Error codes
Whirlpool Washers
| Code | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| F8 E1, LF, Lo FL | Not detecting enough incoming water. Check both valves fully open, hoses not kinked, inlet screens clean |
| F9 E1 | Long drain time (over ~8 minutes): drain hose position or clog |
| F5 E2 / F5 E3 | Door/lid not locking |
| F5 E4, dr | Door not opened for 3 consecutive cycles (reminder) |
| F7 E1 | Motor speed sensing error |
| F0 E2, Sd, SUd | Excess suds (use HE detergent) |
| F0 E5, ob | Off-balance |
| F3 E1 | System error: power-cycle |
No matching code in this list. Check the label inside the door for your model number, or call or text us and describe what the display shows.
What you can check yourself
0 / 4 checked
- For F8 E1 or LF (not filling), make sure both water valves are fully open, hoses aren't kinked, and the inlet screens inside the hose connections are clean.
- For F9 E1 (drain taking over 8 minutes), check the drain hose position — it should form a clean loop, not be jammed deep into the standpipe or kinked underneath the machine.
- For F5 E2 or F5 E3 (door/lid not locking), check for anything caught in the door, and make sure the door is pushed fully closed before starting the cycle.
- For F0 E2/Sd/SUd (excess suds), switch to HE detergent and use less of it — this is rarely a hardware issue.
Still not working? A technician can take it from here.
Book a visitWhen to call a technician
Call a technician for F7 E1 (motor speed sensing) or F3 E1 (system error) that returns after a power cycle, and for any code on a washer still making an unusual smell or smoke.
Why Whirlpool and Maytag share this list
Maytag has been owned by Whirlpool Corporation since 2006, and many Maytag washers use the same control boards and sensor logic as Whirlpool-branded models. That's genuinely useful if you own a Maytag and can only find a Whirlpool code list — the codes and fixes below apply to both.
F5 E4 isn't actually an error
F5 E4 (sometimes shown as "dr") is a reminder that the door hasn't been opened in three consecutive cycles — Whirlpool added it to prompt owners to air out the drum. It clears once you open the door; it doesn't indicate anything is wrong.
A note on this brand's codes: Older Whirlpool models (pre-2015 or so) sometimes show legacy codes like F20 (water inlet) or F21 (drain) instead of the F8 E1/F9 E1 format — the underlying checks are the same.