What F11 Means
WHICH MACHINES THIS APPLIES TO: F11 belongs to the DW90 platform and to the current machines. The older DW20 and DW70 boards show the drain fault as F7.
DW90 PLATFORM - shown as F:11 on the DW90.1 display, in words on the DW90.2 and DW90.3 panels. The service manual reads "Water outlet fault. Water not drained after 120 seconds draining. Program stops." Its check list is "Drain pump, hoses, drain hose fittings, control unit and cables. Also check whether filter is blocked."
CURRENT DBI, DFI, DSD AND DW60-SERIES MACHINES - shown as F11 without a colon. The user manual names it "Water outlet fault" and points the owner at its own troubleshooting entry for water remaining in the dishwasher above the filters, then to service if that does not resolve it.
WHAT IS COMMON TO BOTH: the drain pump ran for two solid minutes and the water is still in the tub. The control stops the programme rather than continuing a wash it cannot drain.
CLASSIFICATION: fault, and usually a blockage rather than a broken part. The thing the owner sees is standing grey water above the filters when the door is opened, and food debris redeposited on the load.
Common Causes of F11
- Coarse or fine filters clogged
- Object jammed in the drain pump impeller
- Drain hose kinked, crushed or blocked
- Spigot at the sink waste or trap blocked where the hose connects
- Drain hose fitted at the wrong height or without the loop the installation requires
- Drain pump failed, or a wiring or control fault stopping it running
🔧 One Safe Check You Can Try
Switch the dishwasher off at the outlet or the breaker before reaching into the tub, because the drain pump can be commanded to run again as soon as power returns, and let the machine stand until the water is no longer hot. Have towels and a shallow container ready - there will be a few litres in there. Scoop the water out, lift out the coarse and fine filters and clean them under a running tap; that much is documented as an owner task across this whole family. On the current DBI, DFI and DSD machines the manual goes further and describes releasing the yellow drain pump stop and turning the pump wheel by hand to clear whatever has jammed it, so on those models that is a legitimate next step; on a DW90 machine it is not documented for owners and the pump is a service job. On any of them, follow the drain hose to the waste connection and check it for kinks, crush points and a blocked spigot at the sink trap, which is a frequent cause and nothing to do with the dishwasher at all.
⚠ Why You Shouldn't Go Further Than That
- The drain pump is under control of the board and can start without warning once power is restored, so the appliance is isolated before anything is reached into.
- Standing wash water hides broken glass, so it is scooped out rather than felt through by hand.
- The drain pump stop is an owner-documented part on the current machines only; on the DW90 generation reaching the pump means drawing the built-in machine out of the cabinet with its plumbing attached.
Opening a panel to inspect or repair something yourself doesn't automatically cancel your manufacturer's warranty — but it can risk accidental damage, and some manufacturers do have specific service conditions. Check your product's warranty terms, or ask us, before deciding.