the plug if there was one.
Evidence: Fix Dishwasher Not Draining | Error I20 Guide | Zanussi
Drain hose measurements
- Who:
- you, with a tape measure.
- How:
- measure the height of the drain point from the floor and work out the hose length. Look for kinks or damage along the visible length.
- Result that matters:
- whether the drain point is between 40 and 85 cm, the hose is no longer than 400 cm and it is not kinked.
- If something is off:
- correct it or ask the installer to before blaming the appliance.
- If everything is right and i20 returns:
- the fault is inside; unplug and book an engineer.
- Evidence to keep:
- the measurements and a photo of the hose route.
Evidence: Fix Dishwasher Not Draining | Error I20 Guide | Zanussi
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
- Zanussi
- Product type
- Dishwashers
Known code variants
- AEG dishwasher AL6
- AEG dishwasher C2
- AEG dishwasher F2
- AEG dishwasher i20
- AEG Fehler i20
- AEG Geschirrspüler AL6
- AEG Geschirrspüler C2
- AEG Geschirrspüler F2
- AEG Geschirrspüler i20
- AEG i20 error
- AEG lavastoviglie AL6
- AEG lavastoviglie C2
- AEG lavastoviglie F2
- AEG lavastoviglie i20
- AEG lavavajillas AL6
- AEG lavavajillas C2
- AEG lavavajillas F2
- AEG lavavajillas i20
- AEG lave-vaisselle AL6
- AEG lave-vaisselle C2
- AEG lave-vaisselle F2
- AEG lave-vaisselle i20
- code erreur AEG i20
- Electrolux dishwasher i20
- Electrolux dishwasher not draining
- Electrolux i20
- error AEG i20
- error i20 lavavajillas Electrolux
- error i20 lavavajillas Zanussi
- errore AEG i20
- I20
- i20 AEG dishwasher
- i20 AEG Geschirrspüler
- i20 AEG lavastoviglie
- i20 AEG lavavajillas
- i20 AEG lave-vaisselle
- lavavajillas Electrolux no desagua
- lavavajillas Zanussi no desagua
- Zanussi dishwasher AL6
- Zanussi dishwasher C2
- Zanussi dishwasher F2
- Zanussi dishwasher i20
- Zanussi dishwasher not draining
- Zanussi i20 error
- Zanussi i20 lavavajillas
- Zanussi lavavajillas AL6
- Zanussi lavavajillas C2
- Zanussi lavavajillas F2
What it means
Zanussi defines i20 as a problem with water drainage: the appliance cannot empty the tub. Water leaves through the filter and sump, the drain pump, the hose and the spigot on the sink trap. Zanussi names a clogged sink spigot, a dirty filter, a badly installed hose or a trap blanking plug left in after installation. If none of these explains it, the fault is inside and the code does not say whether it is the pump.
Warnings and stop conditions
- Mediumeditorial warning
Water and electricity: unplug before taking out the filter or touching standing water; do not bail out the tub with the appliance connected.
Evidence: Fix Dishwasher Not Draining | Error I20 Guide | Zanussi
Symptoms and causes
Probable causes · in order
- Dirty filter or sumpCommon
Fits if you see food residue in the filter or dirty water at the bottom. You fix it by cleaning the filter.
Evidence: Fix Dishwasher Not Draining | Error I20 Guide | Zanussi
- Clogged sink spigotPossible
Fits if the sink also drains poorly or the spigot where the hose enters has debris.
Evidence: Fix Dishwasher Not Draining | Error I20 Guide | Zanussi
- Hose badly installed or kinkedPossible
Zanussi sets the maximum length at 400 cm and the drain point between 40 and 85 cm. Outside that, or kinked, water does not leave properly.
Evidence: Fix Dishwasher Not Draining | Error I20 Guide | Zanussi
- Trap blanking plug not removedPossible
Only if the appliance was installed or moved recently: the plug in the trap inlet stops the water leaving.
Evidence: Fix Dishwasher Not Draining | Error I20 Guide | Zanussi
Virtual technician
Does I20 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.
Sources and technical references
- 1
Fix Dishwasher Not Draining | Error I20 Guide | Zanussi
Zanussi (Electrolux Group) · official_doc
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