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Whirlpool US washing machine error codes

23 codes that Whirlpool, Maytag and Amana publish for their washing machines, each with what it means, the likely cause, what you can safely check and when to call a technician. Tap your code:

Switch off and unplug before checking. Anything electrical, anything to do with gas, and any water leak at the mains: call a technician. Codes that need one are marked Technician.

Read this first

This page covers US (North American) models: the front-load and top-load HE washers Whirlpool, Maytag and Amana sell in the United States and Canada. Whirlpool’s US help site publishes one short table for each kind of washer, and Maytag’s and Amana’s help sites carry the same two tables word for word under their own names, so one list serves all three brands. Whirlpool says the tables may not hold every code your model can show, and models differ: your owner’s manual lists your washer’s own codes. Many codes here are not faults at all — a lid left open, a child lock, too much detergent — and the fix is yours. Anything else shown as F and a number, often alternating with E and a number (F7 E1), is a system fault. A Whirlpool washing machine sold in the UK or Europe uses different codes: see the Hotpoint, Whirlpool and Indesit page.

F8 E1 LO FL LF Water is filling too slowly

What it means
The washer senses that too little water is coming in: filling is taking too long. Front loaders show F8 E1 or LO FL, top loaders LF, Lo FL or F8 E1.
Likely cause
A closed or half-open tap, a kinked inlet hose, or an anti-flood device fitted in the supply line that restricts the flow.
What you can safely check

Switch off and unplug before checking.

  • Open both the hot and the cold tap fully: Whirlpool says the washer needs both supplies, not just one.
  • Straighten any kink in the inlet hoses.
  • On a front loader, take any anti-flood hose or flood-stop control out of the line to the washer.
  • Press Pause/Cancel twice, then Power once: Whirlpool says this clears the code.
When to call a technician
If water is on at full pressure and the code keeps coming back, book a technician.

Source: Whirlpool, Whirlpool Product Help — Error Codes in my Whirlpool Front Load Washer Checked 2026-09-29.

F9 E1 drn Draining is taking too long

What it means
The washer took longer than expected to pump out: on a front loader, Whirlpool says typically more than 8 minutes. Top loaders show drn.
Likely cause
A kinked or clogged drain hose, a standpipe of the wrong height, or so many suds that the pump cannot clear them. On a new top loader it is often an installation problem.
What you can safely check

Switch off and unplug before checking.

  • Straighten or clear the drain hose, and keep the U-shaped hose form on its end.
  • Check the standpipe (the drainpipe the hose goes into): Whirlpool gives 39 in (99 cm) minimum and 96 in (244 cm) maximum height for a front loader.
  • Use HE (high-efficiency) detergent only: ordinary detergent makes too many suds.
When to call a technician
If the hose and standpipe are right and it still drains slowly, book a technician.

Source: Whirlpool, Whirlpool Product Help — Error Codes in my Whirlpool Front Load Washer Checked 2026-09-29.

F5 E2 Door is not locking

What it means
The front loader’s door lock is not locking as it should.
Likely cause
Something caught in the door, or the door not quite closed.
What you can safely check

Switch off and unplug before checking.

  • Make sure nothing — a sleeve, a sock — is trapped in the door and that it shuts completely.
  • Press Pause/Cancel twice, then Power once: Whirlpool says this clears the code.
When to call a technician
If the door is closed and clear and the code comes back, book a technician: the lock itself may be at fault.

Source: Whirlpool, Whirlpool Product Help — Error Codes in my Whirlpool Front Load Washer Checked 2026-09-29.

F7 E1 Motor cannot reach speed

What it means
A motor speed-sensing error: the drum cannot get up to the speed the cycle asks for.
Likely cause
Shipping bolts still fitted from delivery, or an overloaded drum.
What you can safely check

Switch off and unplug before checking.

  • On a new washer, check that all the shipping bolts have been taken out of the back.
  • Take some items out if the drum is overloaded.
  • Press Pause/Cancel twice, then Power once: Whirlpool says this clears the code.
When to call a technician
If neither applies and the code comes back, book a technician.

