A Whirlpool washer is a durable and reliable appliance that can help you remove all the gunk and grime from your clothing—but it isn’t perfect.
Drain errors are some of the most common problems you’ll encounter on washing machines. Although they are often easy to resolve, they might take a bit of time, which can be inconvenient and frustrating, especially if you don’t have that luxury.
Not to worry, we’ll show you how to troubleshoot an E2 F9 error on a Whirlpool washer and help you prevent it from happening again.
What does an E2 F9 error code mean on a Whirlpool washer?
An E2 F9 error on a Whirlpool washer indicates a drainage problem. Your washer has been trying to drain the water out of the tub for over 8 minutes.
Drain errors are often caused by obstructions, improper drainage installation, and component failure. If a part is faulty, a replacement is necessary.
Before making repairs, here are a few quick steps to help you troubleshoot your Whirlpool washer.
- Reset the washer. Unplug the power cord or turn off the power at the circuit breaker for a few minutes to reset the washer and clear any glitches in the system.
- Straighten out kinks in the drain hose. Inspect the hose and straighten out any kinks and bent areas that may restrict the flow of water out of the washing machine.
If none of these quick fixes help, keep reading our guide to learn other possible causes of an E2 F9 error on a Whirlpool washer.
Causes and Solutions
Obstructions, faulty components, and poor installation are common culprits of E2 F9 errors on Whirlpool washers. Check for clogs in the drain pump filter or drain hoses, and make sure your drain system is installed correctly.
If none of those work, look for a faulty internal component and replace it.
Here’s an overview of the common causes of an E2 F9 error on a Whirlpool washer. We also have easy-to-follow instructions to help you troubleshoot the problem.
Causes | Solutions |
Detergent Build-Up | Using affresh® washer cleaner: • Open the lid of your washer and empty the tub before running a cleaning cycle. • Add affresh® cleaning tablets or pods to the washer basket. Never add tablets to the detergent dispenser. • Close the lid of your washer. • Select the Clean Washer cycle. Push the Start/Pause button for 3 seconds to start it. • Once the cycle is done, leave the washer’s lid open to let the tub fully dry. |
Chlorine Bleach Procedure: Open the lid of the washing machine, then remove all the contents in the tub. Pour a cup of liquid chlorine bleach into the bleach compartment. Don’t go over the recommended amount to prevent damage. Close the lid of the washer. Never add detergent and other cleaning products while performing this procedure. Select the Cleaner Washer cycle on the control panel. Press the Start/Pause button for 3 seconds to run the cycle. Wait for the cycle to finish. Then, leave the door open to let the tub fully dry. | • Unplug the power cord or turn off the power at the circuit breaker. • Open the dispenser drawer to access the drain pump filter. • Depress the tab on the right side of the drawer and pull the tab on the left. Then, remove the drawer. • Set a small flat container underneath the drain pump filter to collect the water. • Release the drain hose from the hose clip and remove the plug to start draining the water into the container. • Empty the container and repeat the process until there’s no more water left to drain. • Replace the plug and secure the hose into the clip. • Place a towel underneath the drain pump filter to absorb any excess water. • Rotate the filter in a counterclockwise direction and pull it out for cleaning. • Remove any large clumps by hand. Rinse the filter under running water to get rid of smaller debris. • Insert the drain pump filter into the housing. Rotate it clockwise to secure it. • Insert the dispenser drawer until it snaps into place. |
Dirty Drain Pump Filter | |
Poor Drain Hose Installation | Standpipe Drain System: • Insert the drain hose about 4.5” into the standpipe. Use the supplied drain hose clamp to keep the spout bent. • Secure the drain hose to the standpipe using a cable tie. Don’t seal the drain hose into the standpipe to prevent siphoning. |
Laundry Tub Drain System: • Set up the drain hose on the side of the laundry tub. • Place 4.5” of the drain hose into the laundry tub. Don’t lay any excess hose on the bottom of the tub. • Use the supplied cable tie to secure the drain hose to the laundry tub leg. | |
Floor Drain System: • Remove the drain hose clamp and insert the hose around 4.5” into the drain pipe. • Confirm that the siphon break is installed no less than 28” from the floor. | |
