Error code · Dishwasher

Maytag Dishwasher Code F9E1: Slow to Drain

Medium · inspection needed

Code: F9E1
Appliance: Dishwasher
Brand: Maytag
Warranty: 30-day workmanship

What F9E1 means

F9E1 on Maytag built-in dishwashers with electronic control means the dishwasher is taking too long to drain. Potential causes begin outside the machine: a clogged filter, a kinked drain line, or a sink disposer that is not clear. The blink pattern is nine flashes, a pause, and one flash. You may see water standing in the bottom of the tub after a cycle or hear the pump working while the water stays put.

Common causes of F9E1

Filter clogged with food and film
Drain hose kinked, pinched or blocked
Disposer not clear, or knockout plug not removed on a new installation
Drain pump, once the path is clear

✓ One safe check you can try

1. Remove the filter and clean it thoroughly under running water. 2. Check the drain hose from the back of the dishwasher to the sink for kinks, pinches or clogs. 3. If the dishwasher is connected to a disposer, make sure it is clear and the knockout plug was removed. 4. Resume the cycle.

! Why to stop there

Once the drain path is clear, a code that returns points us to the pump
We test drain flow and the pump motor
We run the dishwasher and watch how fast the water leaves, which tells us where the flow slows

Opening a panel yourself does not automatically cancel a manufacturer warranty, but it can cause accidental damage, and some manufacturers set their own service conditions. Check your warranty terms, or ask us, before deciding.

→Same appliance

Other Dishwasher codes

F8E4Maytag Dishwasher Code F8E4: Check the Supply Connections F8E5Maytag Dishwasher Code F8E5: Fill Valve Stuck Open, Shut Off the Water F9E2Maytag Dishwasher Code F9E2: Drain Motor FAE4 or F10E4Maytag Dishwasher Codes FAE4 and F10E4: Diverter Valve FAE5 or F10E5Maytag Dishwasher Codes FAE5 and F10E5: Leak at the Diverter Front status light (blue / red / white / blinking; glowing red at end of Sani Rinse)Maytag Dishwasher Front Status Light: Blue, Red, White or Blinking H2OMaytag Dishwasher Code H2O: No Water Detected F3E2Maytag Dishwasher Code F3E2: Thermistor or OWI Sensor

F9E1F9E1 questions

What is a knockout plug?

It is a small plug in the disposer inlet that must be knocked out when a dishwasher is first connected. If it was left in, the dishwasher cannot drain into the disposer.

My light blinks nine and one; is that F9E1?

Yes. Nine flashes, a pause, and one flash is the blinking form of F9E1, and the checks are the same however you read the pattern. Cleaning the filter is the easiest first move and often the most useful.

Why is there standing water?

The pump moves water out through the drain hose. If the path is blocked or the pump is struggling, water stays behind. We test both to find where the flow stops.

Book a visit

Still seeing F9E1?

A technician diagnoses it on site and gives you the price in writing before any work starts.

(713) 936-6390