What 26 Means
Fault 26 belongs to the dispensing system rather than to the main water inlet. AquaSmart machines route detergent, fabric softener and bleach through separate color-clipped valves, and the module has read the valve diagnostic circuit and concluded that the detergent valve - the one with the purple clip - is failing. F&P names an incorrectly connected harness or an open circuit coil as the likeliest causes.
Common Causes of 26
- The detergent valve harness not correctly fastened, or pins bent in the connector
- An open circuit detergent valve coil
- A problem in the module's valve diagnostic circuit
🔧 One Safe Check You Can Try
Turn both taps off and unplug the machine, then look at the valve block behind the dispenser and confirm the purple-clipped valve still has its connector pushed fully home and square.
⚠ Why You Shouldn't Go Further Than That
- Shut both taps and unplug the machine before the valve block is touched, because these are mains-powered solenoids mounted on live water connections.
- The dispensing valves sit close together on one block, so a firm pull on one harness unseats its neighbors and turns one code into three.
- Detergent residue creeps into these connectors and corrodes terminals that still look sound, which is why the harness is measured rather than eyeballed.
- Replacing a valve block for a coil whose plug had simply worked loose is a common and entirely avoidable expense.
Opening a panel to inspect or repair something yourself doesn't automatically cancel your manufacturer's warranty — but it can risk accidental damage, and some manufacturers do have specific service conditions. Check your product's warranty terms, or ask us, before deciding.