Indesit Dishwasher I10 Error Code: What It Means and How to Fix It

Step 1 — Reset the dishwasher first: Switch the machine off at the power button, wait 60 seconds, then switch it back on and try running a short cycle. A transient glitch in the control board can sometimes trigger a spurious I10 code, and a reset clears it. No tools needed.

Step 2 — Check the water supply stopcock is fully open: Look under the kitchen sink for the isolation valve on the cold water pipe feeding the dishwasher. It should be inline with the pipe (parallel = open; perpendicular = closed). Turn it fully anti-clockwise to ensure it’s completely open. No tools needed, though a flathead screwdriver may be required for slotted isolation valves.

Step 3 — Inspect the inlet hose for kinks: Carefully pull the dishwasher forward slightly (get a helper if it’s heavy) and visually trace the grey or blue fill hose from the back of the machine to the stopcock. Straighten out any kinks or tight bends. Ensure the hose has a gentle curve with no sharp angles where it passes through a cabinet hole.

Step 4 — Check your household water pressure: Turn on a cold tap elsewhere in the kitchen. If the flow seems unusually weak, check with your neighbours or visit your water supplier’s website — there may be local supply works. If pressure is low across the whole house, the fault is external and will resolve itself; call your water company’s helpline if it persists.

Step 5 — Clean the inlet hose filter (mesh filter): Turn off the stopcock, then unscrew the inlet hose from the back of the dishwasher by hand (have a small towel ready for residual water). At the connection point on the dishwasher’s inlet valve, you’ll see a small mesh filter screen. Use a pair of needle-nose pliers to carefully pull it out, then rinse it under the tap and use an old toothbrush to remove limescale or debris. Refit, reconnect the hose, and turn the stopcock back on. Tools needed: small towel, needle-nose pliers, old toothbrush.

Step 6 — Check the inlet hose for internal blockage: With the hose disconnected from the machine (stopcock still off), place the free end into a bucket and briefly open the stopcock. Water should flow freely and strongly. If it dribbles or doesn’t flow at all, the hose itself is blocked or has collapsed internally and needs replacing. A replacement Indesit-compatible inlet hose costs around £10–£20 from appliance spare parts suppliers such as eSpares or 4ourhouse.

Step 7 — Inspect for frozen pipes (winter months only): If you’re attempting this fix in cold weather and your utility room or the area behind the machine is unheated, feel along the inlet hose for any unusually cold or rigid sections. If frozen, do NOT use a naked flame to thaw it. Instead, use a hairdryer on a low setting held at a safe distance, or place a warm (not boiling) damp cloth against the pipe until it thaws.

Step 8 — Run a test cycle and observe: After completing any of the above steps, run the dishwasher on a short or eco cycle and stay nearby for the first few minutes. Listen for the sound of water entering the machine (a quiet hissing or rushing sound in the first 60–90 seconds). If you hear it filling normally and the cycle completes without the I10 code returning, the fault is resolved.

Step 9 — If the I10 code persists after all the above: Do not attempt to dismantle the water inlet solenoid valve or the pressure switch yourself, as this involves accessing the electrical components inside the appliance. At this point, the fault most likely lies with the inlet valve or pressure switch — components that require safe isolation of the appliance and some electrical knowledge to replace correctly. This is the point to call a qualified appliance engineer.