Continental Girbau Washer Error Code ALn / E: Drain Alarm
ALn / E means water is still detected a set time after the drain opens. Look for anything blocking the drain, then restart. If it returns, a technician should check the drain valve, air dome, pressure tube and pressure switch wiring.
Medium: the cycle stops at the drain step, but the washer is otherwise intact once the drain is cleared.
- Code
- ALn / E
- Maker
- Continental Girbau
- Equipment
- Coin & card laundry
- Applies to
- E-Series washer-extractors with Logi / LogiPro / Vended control
What does Continental Girbau error code ALn / E mean?
After the wash step the control opens the drain valve and gives the tub a set time to empty. It reads the water level through a pressure switch connected to the tub by an air dome and a small pressure tube. If it still detects water when that time ends, it concludes the drain is not working and displays ALn / E. The manual names two causes: a clogged drain valve and a clogged air dome or tube. The checks start with the drain valve and any obstruction in it, then the air dome and the pressure tube, then the wiring between the control board and the drain valve and between the microprocessor and the pressure switch. The valve or the pressure switch is replaced if the tests call for it. A blocked drain leaves real water in the tub, while a blocked air dome or tube can make the control think there is water when the tub is empty, and only a technician can tell the two apart without guessing.
Affected models and control systems
Continental Girbau E-Series washer-extractors with Logi, LogiPro or Vended control, sheet names EH020, EM025, EH060, RMG055 and smaller.
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
- ALn / E on the display
- Water remains in the tub or drum after the drain step
- Cycle will not move on to the spin
Possible causes
Listed in Continental Girbau's documentation
- Clogged drain valve
- Clogged air dome or pressure tube
Other likely causes — what usually sits behind error code ALn / E on this control. A technician confirms which one it is before any part is replaced.
- Linens or lint in the drain line downstream of the valve
- Drain valve whose actuator no longer opens fully
- Wire to the pressure switch that has chafed or loosened
Safe checks before calling for service
- Press stop and check whether there is standing water in the tub, taking care with hot water.
- Look at the floor drain and the drain pipe for obvious blockages.
- Restart the program once and watch whether the water leaves.
- If the alarm returns, note whether water stays in the tub or the tub is actually empty.
How a technician diagnoses error code ALn / E
- Confirm the water level in the tub against what the control reports.
- Inspect the drain valve and the pipe beyond it for obstruction.
- Check the air dome and pressure tube for blockage.
- Test the wiring from the board to the drain valve and from the microprocessor to the pressure switch.
- Replace the drain valve or pressure switch only after they fail testing.
- The drain valve and pressure switch are wired to a live control board.
- Removing a clogged drain valve with water in the tub can flood the area around electrical parts.
- Reading the pressure switch correctly takes a meter and knowledge of the control's level settings.
How error code ALn / E differs from similar codes
E is the drain alarm. L reports water detected when the washer should be empty, and SL reports high water for five seconds.
Technical reference
- Maker documentation
- Continental Girbau owner support
- Edition
- 3/18/24
- Models / control
- E-Series washer-extractors with Logi / LogiPro / Vended control
- Section
- Alarm table, p.1-6
- 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 Continental Girbau coin & card laundry error codes
Can I drain the tub myself?
Only if the maker's manual shows an operator drain method. Otherwise leave it for a technician, since the cause may be a valve.
Does ALn / E always mean a blocked drain?
No. A blocked air dome or tube can mimic it by misreporting the level.
Will the next cycle work?
Only if the cause is gone. Otherwise the alarm returns at the same drain step.
Need help with Continental Girbau error code ALn / E?
A technician confirms the cause on site and gives you the price in writing before any work starts.