The E15 error code on a Candy tumble dryer means that the heater relay is faulty and needs to be repaired or replaced.
This can also indicate a fault with the heating element or a problem with the wires that gives power to the heating element.
Sometimes the E15 code can be caused by a problem with the printed circuit board (PCB) although this is rarer than other faults.
Before you go ahead and carry out any inspections or repairs to your tumble dryer, you should make sure that it is disconnected from the electrical supply for safety reasons.
This is what you should do if your dryer has the E15 error code:
Check the heater relay
The heater relay is located on the printed circuit board. You can inspect the circuit board by removing the lid and then removing the front panel that holds the circuit board into place.
The heater relay is an electromagnetic switch that can turn on or isolate a large electrical circuit. In this case, being the heating element.
You should be looking out for the electromagnet which is part of the heater relay. It looks like a coil of bronze wiring but it’s sometimes covered by rubber.
The most important thing that you should be looking out for is any evidence that the control board might have failed.
If you see any burn marks that are black and can’t be removed by rubbing your finger across them then the control board might have failed.
Sometimes the capacitors on the control board might be clearly damaged and will be bulging out.
The capacitors on the circuit board can be replaced by matching up the capacitor and removing the old one so you can solder a new one on.
Another sign that there is a problem with the circuit board is if it’s wet. When a control board is damaged by water then it will often create electrical shorts and damage the board beyond repair.
Make sure the condenser unit is clear
If you have a condenser tumble dryer which means that there is not a vent that exhausts the air from the machine whilst it’s running, then you should check the condenser unit.
The condenser unit is where the moisture from the warm air is removed and turned into water that’s then sent to the water tank.
Over time lint from the clothes will build up in the lint trap and if it’s not cleaned out after every cycle it will most likely make its way down to the condenser.
This means that they are prone to becoming blocked up which results in poor drying performance and overheating. It’s also one of the reasons a dryer will stop drying your clothes.
If your machine has indicated the E15 error code, then there’s a chance it was caused by poor airflow due to the condenser being blocked up with lint.
You should remove it and attempt to unblock it. A good way to unblock a tumble dryer condenser is by using a pressure washer so that the lint can be blasted out of it.
Replace the heater
If the heater relay and the condenser unit don’t seem to be the cause of the problem, then you should move on to replacing the heating element.
The heating element on Candy tumble dryers are prone to failing regularly and are one of the most common parts to be replaced on Candy dryers.
You can usually find the correct spare part for your tumble dryer online and replacing the heating element is a straightforward task.
It’s a case of removing the back panel and unscrewing the heater. You can then swap over the electrical connections and refit the heater and cover.
If you have an electrical multimeter you can often check for continuity across the heating element and the thermostats. This is a good way to diagnose a problem with the heater.
Summary
That’s everything you need to know about fixing the E15 error code on a Candy tumble dryer.
Here is a quick recap of everything that has been discussed:
- Start off by checking the heater relay which is located on the control board – This is what the E15 error code indicates a problem with and is one of the most common reasons for this fault
- Make sure that the condenser unit is free from any blockages – Poor airflow can cause overheating which can damage the machine and is also known to cause the E15 fault.
- If the heater relay and the condenser are not the cause of the problem, then you should move on to replacing the heating element – This is at the back of the machine and can be tested with a multimeter for continuity and insulation
It’s important to remember that the root cause of this problem is often airflow related. You should always remember to clear out the lint trap at the front of the machine after every drying cycle.
Making sure your dryer doesn’t get blocked keeps it running efficiently and can stop some of the most common faults which will save you money in the future.
If you need any more help with Candy dryer error codes, you can go and take a look at our complete walkthrough which explains each error code briefly and what you can do to repair each of them.