Faulty Drain Pump | Detergent Build-Up Using affresh® washer cleaner: • Open the lid of your washer and empty the tub before running a cleaning cycle. • Add affresh® cleaning tablets or pods to the washer basket. Never add tablets to the detergent dispenser. • Close the lid of your washer. • Select the Clean Washer cycle. Push the Start/Pause button for 3 seconds to start it. • Once the cycle is done, leave the washer’s lid open to let the tub fully dry. Chlorine Bleach Procedure: • Open the lid of the washing machine, then remove all the contents in the tub. • Pour a cup of liquid chlorine bleach into the bleach compartment. Don’t go over the recommended amount to prevent damage. • Close the lid of the washer. • Never add detergent and other cleaning products while performing this procedure. • Select the Cleaner Washer cycle on the control panel. • Press the Start/Pause button for 3 seconds to run the cycle. • Wait for the cycle to finish. Then, leave the door open to let the tub fully dry. • Unplug the power cord or turn off the power at the circuit breaker. • Open the dispenser drawer to access the drain pump filter. • Depress the tab on the right side of the drawer and pull the tab on the left. Then, remove the drawer. • Set a small flat container underneath the drain pump filter to collect the water. • Release the drain hose from the hose clip and remove the plug to start draining the water into the container. • Empty the container and repeat the process until there’s no more water left to drain. • Replace the plug and secure the hose into the clip. • Place a towel underneath the drain pump filter to absorb any excess water. • Rotate the filter in a counterclockwise direction and pull it out for cleaning. • Remove any large clumps by hand. Rinse the filter under running water to get rid of smaller debris. • Insert the drain pump filter into the housing. Rotate it clockwise to secure it. • Insert the dispenser drawer until it snaps into place. |
Faulty Main Control Board | • Unplug your washer, then move it away from the wall. • Use a ¼” nut driver to remove the screws securing the control panel assembly. • Slide a putty knife under the front corners of the control panel housing until the clips securing the housing are released. • Disconnect the user interface control wire connector, then set the control panel assembly aside. • Take a photo of the wires connected to the main control board. Use this as a reference during the reassembly process. • Then, unplug the wires and disconnect the air pressure tube. Use the ¼” nut driver to unfasten the screws on the control board. • Release the wires from their retainers, then remove the old board. • Get the replacement part. Align the side clips into the slot in the main top, then rethread the screw to secure it in place. • Insert the wires into their retainers. • Reconnect the wires to the correct terminals on the control board. Pull up your reference photo for accuracy. • Attach the air pressure tube to the control board. • Reconnect the user interface control wire connector to the main control board. • Slide the rear clips of the control panel housing into the rear slots on the main top, then push the front clips down until they snap into place. • Rethread the screws to secure the control panel assembly. • Rove the washer back into place and restore power. • Turn on the washer. Run a test cycle to check if it drains. |
Detergent Build-Up
One of the most common causes of drainage problems is detergent build-up. This mostly happens when you use the wrong kind of detergent or when you use too much.
Unfortunately, this produces excess suds in the drum and prevents the detergent from dissolving properly. Aside from leaving a slimy chalky mess on your clothes, it can prevent your washer from draining.
To resolve your problem, you must clean your washer thoroughly with the affresh® cleaner, which Whirlpool recommends. You may also use chlorine bleach as an alternative, but never both at the same time.
affresh® Washer Cleaner
Whirlpool recommends using the affresh® cleaner, which can seep into the hard-to-reach places of your washer and remove all the gunk.
Solution: To run a cleaning cycle on a Whirlpool washing machine using affresh®, follow these steps:
- Step 1: Open the lid of your washer and empty the tub. Transfer all the clothing to a separate container before running a cleaning cycle.
- Step 2: Add affresh® cleaning tablets or pods to the washer basket. Never add tablets to the detergent dispenser.
- Step 3: Close the lid of your washer.
- Step 4: Select the Clean Washer cycle. Push the Start/Pause button for 3 seconds to start it.
- Step 5: Once the cycle is done, leave the washer’s lid open to let the tub fully dry.
Chlorine Bleach Procedure
If you don’t have the affresh® cleaner, Whirlpool recommends cleaning your washing machine using liquid chlorine bleach.
Solution: To clean your Whirlpool washer using liquid chlorine bleach, follow these steps carefully:
- Step 1: Open the lid of the washing machine. Remove all the contents in the tub.
- Step 2: Pour a cup of liquid chlorine bleach into the bleach compartment. Don’t go over the recommended amount to prevent damage.
- Step 3: Close the lid of the washer.
- Step 4: Never add detergent and other cleaning products while performing this procedure.
- Step 5: Select the Cleaner Washer cycle on the control panel.
- Step 6: Press the Start/Pause button for 3 seconds to run the cycle.
- Step 7: Wait for the cycle to finish. Then, leave the door open to let the tub fully dry.
