Quick answer: F3 E1 on a Whirlpool washer means the washer can’t detect the water level. Whirlpool says it may come from the control unit or its wiring. Start with a 5-minute power reset. If the code comes back, the pressure sensor, the small air hose connected to it or the wiring need to be checked.
What does the F3 E1 error code mean?
Your washer measures how much water is in the tub with a pressure sensor (also called a water level sensor or pressure switch). A thin air hose runs from the bottom of the tub to the sensor: as the water rises, air pressure in the hose rises too. If the control board gets no reading, or a reading that makes no sense, it shows F3 E1.
Possible causes:
- A temporary glitch in the control (fixed by a reset)
- A kinked, clogged or disconnected pressure sensor hose
- Loose or damaged wiring between the sensor and the control board
- A failed pressure sensor
- Rarely: a failed control board
How to fix the Whirlpool F3 E1 error, step by step
1. Reset the washer
- Unplug the washer, or switch off the breaker.
- Wait 5 minutes.
- Plug it back in and start a Rinse & Spin.
On newer models, the washer may drain for about 8 minutes after an F3 E1 reset. That’s normal.
2. Check the pressure sensor hose
Unplug the washer. Depending on the model, the pressure sensor is under the top panel or behind the control panel. Follow its thin hose down to the tub and check that it’s firmly connected at both ends, not kinked or pinched, and not clogged with residue. A clogged hose can sometimes be cleared by gently blowing through it after disconnecting it from the sensor.
3. Check the wiring
Make sure the connector on the pressure sensor is fully seated and that the wires to the control board aren’t burnt, pinched or broken.
4. Replace the pressure sensor
If the hose and wiring are fine and the code keeps coming back, the sensor itself has likely failed. It’s usually an inexpensive part held by one or two screws. Order it with your washer’s model number.
5. Schedule service
If a new sensor doesn’t fix it, the control board may be the problem. Whirlpool recommends scheduling service if the code returns after a reset.
Whirlpool F3 E1 error: frequently asked questions
Is F3 E1 serious?
Not always. A power reset clears it in some cases. If it keeps returning, it’s usually a hose, wire or sensor, which are cheaper repairs than a control board.
Why is my washer draining after an F3 E1 reset?
Newer Whirlpool washers run a drain routine of about 8 minutes after this code. Let it finish.
Other Whirlpool washer error codes
See the full list of Whirlpool washer error codes, or jump to another common one:
Sources: Whirlpool Product Help (error code articles for front-load and top-load washers) and iFixit’s Whirlpool washer error code guide. Always unplug the washer before opening any panel.