Source: Whirlpool, Whirlpool Product Help — Error Codes in my Whirlpool Front Load Washer Checked 2026-09-29.

F8 E2 Dispenser problem

What it means
A problem with the detergent dispenser system, on the models that have one.
Likely cause
A detergent drawer or bulk-detergent cartridge clogged with detergent.
What you can safely check

Switch off and unplug before checking.

  • Take out and clean the detergent drawer or cartridge.
When to call a technician
If a clean dispenser still shows the code, book a technician.

Source: Whirlpool, Whirlpool Product Help — Error Codes in my Whirlpool Front Load Washer Checked 2026-09-29.

Sud Sd Too many suds

What it means
There are so many suds that the washer cannot spin the water out. It pauses tumbling and adds extra rinses to break the suds down, which can happen several times and makes the cycle longer: this is normal.
Likely cause
Non-HE detergent, too much detergent, “no splash” or “easy pour” chlorine bleach (it contains a thickener that foams), or a restricted drain hose or standpipe.
What you can safely check

Switch off and unplug before checking.

  • Let the washer finish its extra rinses.
  • Use HE detergent only, in the amount on its label.
  • If you used no-splash bleach, switch to regular liquid bleach.
  • Make sure the drain hose is not kinked or clogged.
When to call a technician
No technician is needed for suds alone; if it shows with HE detergent and a clear drain, book a technician.

Source: Whirlpool, Whirlpool Product Help — Error Codes in my Whirlpool Front Load Washer Checked 2026-09-29.

LOC LC Control lock is on

What it means
The controls have been locked (a child lock): the washer ignores the buttons.
Likely cause
The control-lock button was pressed, sometimes by accident.
What you can safely check

Switch off and unplug before checking.

  • Touch the Control Lock button; on some models you press and hold it. On older models your owner’s manual says which button doubles as the lock.
When to call a technician
No technician is needed: this is a setting, not a fault.

Source: Whirlpool, Whirlpool Product Help — Error Codes in my Whirlpool Front Load Washer Checked 2026-09-29.

dET Detergent cartridge not detected

What it means
On models with a bulk-detergent cartridge, the washer cannot find the cartridge in the dispenser.
Likely cause
The cartridge is missing or not seated, or the drawer is not fully shut. If you use single-dose pods, the message is expected.
What you can safely check

Switch off and unplug before checking.

  • Using single-dose detergent? Whirlpool says to ignore the message.
  • Otherwise, push the cartridge fully into place and shut the dispenser drawer completely.
When to call a technician
No technician is usually needed; if a seated cartridge still is not detected, book a technician.

Source: Whirlpool, Whirlpool Product Help — Error Codes in my Whirlpool Front Load Washer Checked 2026-09-29.

Int Cycle paused or cancelled

What it means
The cycle was paused or cancelled. The washer shows Int while it stops spinning and drains, which Whirlpool says can take 20 to 30 minutes.
Likely cause
Someone paused or cancelled the cycle.
What you can safely check

Switch off and unplug before checking.

  • Wait for the drum to stop and drain.
  • Press Pause/Cancel twice and Power once to clear the code; if it stays, unplug the washer or switch off its power for 5 minutes.
When to call a technician
If the code will not clear after 5 minutes without power, book a technician.

Source: Whirlpool, Whirlpool Product Help — Error Codes in my Whirlpool Front Load Washer Checked 2026-09-29.

rL F34 Items left in the drum for Clean Washer

What it means
The washer found laundry in the drum when you started the Clean Washer cycle, which must run empty.
Likely cause
Clothes or other items left inside.
What you can safely check

Switch off and unplug before checking.

  • Take everything out of the drum and start Clean Washer again.
When to call a technician
No technician is needed if an empty drum clears it; if it still shows with the drum empty, book a technician.

Source: Whirlpool, Whirlpool Product Help — Error Codes in my Whirlpool Front Load Washer Checked 2026-09-29.

HC Hot and cold hoses swapped

What it means
Shown at the end of a top loader’s wash: the cold hose is on the hot inlet and the hot hose on the cold inlet.
Likely cause
The inlet hoses were connected the wrong way round.
What you can safely check

Switch off and unplug before checking.

