Miele Dishwasher F14 Fix (Error Code Guide)

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What This Error Means

F14 on a Miele dishwasher means water circulation fault.

The control board starts the wash, expects pressure/flow from the circulation (wash) pump, doesn’t see it, and shuts down with F14.

  • Water may fill and drain, but it’s not being pumped through the spray arms properly.
  • Common causes: jammed wash-pump impeller, failed circulation pump, heavy sludge in the sump, or a pressure/flow sensor issue.
  • End result: poor or no spray, short noisy attempt at washing, then F14.

Official Fix

This is what the manual and Miele phone support want you to do before they send a tech.

  • 1. Kill power first.
    • Unplug the dishwasher or flip the breaker off.
    • Turn off the water supply valve if you’ll be pulling the machine out.
  • 2. Try a soft reset.
    • Turn power back on.
    • Close the door.
    • Press and hold the Start/Stop button for about 3–5 seconds until the indicator changes/blinks.
    • Start a short program and see if F14 comes back.
  • 3. Clean the filter system and sump.
    • Open the door, pull out the lower rack.
    • Twist and lift out the filter assembly at the bottom (coarse + fine filters).
    • Wash filters under hot water, scrub off grease and food.
    • Look down into the sump (hole under the filter). Scoop out any glass, bones, seeds, and sludge.
    • Reinstall the filter correctly, locked in place.
  • 4. Clean the spray arms.
    • Pop off the lower and upper spray arms (they either twist off or pull down/out).
    • Rinse under hot water, poke out blocked jets with a wooden toothpick.
    • Make sure no chunks are left inside that could blow into the pump.
    • Reinstall spray arms so they spin freely.
  • 5. Check water supply basics.
    • Make sure the inlet hose isn’t kinked or crushed behind the machine.
    • Confirm the shutoff valve under the sink is fully open.
    • Run a quick program and check: water should reach just below the bottom of the door opening after filling.
  • 6. Run again and confirm.
    • After cleaning and checking, run a short cycle.
    • If it still throws F14, the official line is: “Technical fault – contact Miele Service.”
    • At that point, they’re expecting a failed circulation pump or control issue.

The Technician’s Trick

This is the stuff real techs do in a kitchen when F14 keeps coming back after the basics.

  • 1. Manually clear and free the circulation pump from inside.
    • Kill power again: unplug or breaker off. Safety first.
    • Open door, pull out lower rack and filters, bail out standing water with a cup and towel.
    • In the sump, look for a small plastic cover over the impeller area (often held by clips or a Torx screw).
    • Pop that cover off and shine a flashlight in.
    • Reach in carefully and try to spin the impeller with your fingers or a plastic tool.
    • If it’s jammed with glass, stones, or hard food, pull the junk out until the impeller spins freely.
    • Pour a kettle of very hot (not boiling) water with a bit of dishwasher detergent into the sump and let it sit 10–15 minutes to melt grease cakes.
    • Reassemble the cover and filters.
  • 2. Kickstart a sticking pump / clear an air pocket.
    • Pull the dishwasher out from the cabinet enough to access the sides (remove mounting screws at the top/side of the frame first).
    • With it still unplugged, gently tilt the machine back about 30–45° for a few seconds, then set it back down. This can move air and crud away from the pump inlet.
    • From the side or bottom access (panel off if needed), find the circulation pump (big motor on the side of the sump, not the tiny drain pump).
    • Tap the pump housing firmly with the handle of a screwdriver or a rubber mallet. You’re trying to free stiff bearings or a stuck rotor, not break it.
    • Stand the unit upright, slide it back in, reconnect water and power.
    • Run a short program and listen: if you now hear a strong, even spray noise inside and no F14, the pump was just stuck.
  • 3. Know when the pump is done.
    • If the machine fills, you hear a quiet hum but almost no water noise, and it eventually throws F14, the circulation pump is usually weak or seized.
    • If it’s totally silent when it should be washing (but still drains), the circulation pump is likely dead or not getting power.
    • In real-world service calls, a persistent F14 after all cleaning almost always ends in a circulation pump replacement.

Is It Worth Fixing? (The Financial Verdict)

  • ✅ Fix: Machine under ~10–12 years old, cabinet and tub in good shape, F14 started recently, and a pump swap quote is under about $300–$350 parts + labor.
  • ⚠️ Debatable: 10–15 years old, integrated panel you’d rather keep, or the quote involves both circulation pump and control board testing, landing in the $350–$500 range.
  • ❌ Replace: 15+ years old, rust or leaks elsewhere, multiple error codes, or any repair quote pushing past ~$500–$600 where a new midrange dishwasher makes more sense.

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