Quick Note:
While running a Clean Washer cycle, never add soap and other chemicals to achieve the best cleaning results. Don’t interrupt the cleaning cycle as well.
If you must, tap the Power button to stop it. Then, Run a Rinse & Spin cycle to remove any trace of the cleaning product in the interior of your washer.
Dirty Drain Pump Filter
If you have a front-load Whirlpool washer, it will have a drain pump filter at the bottom corner of the unit. This filter protects the drain pump by filtering the water that comes out of the drum.
Over time, dirt and grime can accumulate on the filter, restricting water from flowing out of the washer. Thus, routine cleaning of the drain pump filter is necessary to prevent drain issues.
At times, small items like coins, clips, and even hair from your laundry can get trapped in the filter. You must manually remove all the obstructions to resolve your drainage problem.
What you’ll need:
- Towels
- Flat container
Solution: If your drain pump filter is located in the dispenser drawer of your Whirlpool washer, follow these steps to clean it:
- Step 1: Locate the drain pump filter on your Whirlpool washer. Refer to your user manual, if necessary.
Depending on your washer model, the drain pump filter might be located behind a small access panel in front of your washer. On other models, it can be accessed from the back of the washer or the detergent dispenser.
- Step 2: Unplug the power cord of the washer.
- Step 3: Open the dispenser drawer to access the drain pump filter. To release the drawer, push down the tab on the right side of the drawer, then pull up the tab on the left side.
- Step 4: Set a small flat container underneath the drain pump filter to collect the water.
- Step 5: Release the drain hose from the hose clip and remove the plug to start draining the water into the container. Empty the container and repeat the process until there’s no more water left to drain.
- Step 6: Once done, replace the plug and secure the hose into the clip.
- Step 7: Place a towel underneath the drain pump filter to absorb any excess water.
- Step 8: Turn the knob on the filter in a counterclockwise direction and pull to remove the filter.
- Step 9: Remove any large clumps by hand. Rinse the filter under running water to get rid of smaller debris.
- Step 10: Insert the drain pump filter into the housing. Rotate it clockwise to secure it.
- Step 11: Insert the dispenser drawer until it snaps into place. To check if it is secure, pull out the drawer all the way and check if the rails are locked in place.
Poor Drain Hose Installation
There are three ways to drain the water in your Whirlpool washer: a standpipe, a floor drain, or a laundry tub drain system. Each system has unique requirements, which you must follow to enable your washer to drain properly during normal operations.
Most of the items you’ll need to set up the drain systems are supplied along with the washer. However, a siphon break assembly might be necessary for a floor drain system, which you have to get separately.
Standpipe Drain System
A standpipe must measure at least 39” but it shouldn’t exceed 72” from the bottom of your washing machine. It should also have a diameter of at least 2”.
If you’re installing a permanent standpipe drain system, make sure its carry-away capacity is no less than 17 gallons per minute.
Solution: Follow the steps below to set up a standpipe drain system.
- Step 1: Insert the drain hose about 4.5” into the standpipe.
- Step 2: Use the supplied drain hose clamp to keep the spout bent.
- Step 3: Secure the drain hose to the standpipe using a cable tie. Don’t seal the drain hose into the standpipe to prevent siphoning.
Laundry Tub Drain System
To prevent siphoning, a laundry tub drain must measure at least 39” from the floor. Additionally, its height shouldn’t exceed 72”.
Like a standpipe drain system, a permanent laundry tub drain system requires a carry-away capacity of 72 gallons per minute.
Solution: Follow the steps below to set up a laundry tub drain system.
- Step 1: Set up the drain hose on the side of the laundry tub.
- Step 2: Place 4.5” of the drain hose into the laundry tub. Don’t lay any excess hose on the bottom of the tub.
- Step 3: Secure the drain hose to the laundry tub leg using the supplied cable tie.
Floor Drain System
For floor drain systems, you must remove the supplied clamp from the drain hose, which is located at the end of the hose. You also need to install a siphon break kit to promote better drainage.
Solution: Remove the pre-installed drain hose clamp that keeps the spout bent and insert the hose about 4.5” into the drain pipe. Confirm that the siphon break is installed no less than 28” from the floor.
Faulty Drain Pump
After ruling out the most common drain issues like blockages and improper installations, you need to look into component failure as a possible cause for the E2 F9 error.
Specifically, you need to check the drain pump, which is responsible for pumping water from the tub through the hose and into the drain system. If this component is defective, water won’t drain out of the tub.