  • Turn off the water supply, swap the two hoses over, and run another cycle to confirm the code has gone.
When to call a technician
No technician is needed: swapping the hoses is the fix.

Source: Whirlpool, Whirlpool Product Help — Error Codes On Whirlpool Top Load Washers Checked 2026-09-29.

LdL Lid will not lock

What it means
The top loader’s lid is not locking.
Likely cause
Something in the load pressing on the lid, or detergent build-up around the lid lock.
What you can safely check

Switch off and unplug before checking.

  • Push down anything sitting right under the lid.
  • Clean away detergent build-up around the lid lock.
When to call a technician
If the lid still will not lock, book a technician.

Source: Whirlpool, Whirlpool Product Help — Error Codes On Whirlpool Top Load Washers Checked 2026-09-29.

LdU Lid cannot unlock

What it means
The top loader senses something on the lid that stops it unlocking.
Likely cause
An object — a laundry basket, for example — resting on top of the washer.
What you can safely check

Switch off and unplug before checking.

  • Lift everything off the top of the washer.
When to call a technician
If the lid stays locked with nothing on it, book a technician.

Source: Whirlpool, Whirlpool Product Help — Error Codes On Whirlpool Top Load Washers Checked 2026-09-29.

lid Lid left open

What it means
The top loader’s lid was left open. If it stays open more than 10 minutes, the cycle resets and the washer drains.
Likely cause
The lid is open.
What you can safely check

Switch off and unplug before checking.

  • Close the lid to clear the display.
  • If the washer has already drained, start the cycle again without adding more detergent: the load is already soaked with it.
When to call a technician
No technician is needed: close the lid.

Source: Whirlpool, Whirlpool Product Help — Error Codes On Whirlpool Top Load Washers Checked 2026-09-29.

Ofb Load out of balance

What it means
The top loader’s load is off balance and the washer is running a routine to correct it: let it continue.
Likely cause
Laundry bunched on one side, a single heavy item, wet items added late, or a washer that is not level.
What you can safely check

Switch off and unplug before checking.

  • If the washer has stopped with the dial flashing, spread the load evenly around the washplate, close the lid and press Start/Pause.
  • Balance a single heavy item, like a rug, with a few towels.
  • For bulky non-absorbent items such as comforters, use the Bulky/Sheets Deep Water Wash cycle.
  • Check that the washer is level.
When to call a technician
If an evenly spread load on a level washer still shows Ofb, book a technician.

Source: Whirlpool, Whirlpool Product Help — Error Codes On Whirlpool Top Load Washers Checked 2026-09-29.

OL Load too large

What it means
The top loader detected an overload and drained out the water and detergent.
Likely cause
Too much laundry in the drum.
What you can safely check

Switch off and unplug before checking.

  • Take several items out, add HE detergent, close the lid and press Start/Pause.
When to call a technician
No technician is needed: a smaller load is the fix.

Source: Whirlpool, Whirlpool Product Help — Error Codes On Whirlpool Top Load Washers Checked 2026-09-29.

PF Power failure

What it means
The wash cycle was interrupted by a power cut.
Likely cause
The power went off during the cycle.
What you can safely check

Switch off and unplug before checking.

  • Touch and hold Start to carry on with the cycle, or press Power to clear the display.
When to call a technician
No technician is needed for a power cut; if PF shows without one, book a technician.

Source: Whirlpool, Whirlpool Product Help — Error Codes On Whirlpool Top Load Washers Checked 2026-09-29.

A code that is not listed here

For any other F# E# code, Whirlpool’s advice is the same: on a front loader, unplug the washer or switch off its power for 5 minutes, reconnect, choose the cycle again and press Start; on a top loader, press Start/Pause once to clear the code and again to restart. If the code comes back, book service with a qualified technician. Your owner’s manual may list more codes for your model.

We list only codes the source below states. If your code is not here, it may belong to a model the source does not cover: your model’s manual is the authority.

Related pages

Source

Every code on this page comes from these pages, published by Whirlpool, Maytag and Amana and read on the date shown. Meanings are written in our own words; nothing is taken from other makes, other models or third-party code sites.