What Does Whirlpool Washer Error Code Lf Mean?

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Identify and fix the cause of your slowly filling Whirlpool washer

Co-authored by Trevor Storey and Eric McClure

Last Updated: November 3, 2024 Fact Checked

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What does Lf mean?

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Are the supply lines tight and unkinked?

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Are the supply lines working?

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Are the water inlet screens clogged?

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Is the drain hose correctly installed?

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The Lf error, which may be F8 E1 or Lo Fl depending on your model, indicates that your machine is taking longer to fill with water than usual. On its own, this isn’t the end of the world—it just means that your washing machine will take a little longer to run its cycles. However, it can be a big deal if the drain hose is siphoning the water out, which can cause the machine to run an infinite fill loop. Regardless, we’ll help you diagnose and fix the problem!

Things You Should Know

The Lf, F8 E1, and Lo Fl error codes all mean that your Whirlpool washing machine is taking too long to fill with water.
Confirm the water supply lines are unkinked, secured, and unclogged.
If the drain hose is more than 4.5 inches (11 cm) deep in the drain line or sink, raise it to prevent water from siphoning back into the machine.

Section 1 of 5:

What does Lf mean?

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Lf indicates that the washing machine is taking too long to fill. Lf is short for “long fill.” Basically, your machine has detected an issue with the rate of water flow into the drum. In most cases, this means it’s going to take longer for your wash cycles to complete, although it can occasionally take so long that your machine can’t reliably run correctly. ^{[1]
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Research source}
- On some machines, the error code will be F8 E1 or Lo Fl. These error codes are identical to Lf.

Section 2 of 5:

Are the supply lines tight and unkinked?

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Confirm the water lines are secured and smooth. If the water lines are kinked or knotted up, adjust them by hand to ensure they’re smooth so the water can flow freely. Also, check the nut where the supply lines feed into the machine to confirm they’re tight and secure. If the nuts are loose, tighten them by hand and use a wrench to confirm they are firmly in place.
- Don’t use a wrench to tighten the supply line nuts super hard. If you use too much force, you may damage the nuts or break the plastic threading on the machine.
- If there’s water on the floor behind the machine, the supply lines are almost positively not secured correctly.

Section 3 of 5:

Are the supply lines working?

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If you just installed the washer, test your supply lines. Close the water valves connected to your washer’s hot and cold supply lines by turning the valves all the way clockwise. Then, if you installed the lines already, remove them from the machine by twisting the nuts on the machine by hand. Set the end of each line in the sink (or a big tub if there’s no sink). Turn the water on all the way to confirm that the water flows freely out of each valve.
- If only one of the lines is slow, it’s probably clogged. Replace the clogged hose and you should be good to go.
- If the water doesn’t flow freely and the valves are open all the way, your water pressure is low. Your machine should still run just fine, but expect the cycles to take longer than they normally would.
- If you do want to fix the water pressure in your supply lines, contact a plumber.
- If the nuts don’t come loose on your machine, use a wrench to gently unlock them. Then, unscrew them by hand once they’re loose.
- Do you not have two supply lines? If so, this is 100% the issue. Whirlpool washers require both hot and cold water lines to fill efficiently.

Section 4 of 5:

Are the water inlet screens clogged?

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While the supply lines are unlocked, check the screens. Some Whirlpool models have filter screens at the end of the inside of each supply line called "water inlet screens." They’re designed to block debris from entering the machine from your water lines, but if they’re damaged or dirty, they can slow the water flow. Without removing them, clean the screens with a small paintbrush or cloth if they’re dirty. ^{[2]
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- If your water lines don’t have screens, don’t worry about it. Most models don’t.
- If you can’t clean the screen with a brush, you can try prying the screens out with tweezers or a small flathead screwdriver to clean them out. Whirlpool recommends against this, though.

Section 5 of 5:

Is the drain hose correctly installed?

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An improperly installed drain hose will trigger Lf errors. Confirm that your drain hose is inserted no more than 4.5 inches (11 cm) into the drain line or sink where it empties out. If it isn’t, adjust the line by hand and re-secure it with a zip tie. When the drain is too low, the water can siphon out of the drum as it’s filling and empty out into the sink. When this happens, the drum may never fill up with enough water since it keeps automatically emptying when the water level reaches a certain point. ^{[3]
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Research source}
- If you’ve just installed the washing machine and the supply lines are working correctly, an improperly installed drain hose is almost positively the culprit.

Expert Q&A

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I cleaned and replaced the drain lines and it's still not draining quickly, what should I do?

Trevor Storey
Appliance Technician
Trevor Storey is an Appliance Technician based in Santa Cruz, California. With over a decade of experience, he is the owner of Santa Cruz Appliance Repair, providing appliance repair and maintenance services for all major appliances. He also offers propane conversion, vent cleaning, and DIY virtual repair consultations. Santa Cruz Appliance Repair received a Quality Business Award in 2024 as the Best Appliance Repair company in Santa Cruz, with an over 95% quality score. Trevor received a B.A. in Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Trevor Storey

Appliance Technician

Expert Answer

Make sure that you're connecting your dishwasher drain hose to the garbage disposal, and double check that you remove the plug or knockout from the disposal. If you don't, your dishwasher won't drain properly. Also, make sure to check your cabinets for any holes that rodents could squeeze through. Seal them up to prevent pests from entering your appliance that may cause blockage.

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What Does Whirlpool Washer Error Code Lf Mean?

Things You Should Know

Steps

What does Lf mean?

Are the supply lines tight and unkinked?

Are the supply lines working?

Are the water inlet screens clogged?

Is the drain hose correctly installed?

Expert Q&A

Tips

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Expert Interview

References

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