Unfortunately, there’s little you can do to fix a bad drain pump. Once it is defective, you must replace it with a new component to resolve your issue.
Not to worry, this repair doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. We’ll walk you through all the steps for replacing a broken drain pump.
What you’ll need:
- Channellock pliers
- 5/16” nut driver
- New drain pump
Solution: To replace a broken drain pump on a Whirlpool washer, follow these steps:
- Step 1: Unplug your washer or turn off power at the circuit breaker. Then, disconnect the supply and drain hoses.
- Step 2: Tape the lid shut. Set a towel on the floor, then lay your washer on its back to access the pump.
- Step 3: Locate the drain pump on the washer. Check your user manual for reference.
- Step 4: Disconnect the wire on the drain pump and release the wire retainer.
- Step 5: Unthread all three 5/16 screws securing the drain pump assembly to the washer.
- Step 6: Loosen the clamps securing the inlet and outlet hoses using the Channellock pliers. Slide them slightly up the hoses to keep them out of the way.
- Step 7: Detach the inlet and outlet hoses from the assembly. Remove the old drain pump from the washer.
- Step 8: Attach the inlet and outlet hoses to the correct pump ports on the new assembly.
- Step 9: Use the pliers to slide down the clamps on the hoses. Tighten the connection to prevent leaks.
- Step 10: Rethread the screws to secure the drain pump to the washer.
- Step 11: Reconnect the wire and snap the wire retainer into place.
- Step 12: Return the washing machine to an upright position.
- Step 13: Reconnect the hoses to the washer.
- Step 14: Restore power. Run a quick wash cycle to check if the tub drains properly and doesn’t create excess suds.
Faulty Main Control Board
The main control board regulates all the functions of your Whirlpool washing machine, including draining.
A defective control board doesn’t necessarily indicate a drainage issue. At times, it might prevent your washer from filling up and starting a cycle(Whirlpool washer won’t start cycle).
Due to this, a faulty main control board is often hard to diagnose. You should only consider this possibility once you’ve ruled out the more common issues on this list.
What you’ll need:
- Putty knife
- ¼” nut driver
- New main control board
Solution: To replace the control board on a top-load Whirlpool washer, follow these steps:
- Step 1: Unplug the washer’s power cord or turn off the power at the circuit breaker.
- Step 2: Move the washer away from the wall.
- Step 3: Use a ¼” nut driver to remove the screws securing the control panel assembly.
- Step 4: Slide a putty knife under the front corners of the control panel housing until the clips securing the housing are released.
- Step 5: Disconnect the user interface control wire connector, then set the control panel assembly aside.
- Step 6: Take a photo of the wires connected to the main control board. Use this as a reference during the reassembly process.
- Step 7: Unplug the wires on the main control board.
- Step 8: Disconnect the air pressure tube.
- Step 9: Use the ¼” nut driver to unfasten the screws on the control board.
- Step 10: Release the wires from their retainers, then remove the old board.
- Step 11: Get the replacement part. Align the side clips into the slot in the main top, then rethread the screw to secure it in place.
- Step 12: Insert the wires into their retainers.
- Step 13: Reconnect the wires to the correct terminals on the control board. Pull up your reference photo for accuracy.
- Step 14: Attach the air pressure tube to the control board.
- Step 15: Reconnect the user interface control wire connector to the main control board.
- Step 16: Align the rear clips of the control panel housing with the rear slots on the main top, then push the front clips down until they snap into place.
- Step 17: Rethread the screws to secure the control panel assembly.
- Step 18: Move the washer back into place.
- Step 19: Restore power to your washer. Run a test cycle to check if it drains.
Frequently Asked Questions
At ApplianceGeeked, we recommend cleaning your washing machine at least once every month—or every 30 cycles, if you use the appliance frequently. Routine care and maintenance can lower the risk of malfunctions like drain errors and component failure.
The most common problems you’ll encounter with your washing machine can be easily resolved with a few tools, limited repair know-how, and a handy-dandy repair guide.
Whether you have a filling or draining issue, you can try to troubleshoot the problem yourself. It will be a lot cheaper than buying a new washing machine or hiring professional repair services.
If you have a component failure, you most likely have to replace it to fix your Whirlpool washer. Although it isn’t impossible to perform by yourself, it can be overwhelming for those with little repair knowledge and may require professional services.
At ApplianceGeeked, we have easy-to-follow instructions to help you troubleshoot all sorts of problems with your Whirlpool washer. We’ll give you tips and tricks to help you resolve the drain error in no time.