What F11 Means
WHICH MACHINES THIS APPLIES TO: the W6xxx generation of Asko washers, including the US W-series. The later Logic and Pro Home machines show draining problems as Error 7, not F11.
W6xxx GENERATION - WHAT F11 MEANS: the manual names it "F11 Drainage error" and then, unusually for a fault code, hands the owner the whole procedure rather than a referral. Its check list is "that no objects are stuck in the drainage hose outlet; that the drainage pump is not blocked by foreign objects - clean the pump, see the 'Care and cleaning' chapter; that there are no kinks in the drainage hose." It then says: "After taking measures, run the Drain program or press the Door opening button to empty the machine. If this does not resolve the problem, call the service division."
WHAT THE MACHINE IS DOING: it tried to empty the drum, did not get the level down in the time it allows, and stopped rather than spinning a drum full of water. The door stays locked while there is water in there, which is not the machine being awkward - a door that opened at that point would empty the drum onto the floor.
CLASSIFICATION: fault, and one Asko explicitly writes for the owner to work through before calling anyone.
Common Causes of F11
- Drain pump filter blocked with lint, coins or hair clips
- Foreign object jammed in the drain pump impeller
- Kink or crush point in the drainage hose
- Blockage at the drainage hose outlet or at the waste connection
- Drain pump worn or failed
🔧 One Safe Check You Can Try
Switch the washer off at the outlet or the breaker before you open the pump access, because the pump is under the control of the board and can be commanded to run, and because the drum still has water in it. Put towels down and a shallow tray under the pump filter cover, and open the filter slowly in stages so the water comes out at a rate you can manage rather than all at once - there can be several litres behind it. Clean the filter and check the pump housing for the usual culprits: coins, hair clips, underwire, buttons and screws. Then check the drainage hose along its whole run for kinks and crush points, and check the outlet where it joins the waste for a blockage. Refit the filter properly and hand-tight, restore power, and run the drain programme or press the door opening button as the manual says. If it still will not empty, Asko's own instruction is to call the service division.
⚠ Why You Shouldn't Go Further Than That
- The drum is holding water and the pump can be energised by the control, so the machine has to be off at the outlet or the breaker before the filter cover is opened.
- Opening the filter fully in one go empties several litres onto the floor, which is why it is released in stages over a tray.
- Wash water can still be hot, so the machine is left to stand before the filter is opened after an interrupted hot cycle.
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.