Hotpoint F06 fault codewhat it means and how to fix it
Water fill timeout. The other code Hotpoint hand back to you, and their own checklist covers pressure as well as the tap.
Take care
What F06 means
F06 is a water fill timeout: the machine opened the valve, waited, and did not get the water it expected within the time the programme allows. Along with the drain fault it is one of only two codes in Hotpoint’s dishwasher list where they suggest you look yourself before calling, and their checklist is more thorough than most manufacturers manage.
In their words, check that the water supply is present and of sufficient pressure, that the tap is fully on, and that the fill hose is not restricted. The phrase worth pausing on is "of sufficient pressure", because it covers a case people rarely think of. A dishwasher does not simply need water, it needs water arriving at a certain rate.
A tap that has been turned most of the way on, an isolation valve someone left half closed after work under the sink, or a mains supply shared with something else running at the same time can all deliver water that flows perfectly well into a glass but too slowly for the machine to complete its fill inside the timeout. So a working tap does not rule this out, and the useful test is not whether water comes out but how fast.
What causes it
| Cause | What is actually happening | How likely |
|---|---|---|
| Tap or isolation valve not fully open | Hotpoint list this explicitly. Free to eliminate, and the first thing to check if anyone has been working under the sink. | Common |
| Inlet filter blocked | The gauze where the hose meets the machine, silted with grit from the mains. Cleanable by hand in a few minutes. | Common |
| Fill hose kinked or restricted | Hotpoint’s wording is "not restricted", which covers crushing behind the machine as well as an outright kink. | Common |
| Supply pressure too low | Water arrives, but too slowly to complete the fill within the timeout. The tap works, which is exactly why this one gets missed. | Occasional |
| Fill solenoid valve failed | Hotpoint have a separate code for this, F02, but a weak or sticking valve can present as a timeout instead. | Occasional |
What to try yourself
Check the tap is fully open. Turn it right off and right back on rather than judging by the handle, and check any isolation valve under the sink too.
Pull the machine out far enough to see the fill hose along its whole length and straighten anything crushed.
Test the rate, not just the presence. Turn the tap off, disconnect the hose at the tap end and run it into a bucket for fifteen seconds. A dribble means the problem is your supply.
With the hose off, clean the inlet filter where it connects to the machine.
Reconnect, turn the water back on and run a short programme, watching the connection for weeping.
Get a qualified appliance engineer to look at your Hotpoint F06
We do not pass enquiries to a repair firm, so there is no form here. When you book a qualified appliance engineer, tell them the make, the model and the exact code or message on the display, and ask whether they carry parts for this make — that is what turns one visit into a repair rather than a quote.
What it costs to fix
Typical repair cost
£0–£160
Time on site
30 minutes
Usually free. A replacement fill valve is typically £85 to £155 fitted.
Typical UK prices including parts and labour, updated September 2026. Your quote may differ.
Own this appliance and had this code? . Nothing is published until a person has read it.
Related Hotpoint fault codes
- F07Get it checkedThe flow turbine reported no water arriving when the machine had in fact filled. The measuring device rather than the water supply.Related: water intake
- F05Get it checkedThe pressure switch never confirmed the fill, though the turbine says the water went in. A code Hotpoint describe in detail and then leave off their own list.Related: water intake
- F03Get it checkedDrain failure or timeout — one of only two codes Hotpoint invite you to look at yourself, and usually a blockage.Related: same brand
- F10Get it checkedHeating element fault — and the page to read the safety notice on if your machine was built between 2005 and 2015.Related: same brand
- F01Stop — call an engineerAnti-flooding overflow. The one code in the Hotpoint list that offers no owner check at all — it goes straight to an engineer.Related: same brand
- F08Get it checkedTemperature timeout on the two-digit system. Check the shape of your code first, because a single-digit F8 belongs to a different code set and is not about heat at all.Related: same brand
Own a Hotpoint dishwasher? Save it and its codes come first next time.
Related guides
Common questions about Hotpoint F06
The tap works fine. Can it still be the supply?
Yes, and this is the most commonly missed cause. Hotpoint specifically say the supply must be "of sufficient pressure". The machine has a fixed window to complete its fill, so water that trickles in perfectly well is still a failure as far as the programme is concerned. Time the flow into a bucket rather than just checking water appears.
What is the difference between F06 and F02?
Hotpoint list F02 as a water fill solenoid valve failure and F06 as a water fill timeout. F02 points at the component, F06 at the outcome. F06 is the one they invite you to investigate; F02 goes straight to an engineer.
What is the LED pattern?
LEDs 7 and 8 lit, 6 and 9 off — 2 plus 4 makes 6. Steady, not flashing.
Technical review
Not reviewed by an engineer
No engineer has read this page. Severity follows what the manufacturer publishes, and we would rather tell you that than let a byline imply a sign-off.
Sources and how we verified this
We establish the facts from the sources below and then write the explanation ourselves. We do not copy manufacturer wording and we do not host their manuals.
- Manufacturer support portal
This page has not been reviewed by an engineer, and we would rather tell you that than imply otherwise. The severity rating follows what the manufacturer publishes: where they say isolate the appliance and call someone, so do we.