Error Codes

Whirlpool Dishwasher Error Codes (Also Maytag, KitchenAid)

Whirlpool dishwasher error codes and flashing light patterns: what F9E1, F8E4, F6E1 and the rest mean, the fix to try first, and when to call for repair.

By Atlanta Appliance Techs · Published September 28, 2026 · Updated October 5, 2026 · 11 min read

A man in a navy polo kneeling at a dishwasher and reading a phone

Whirlpool dishwasher error codes use an F#E# format, such as F9E1: the F number identifies the function and the E number the specific error. On models without a display, the Clean light flashes the same code as two sets of blinks, so 9 flashes, a pause and 1 flash means F9E1.

Code	Meaning	Try first	Call a technician when
F9E1	Long drain: not draining	Clean the filter, check the drain hose for kinks, clear the disposal and its knockout plug	The filter and hose are clear and the code returns
F9E2	Drain motor error	Check the knockout plug, clear clogs, straighten the drain hose, cycle the power	The code returns after a power cycle
F8E4	Water detected in the drip tray	Look for suds, check the water connections, empty the drip tray	It comes back, because the leak is still there
F8E5	Fill valve stuck open	Turn off the water, press Cancel once, keep the door closed	Right away
F8E1 or H2O	Not detecting water	Make sure the water is on and the supply hose is not kinked, then press Start	The water is on and the code returns
F8E2	Fill valve electric error	Cycle the power for 30 seconds	The code returns
F6E1	User interface error, main control	Cycle the power for 30 seconds	The code remains
F6E3	Excessive suds	Scoop out the suds, add 2 to 3 tablespoons of cooking oil, run an empty cycle	Suds return with dishwasher detergent and the rinse aid cap in place
F6E4	Water float switch	Cycle the power and check that the dishwasher is level	It returns on a level dishwasher
F7E2	Wash motor error	Cycle the power for 30 seconds	The code returns
F4E2 or F4E3	Heating system or heating error	Cycle the power for 30 seconds	The code returns
F3E2	Thermistor or OWI sensor	Cycle the power for 30 seconds	The code returns
F1E1, F1E2 or F2E2	Control module or main control communication error	Cycle the power for 30 seconds	The code returns
F2E1	Stuck key or console error	Cycle the power for 30 seconds	The code returns
FAE4 or F10E4	Diverter valve error	Cycle the power for 30 seconds	The code returns
FAE5 or F10E5	Diverter leak	Check for leaks under the dishwasher, press Cancel twice, start a new cycle	The code returns

All of these meanings come from Whirlpool's own error code pages. Codes can vary by model, so confirm yours in your owner's manual.

Maytag and KitchenAid publish the same reading method on their own support sites, and list the same meanings for F9E1, F8E4, F6E1, F7E2 and H2O.

Quick answer

Not every flashing light is an error code. Whirlpool's support pages explain these patterns:

Symptom	Likely cause	Safe to check yourself?	Typical fix
Clean light flashing in a repeating pattern	An F#E# error code	Yes: count the flashes	Look up the code in the chart below
All cycle and option lights flashing	The door was opened during a cycle, so the cycle is suspended	Yes	Close the door firmly until it latches; the cycle resumes after a short delay
Control Lock light flashes three times	A button was pressed while the controls are locked	Yes	Press and hold Control Lock for about 3 seconds (varies by model)
Sani light flashing after a cycle	The temperature needed to sanitize was not reached	Yes: check the hot water at the sink	Run the tap hot first; Whirlpool's minimum is 120°F
Start/Resume light flashing, cycle will not begin	The door was not latched within 3 seconds of pressing Start/Resume, or the cycle was interrupted	Yes	Press Start/Resume, then push the door firmly closed within 3 seconds
Same code returns after a power cycle	A failed part or connection	No	Schedule service

Whirlpool dishwasher flashing light codes chart

On models without a display, Whirlpool says a flashing Clean light usually means an error code. Read it in two parts:

Count the first set of rapid flashes. That is the F (function) number.
Watch for a short pause of about 1 to 2 seconds.
Count the second set of rapid flashes. That is the E (error) number.
A longer pause, about 5 seconds, comes before the pattern repeats.

