Bosch WNA14490GB Washer Dryer Not Draining & Shows E36 Error Code

Hi Claudia, sorry about the problem you are having with your Bosch WNA14490GB Washer Dryer.

An E36 error code on a Bosch washing machine generally points to a draining issue. When a appliance has been sitting in storage for a long period or has recently been moved, especially to a warmer climate, a few specific things can cause this fault. To narrow down the exact cause, you will first need to locate your machine's full model number, which includes the two digits found after the "GB" suffix, as this allows you to check the exact technical diagrams for your machine.

A common and often overlooked cause of this issue involves the sump hose, which sits at the bottom of the wash drum. These hoses contain an anti-siphon ball designed to float and seal off the drum during a wash cycle to prevent detergent from escaping. When a washing machine is left unused for months, the residual water inside evaporates. If the rubber pipe completely dries out, this ball can easily become physically stuck to the inside of the hose, entirely blocking the water from draining. To fix this, you will need to remove the sump hose to inspect it, free the ball if it is stuck and check that no small items of clothing like a sock or a handkerchief have slipped past the drum and jammed the pipe.

If the sump hose is completely clear, the drain pump itself may be the problem. Even if you have already checked that the pump filter and the visible impeller blade are clear, the pump motor can still fail internally after a long period of inactivity. You can test this by bench testing the pump motor outside of the machine to ensure the impeller actually spins under power. Fortunately, if the pump has failed, replacement parts directly from Bosch are relatively inexpensive and straightforward to fit.

Finally, do not rule out a simple blockage caused during the physical move itself. Removal companies frequently push a cork or a temporary plug deep inside the waste hose to stop water from leaking out onto other furniture during transit. If this plug was left inside, or if the waste pipe connection in your new home is restricted, the machine will not drain. The easiest way to isolate the issue is to disconnect the waste hose from the wall plumbing and place it directly over a sink or into a large bucket, then run a rinse cycle. If water flows freely into the bucket, your machine is working perfectly and the blockage is in your home's waste plumbing. If no water comes out at all, the fault lies within the machine's pump or sump hose.

I've left a video link below and I hope this information will help you. If you have more questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Have a good day, Paul.