Electrolux Washer-Dryer Error Code 79: Filter Lid Open
Error code 79 means the dryer program unit started with the lint drawer open, or the machine ran more than 40 hours without the lint drawer being emptied. Close the drawer if it is open and clean the filter. The manual notes this is not relevant for the WD machine.
Low: an operator reminder; the machine is fine once the drawer is closed and cleaned.
- Code
- Error code 79, FILTER LID OPEN
- Equipment
- Industrial laundry
- Applies to
- Compass Control dryer program unit
What does Electrolux Professional error code 79 mean?
This reminder protects the airflow of a dryer. A lint filter that is not in place, or is never cleaned, lets lint build up in the air path. The dryer program unit therefore checks the lint drawer at the start of a program and counts running hours. It shows ERROR 079 / FILTER LID OPEN if the drawer is open at start or if the machine has run more than 40 hours since the drawer was last emptied. The fix is simple: close the drawer if it is open and clean the filter. There is a catch for washer-dryers. The manual's note for this code says it is not relevant for the WD machine, so if a WD shows it, the message may be a leftover entry of the shared code list, and a technician should confirm what the display means on that unit.
Affected models and control systems
This applies to the Compass Control washer-dryers WD4130 and WD4240, and the manual says the dryer codes apply only to these two. The manual adds that this code is not relevant for the WD machine, so check with a technician if it appears.
Code numbers and their meaning can change between control generations. We match the full model and control before acting on a code.
What you may notice
- Display shows ERROR 079 / FILTER LID OPEN
- Program does not start with the lint drawer open
- Reminder appears after long running without cleaning
- Drawer looks closed
Possible causes
Likely causes — what usually sits behind error code 79 on this control. A technician confirms which one it is before any part is replaced.
- Started with the lint drawer open
- Machine ran more than 40 hours without the lint drawer being emptied
- Lint drawer not pushed fully home so the switch reads open
- Hour counter not reset after the last cleaning
- Code shown on a WD machine where the manual says it is not relevant, pointing to a settings or display question
Safe checks before calling for service
- Open the lint drawer, remove the lint and push the drawer firmly back in.
- Check that the drawer sits flat and nothing blocks it.
- Start the program again.
- If the message returns on a WD, note exactly what you did and what the display shows, then call us.
How a technician diagnoses error code 79
- Read the code and ask whether the machine is a WD with a lint drawer.
- Check the lint drawer switch and its position.
- Confirm the running-hour reminder was reset after cleaning.
- Compare with the manual's note that the code is not relevant for the WD machine.
- Adjust or replace the switch only if it tests bad.
- The lint drawer switch and the reminder settings are in the control system and need a meter or the service menu.
- A WD showing a code the manual calls not relevant needs a technician to confirm what is being reported.
- Dryer lint build-up is a fire concern, so it should not be ignored.
How error code 79 differs from similar codes
Code 79 is an operator reminder in the shared code list; the manual says it is not relevant for the WD machine.
Technical reference
- Maker documentation
- Electrolux Professional owner support
- Edition
- 438 9228-61/EN, 2011.08.25
- Models / control
- Compass Control dryer program unit
- Section
- Troubleshooting, printed p.138 (Error codes)
- Checked
- October 2026
We use the maker's document to read the code and do not reproduce it. Always confirm the complete model and control before applying these steps.
Related Electrolux Professional industrial laundry error codes
Do I just empty the drawer?
Yes, close the drawer if open and clean the filter.
Why does the manual say not relevant for the WD?
The code appears in the list, but the manual notes it does not apply to the WD machine.
How long can the dryer run before the reminder?
The manual says more than 40 hours without emptying the drawer.
Need help with Electrolux Professional error code 79?
A technician confirms the cause on site and gives you the price in writing before any work starts.