Flashes, pause, flashes	Code	Meaning
1, pause, 1	F1E1	Control module
1, pause, 2	F1E2	Main control communication error
2, pause, 1	F2E1	Stuck key or console error
2, pause, 2	F2E2	Main control communication error
3, pause, 2	F3E2	Thermistor or OWI sensor
4, pause, 2	F4E2	Heating system
4, pause, 3	F4E3	Heating error
6, pause, 1	F6E1	User interface error, main control
6, pause, 3	F6E3	Excessive suds
6, pause, 4	F6E4	Water float switch
7, pause, 2	F7E2	Wash motor error
8, pause, 1	F8E1 or H2O	Not detecting water
8, pause, 2	F8E2	Fill valve electric error
8, pause, 4	F8E4	Water detected in the drip tray
8, pause, 5	F8E5	Fill valve stuck open
9, pause, 1	F9E1	Long drain (not draining)
9, pause, 2	F9E2	Drain motor error
10, pause, 4	FAE4 or F10E4	Diverter valve error
10, pause, 5	FAE5 or F10E5	Diverter leak

Whirlpool publishes its own pages for the 1-1, 6-1, 8-1, 8-4, 8-5, 9-1 and 10-5 patterns. The other rows apply Whirlpool's two-part reading method to the codes on its error code list.

On a display: Whirlpool says most models show the code automatically when a fault occurs; press a button to wake an idle screen. The code appears as F#E#. You will also see it written with a space, as F9 E1; it is the same code.

How to reset a Whirlpool dishwasher

For most codes, Whirlpool's first step is a power cycle, much like restarting a computer: unplug the dishwasher for 30 seconds or, if it is hard-wired, switch off its breaker for 30 seconds, then restore the power. If the code comes back, the dishwasher needs service.

To cancel a cycle and reset the controls, Whirlpool's steps are:

Press Cancel (Cancel/Drain on many models) to stop the cycle and clear the settings.
Unplug the dishwasher, or switch off its breaker, for about 1 minute.
Restore the power, close the door firmly, select a cycle and press Start.

A few situations need a different step:

F8E4 alarm: press Cancel once to silence the alarm tone, and again to clear the code.
F8E5: do not cut the power first; see the F8E5 section below.
Locked controls: if the Control Lock light flashes three times when you press a button, press and hold Control Lock for about 3 seconds. No reset will fix a locked panel.
Delay Start: if a delay is set, the dishwasher will not run until the delay time is reached. Press Cancel/Drain to cancel it.

For other brands, see how to reset a dishwasher.

Drain codes

F9 E1 (F9E1): long drain

Whirlpool, Maytag and KitchenAid all list F9E1 as a long drain: the dishwasher is not draining. The steps:

Remove the filter and clean it thoroughly under running water.
Check the drain hose, from the back of the dishwasher to the sink, for kinks, pinches or clogs.
If the dishwasher drains into a garbage disposal, make sure the disposal is clear, and on a new installation that the knockout plug was removed from its inlet.
If you see suds, turn the dishwasher off and use only detergent made for automatic dishwashers.
Cycle the power for 30 seconds.

Maytag's and KitchenAid's code lists add one more check: clear the air gap, if your sink has one.

When to call: the filter and hose are clear and F9E1 returns. The drain pump is a likely suspect; see our dishwasher not draining checklist.

F9 E2 (F9E2): drain motor error

Whirlpool calls F9E2 a drain motor error. Its steps: on a new installation, make sure the disposal knockout plug has been removed and the drain hose is routed correctly, on the correct side, inside the frame; clear any clog in the disposal or drain; straighten a kinked drain hose; then cycle the power. When to call: the code returns. The drain pump motor or its wiring has probably failed, and that is a job for Whirlpool dishwasher repair in Atlanta.

Leak and water codes

F8 E4 (F8E4): water in the drip tray

Whirlpool, Maytag and KitchenAid list F8E4 as water detected in the drip tray, the tray under the tub where a float switch senses leaks. While the code is active, the drain sequence starts and the dishwasher will not run. The steps depend on who installed the dishwasher.

If you installed it yourself:

Check every water connection and make sure the rubber washer is properly seated in each fitting.
Make sure the float switch is properly connected.
If there is water in the drip tray, it has to be emptied. With the breaker off, your manual shows how to release the tray; Whirlpool cautions against damaging the float switch wire.
If you see suds, the cause may be dish soap. Whirlpool puts it plainly: dishwasher detergent does not create suds, but dish soap does.
Press Cancel once to silence the alarm, then press Cancel again to clear the code.

If it was professionally installed, Whirlpool says to turn off the water supply and press Cancel once to silence the alarm, keeping the power on and the door closed, and to schedule service. If water has spread onto the floor, switch off the breaker anyway; your safety comes first.

When to call: F8E4 comes back, because the leak is still there. See dishwasher leaking from the bottom for the usual sources.

