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KitchenAid Dishwasher F9E1: Water Isn’t Leaving the Tub
F9E1 is KitchenAid’s long drain code. It usually traces to something between the filter and your sink, and most of those spots can be checked with a flashlight and a towel.
What F9E1 Means on a KitchenAid Dishwasher
KitchenAid lists F9E1 as “Long Drain,” meaning the dishwasher isn’t pumping water out as it should. KitchenAid’s causes run from the tub outward: a clogged filter, food in the drain or disposer, a drain hose that is kinked, pinched, routed on the wrong side or outside the frame, a knockout plug left in a newly installed disposer, a blocked air gap, and too many suds from the wrong detergent. Codes vary by model; check your manual. Source: KitchenAid F9E1 (opens in a new tab).
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Signs That Come With F9E1
You will usually see one or more of these.
Where a KitchenAid Drain Gets Blocked
KitchenAid’s list, from easiest to check to hardest.
KitchenAid’s Steps for F9E1
Switch off the breaker before reaching into the tub, then work outward.
Clean the filter and sump
Take out the lower rack, twist the upper filter counterclockwise, lift out the lower one and rinse both under warm running water. Look in the sump below for seeds, glass or toothpicks.
Clear the disposer and hose
Run the disposer. On a new install, confirm the knockout plug was removed. Follow the drain hose from the dishwasher to the sink and straighten any kink or crushed section.
Check the air gap and suds
If you have an air gap, remove its cap and clear it. If you see foam, stop the cycle and let it settle; use only automatic-dishwasher detergent, never dish soap.
Reset and test
Cut power for 30 seconds, restore it and run a short rinse. Listen for the pump. KitchenAid warns against pouring chemical drain openers into the dishwasher.
When to Call a Technician
Schedule a repair if:
- The tub stays wet after a clean filter
- You hear a hum but no draining
- F9E1 returns on the next cycle
- The hose and disposer are clear
More KitchenAid Drain Help
KitchenAid dishwasher repairMore help, including other KitchenAid codes:
Dishwasher repairKitchenAid dishwasher Clean Light guideKitchenAid dishwasher F9E2 error codeKitchenAid dishwasher F8E4 error codeKitchenAid Undercounter Cleaning Light guideKitchenAid range F2 E1 error codeAll KitchenAid appliance repairKitchenAid F9E1 articleKitchenAid dishwasher not draining guideWritten estimate first
Still Holding Water?
We test the drain pump, check the sump and hose path, and give you a written estimate before replacing any part on your KitchenAid.
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- 90-day warranty, 6 months for members
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KitchenAid F9E1 Questions
New disposers come with a knockout plug in the dishwasher inlet. If nobody punched it out, the dishwasher has nowhere to drain. KitchenAid explains the hookup in its disposer connection guide.
Yes. KitchenAid lists excessive suds as a cause. Dish soap or too much detergent foams up and slows the drain. Let the suds settle and switch to automatic-dishwasher detergent.
KitchenAid suggests cleaning the dishwasher about every 30 days. Rinsing the filter at the same time keeps the drain path clear.
KitchenAid says the drain hose must run on the correct side and inside the frame. A hose pinched under the cabinet or behind the tub needs the dishwasher pulled out, which is a good job for a technician.
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