Whirlpool Refrigerator Error Codes Explained

Whirlpool refrigerator error codes come in two kinds: flashing F codes such as F3 E1 or F6 E1, which call for a reset and then service if they return, and status messages such as PO, a door alarm or a filter light, which you can usually clear yourself. Codes and button names vary by model, so check your owner's manual or Whirlpool's error code page for yours.

Safety first: unplug the refrigerator or switch off its breaker before you pull it out or remove any panel, and never tape or bypass a door switch.

How to reset a Whirlpool refrigerator

For a flashing F code, Whirlpool's steps are:

1. Turn off the circuit breaker or unplug the refrigerator for one minute.
2. Turn the breaker back on or plug it back in.
3. Make sure cooling is turned on (see Cooling Off below).
4. Watch the display for one minute to make sure the code does not come back.

If it returns, Whirlpool says to schedule service. For other brands, see our guide to resetting a refrigerator.

Whirlpool F codes

Whirlpool's French door help pages list F3 E1, F3 E2, F3 E4, F3 E8, F3 E9, F3 EC, F4 E1, F6 E1, F8 E1, F8 E2, F8 E3, F8 E8 and F8 EC, plus a plain flashing F. Each of those pages gives the same instructions: reset the refrigerator as above, and schedule service if the code persists. Whirlpool does not say on those pages what each code means, so we will not guess. If you find a list online that ties each F code to a specific part, treat it as a starting point at best; a good technician confirms the fault by testing before replacing anything.

PO: power outage

Whirlpool says PO means the power was off long enough for the freezer to warm to 18°F or higher. The display shows PO, an alert sounds three times, and Confirm blinks until you acknowledge it; on the model in Whirlpool's example, you press MEASURED FILL under Confirm. PO then clears.

Then check your food. The USDA says to keep the freezer at 0°F or below and the refrigerator at 40°F or below, and to discard perishables such as meat, poultry, milk, soft cheeses and cooked leftovers if the refrigerator was without power for more than 4 hours. Our guide to appliances not working after a power outage covers the rest of the kitchen.

Whirlpool refrigerator door alarm

Whirlpool's Door Ajar Alarm sounds when a refrigerator door or the freezer door has been open 2 to 5 minutes, depending on the model, with cooling on, and it repeats every 2 minutes. Touch any button on the control panel to mute it while you load groceries; the Door Ajar icon stays on. Close all the doors to reset it. The volume cannot be adjusted.

If the alarm sounds with the doors shut, Whirlpool's checks are:

1. Make sure bins, shelves or food packages are not keeping a door from closing.
2. Make sure each door makes contact with the door switch.
3. Level the refrigerator front to back and side to side; on an uneven floor, shims may be needed.

A door that will not seal also lets in warm, humid air, which becomes frost. See refrigerator door won't close.

Temperature alarm

Whirlpool's Over Temperature alarm sounds when the refrigerator rises above 48°F or the freezer rises above 15°F for more than an hour and a half. The sound stops once temperatures recover, but the indicator keeps flashing until you press Alarm, so you know it happened. If the temperature does not come back down, the refrigerator is not cooling; see why is my fridge not cooling.

Whirlpool refrigerator filter lights

Whirlpool recommends replacing the water filter every 6 months, when the status light comes on, or as needed. The light does not reset itself; you reset it after installing the new filter. Depending on the model, the reset is one of these:

• Touch MAX COOL and MAX ICE together for 3 seconds.
• Press and hold FILTER RESET.
• Press and hold WATER FILTER for 3 seconds.
• On models with an H2O light, press and hold LIGHT and ICE TYPE for 3 seconds.

Models with an air filter show a blue icon when it is good, yellow when it is time to order one and red when it needs replacing; hold AIR FILTER for 3 seconds to reset it. A clogged or badly installed water filter can also slow the dispenser and cut ice production; see refrigerator water dispenser not working.

Cooling Off and demo mode

If the display reads COOLING OFF, the refrigerator and freezer will not cool. On the model in the help article, press and hold LOCK and MEASURED FILL at exactly the same time for 3 seconds to turn cooling back on; pressing them one after the other can lock the dispenser or change a setting instead. Whirlpool says cooling can be switched off by accident during cleaning, and that some models need it turned back on after a power outage or surge.

Demo mode looks similar: the lights and display work, but nothing cools. Whirlpool calls it Showroom or Demo mode and says to check the Use and Care Guide for how it turns on and off on your model. No technician is needed for either.

Whirlpool refrigerator ice maker

Whirlpool's ice maker checks:

1. Press and hold the reset button on the ice maker for a few seconds; your manual shows where it is. If there is no reset button, unplug the refrigerator for 1 minute.
2. Set the freezer between 0°F and 5°F.
3. Make sure the water line is connected, the supply valve is fully open and the line has no kinks.
4. Replace an old or clogged water filter.

If the ice maker still does nothing, see ice maker not making ice.

Have a KitchenAid?

The Whirlpool help pages used here are written for Whirlpool-brand refrigerators, and they do not say the codes apply to other brands. If you have a KitchenAid, look up the code in your KitchenAid owner's manual rather than assuming it matches. See our KitchenAid page.

What usually fails

Because Whirlpool does not publish what each F code means, the technician works from the symptoms and tests the parts. The usual suspects:

• Evaporator or condenser fan motor. Warm compartments, or a fan that is noisy or silent.
• Defrost system. The heater, thermostat, sensor or drain, when frost builds on the back wall of the freezer.
• Temperature sensors. Temperatures that drift far from the setting.
• Door switch or door alignment. A door alarm with the doors shut, or lights that stay on.
• Water inlet valve. An ice maker and dispenser that get no water with the supply on.
• Control board. An F code that returns right after a reset once the other parts test good.

An F code that survives the reset is the time for Whirlpool refrigerator repair, with the code and when it appeared written down for the technician.

What it costs in Atlanta

The diagnostic is $80, waived when you approve the repair. Repairs start at $180 plus parts, with a written flat-rate estimate before any work begins. On standard brands, a typical refrigerator repair runs $250 to $500 all in; fans, defrost parts, relays and valves sit at the low end, and control boards and ice makers at the high end. See the typical totals on our pricing page. For an older refrigerator, our repair-or-replace guide helps you decide.

If a part has to be ordered for your Whirlpool refrigerator, there is no trip charge to come back and install it. Every repair carries our 60-day parts-and-labor warranty.

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