F8 E5 (F8E5): fill valve stuck open

Whirlpool calls F8E5 a fill valve stuck open, and its instructions are specific: turn off the water to the dishwasher if you can, press Cancel once to silence the alarm, and shut the door. Do not turn off the power, and keep the door closed; only if you cannot shut off the water should you turn off the power. If water has already spread across the floor, switch off the breaker anyway. When to call: right away. The inlet valve needs replacing.

F8 E2 (F8E2): fill valve electric error

Whirlpool lists F8E2 as a fill valve electric error. Check the inlet valve connection for leaks (it sits behind the lower panel, so switch the breaker off first), then cycle the power for 30 seconds. If the code returns, schedule service. The inlet valve or its wiring is the likely cause.

H2O or F8E1: not detecting water

Whirlpool says H2O, which flashes as 8 and 1 on light-only models, means the dishwasher is not detecting water. Make sure the water supply to the dishwasher is on and the supply hose is not kinked, then press Start; the dishwasher will try to fill and resume the cycle. When to call: the water is on and the code keeps returning, which points to the inlet valve.

F6 E3 (F6E3): excessive suds

When it detects suds, the dishwasher may not operate properly or may not fill. Whirlpool lists the causes as laundry soap, hand soap or hand dish liquid in the dispenser, a missing rinse aid cap, or too much detergent. The fix:

Scoop out as many suds as you can with a plastic cup.
Take out the dishes and add 2 to 3 tablespoons of vegetable cooking oil.
Run a full cycle with no detergent and no dishes.
Run another full cycle with detergent in the dispenser and no dishes.

F6 E4 (F6E4): water float switch

Whirlpool lists F6E4 as a water float switch error; a dishwasher that is not level can trip the overfill float. Cycle the power, then check that the dishwasher is level. When to call: the code returns on a level dishwasher.

FAE5 or F10E5: diverter leak

Whirlpool calls this code a diverter leak. Check for leaks under the dishwasher and make sure the water connections are secure, press Cancel twice, and start a new cycle. If the error returns, schedule service.

Control, motor and heater codes

F6 E1 (F6E1): user interface error

Whirlpool, Maytag and KitchenAid list F6E1 as a user interface or control error. Cycle the power for 30 seconds. If the code remains, call for service; the control board, the user interface board or the connection between them is at fault.

F7 E2 (F7E2): wash motor error

All three brands list F7E2 as a wash motor error. Cycle the power, and if the code returns, schedule service. The wash motor or its connection is the likely cause.

F4 E2 and F4 E3: heating system or heating error

Whirlpool lists F4E2 as a heating system problem and F4E3 as a heating error. Cycle the power; if the code returns, the heater circuit needs testing. A heating fault can also leave dishes wet or greasy; see dishwasher not drying dishes.

F3 E2 (F3E2): thermistor or OWI sensor

Whirlpool lists a thermistor or OWI sensor as the potential cause. Cycle the power, and schedule service if the code returns.

F1 E1, F1 E2 and F2 E2: control module or communication

Whirlpool lists the control module as the potential cause of F1E1, and a main control communication error for F1E2 and F2E2. Cycle the power; if the code returns, the control needs service.

F2 E1 (F2E1): stuck key or console error

Whirlpool lists F2E1 as a stuck key or console error. Cycle the power; if it returns, the touchpad or console may need replacing.

FAE4 or F10E4: diverter valve error

Whirlpool lists this code as a diverter valve error. Cycle the power, and if it does not clear, schedule service.

What usually fails

Drain pump. F9E1 or F9E2 that returns with a clean filter and a clear hose.
Water inlet valve. F8E5, F8E2, or H2O with the water fully on.
The source of a leak. F8E4: a hose, fitting, pump seal or door seal.
Wash motor. F7E2 that returns after a power cycle.
Heater or temperature sensor. F4E2, F4E3 or F3E2 that returns.
Control or user interface board. F1E1, F1E2, F2E1, F2E2 or F6E1 that returns.

What it costs in Atlanta

The diagnostic is $80, waived when you approve the repair. Dishwasher repairs start at $180 plus parts, and you get a written flat-rate estimate before any work begins. On standard brands, typical dishwasher repairs run about $250 to $430 all in, parts and labor included; see typical total costs. The repair is done on the first visit when the part is in stock, and if a part has to be ordered, there is no trip charge for the return visit. Every repair carries our 60-day parts-and-labor warranty. See our Whirlpool page, and for an older dishwasher, our repair-or-replace guide.

Schedule a visit or read about our dishwasher repair service. Prefer to talk? Call (470) 778-4087.

Sources

How we write and check these guides: editorial policy. Spot an error? Email hello@atlantaappliancetechs.com.

About Atlanta Appliance Techs

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