What this error means
Flow meter fault — the water intake measurement sensor has failed or is reading incorrectly
The E28 or F28 error means the flow meter — which counts the volume of water entering the machine — is not sending a signal to the control board, or is sending an inconsistent reading. This is most commonly caused by a blocked flow meter impeller, a wiring fault, or a failed flow meter unit. It can also be triggered by very low water supply pressure preventing the impeller from spinning.
What you'll need first
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Step-by-step
Symptoms to look for
- Machine begins to fill then stops immediately with E28 or F28 displayed
- Fill cycle starts but the programme does not progress past the filling phase
- Machine reports a flow meter fault even with good water supply pressure
- Error is intermittent — sometimes the machine fills normally and other times shows E28
How to fix it
Turn the water supply tap fully anti-clockwise. Disconnect the inlet hose from the back of the machine, point the end into a bucket and briefly open the tap for 3 seconds. You should see a strong, uninterrupted flow. A trickle or intermittent flow means the issue is with the water supply — not the machine. The flow meter impeller requires a minimum flow rate to spin and register.
With the water turned off and the inlet hose disconnected, look into the machine's inlet port and locate the small cylindrical mesh filter. Remove it carefully with tweezers, rinse it under running water to remove limescale and debris, and refit it firmly. A restricted supply caused by a blocked filter can prevent the flow meter impeller from reaching the speed needed to register.
With the machine fully unplugged, remove the rear panel. The flow meter is a small cylindrical or rectangular unit mounted in the water inlet path — between the inlet valve and the drum entry point. It has the inlet hose or internal hose connected to it and a small electrical connector. Locate it and check that the electrical connector is firmly seated and the hoses are properly attached with no leaks around the joints.
Disconnect the flow meter from its hose connections carefully — have a towel ready for residual water. Look into the inlet port of the flow meter with a torch. You should see a small plastic impeller (paddle wheel) inside. Check it is not jammed with debris, limescale, or a small grit particle. Try gently blowing through the inlet — you should feel the impeller spin with minimal resistance.
With the machine unplugged and the flow meter connector disconnected, set a multimeter to resistance and test across the two signal terminals on the flow meter connector. A working flow meter typically reads between 100 and 1,000 ohms depending on the model — consult the service documentation for your specific Neff machine for the exact value. An open circuit reading suggests the Hall effect sensor inside the meter has failed.
Reconnect the hoses and electrical connector firmly, replace the rear panel, turn the water on fully and run a 40-degree programme. The machine should fill, the flow meter should register the intake volume and the control board should allow the fill cycle to proceed normally.
When to call an engineer
- Flow meter impeller is jammed and will not spin freely after cleaning
- Flow meter reads open circuit on electrical test — internal Hall effect sensor has failed
- Fault persists with confirmed good water pressure and clean inlet filter
- Flow meter body is cracked or the hose connection points are leaking
Frequently asked questions
What does the flow meter do?
Can I use the machine with E28 showing?
Could low water pressure cause E28?
Is the flow meter expensive to replace?
🎯 What is likely causing this fault?
⚠️ Estimates based on common faults — not a guaranteed diagnosis. Always verify before ordering parts.
Parts you may need
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Usually found on a label inside the door frame or on the back panel of the machine.
| Part | Approx. UK Cost | Find it |
|---|---|---|
| Flow Sensor | £25 - £30 | 🛒 Amazon UK → |
| Flow Sensor | £20 - £25 | 🏷️ eBay UK → |
ℹ️ Prices are approximate. Always check the part number matches your model before ordering. Not sure of your model number? Find out how to locate it here.