The F17 error code on a Hisense washing machine means that the dryer is overheating, and the machine has stopped due to a safety issue.
The F17 error code is exclusive to Hisense washer and dryer combination models as it relates only to the drying cycles on the machine.
This is usually caused when the vent at the top of the door seal is blocked or covered by something like a duvet or towels which causes the warm air to back up into the dryer ducting at the top of the machine.
If you have been trying to wash and dry a full load of washing or something large like a duvet then there’s a good chance that the vent has been blocked.
Before you go ahead and try to repair your washer dryer you should make sure that it’s isolated from the electrical supply so that you can work safely.
This is everything that you should do to fix the F17 error code on a Hisense washing machine.
Make sure the drum is not overloaded with clothes
When a Hisense washer dryer starts to display a fault, code related to the dryer overheating is normally caused by something blocking the duct at the top of the door seal.
This is because when the duct is covered it causes the warm air to go back up inside the duct and then that warm air increases in temperature without proper ventilation.
The thermostats will then trip out and report back to the circuit board to end the cycle so that the machine doesn’t overheat and catch fire.
If you’re washing items like bedding, duvets, or lots of towels then there’s a good chance that resetting the machine and putting on a smaller wash load will fix this problem.
Check that the vent is clear of any obstructions
Another possible cause of this fault is that something is stuck inside the vent or at the end near the seal.
It’s common for older machines to have excess lint build up over time which can then clump together and stop the fan from turning and cause poor airflow.
You can usually get a good idea of how blocked the duct is on your machine by checking the end of the vent near the door seal. If there’s a large amount of fluff, then there’s a good chance it’s blocked.
You can also remove the lid from the machine and then unscrew the bolts that hold the vent together so that you can take a look inside.
If there’s a lot of lint gathered around the fan, then you should remove it. It’s also a good idea to take a look down the condenser bottle which is where lint can get wet and stick together.
It can be difficult to unblock a condenser bottle on a washer dryer but using something long and thin to push down is normally the best way to do it. You can remove the bottom of the condenser bottle from the drum and then get all of the gathered lint out of the machine.
It’s also important to make sure that small items of clothing like socks and underwear are not stuck at the end of the vent. It’s common for items on the spin cycle to get thrown around and get blocked inside your machine.
Test and replace the thermostats
If you have made sure that the vent is clear of blockages, and you haven’t been overloading the machine with clothes then you should move on to testing the thermostats.
Most Hisense washer dryers will have between 1 – 3 thermostats near the heating element duct that check the temperature of the air during a cycle.
Some of these thermostats will trip out during a cycle if the air becomes too hot and they are usually reset by clicking in a red button on the back of them.
You should start off by trying to reset the thermostats by pushing them in. If they are pushed all the way in, then you can go on testing the other thermostats for an open circuit.
Sometimes it’s not evident that the thermostats are faulty without extensive testing with an electrical multimeter and knowing the operating temperatures that the manufacturers design them for.
If you suspect that the thermostats on your machine are causing the F17 error code as opposed to a blockage in the duct, then you can order and replace each of them.
Summary
That’s everything you need to know about the F17 error code on a Hisense washing machine. Here is a summary of everything:
- Start off by making sure that the drum is not overloaded and that a large item is not blocking the vent at the top of the door seal – This is the most common reason that a washer dryer will start to overheat in the dryer duct
- If you are sure that the machine is not overloaded, then you should take a look inside the vent near the seal and look for any blockages or obstructions like excess lint or a small item of clothing that may have gotten stuck
- Finally, you should test the thermostats that are located near the heating element at the top of the machine – If you find that they are faulty then you should replace them
If you found this article helpful, then you might be interested in taking a look at our Hisense washing machine error codes guide which includes each fault code and what you can do to fix them.
