Maytag Dishwasher F15 Error Code Fix

by

What This Error Means

F15 on most Whirlpool-built Maytag dishwashers means: drain fault / long drain.
The control thinks the tub isn’t pumping out water fast enough, or it can’t tell that the drain pump is doing its job.

Official Fix

  • Kill the power first. Unplug the dishwasher or flip the breaker. Don’t play with water and live power.
  • Open the door and check the bottom. If there’s standing water, that confirms a drain issue.
  • Pull out the lower rack. Pop out the filter and the mesh screen in the sump area.
  • Clean the filter hard. Rinse it under hot water. Scrub off gunk, fats, seeds, glass chips. Anything that can choke the pump.
  • Look down into the sump. Use a flashlight. Remove food chunks, labels, glass, twist ties, etc. Don’t force tools into the pump impeller.
  • Check the drain hose under the sink.
    • Follow the gray/black hose from the dishwasher to the sink drain or garbage disposal.
    • Straighten any kinks or sharp bends.
    • If it goes to a new disposal, make sure the plastic knockout plug was removed from the disposal inlet.
  • Clear clogs at the sink end. Loosen the clamp, pull the hose off the drain/disposal, and clean out sludge or food buildup.
  • If you have an air gap on the sink. Pop the cap, clean out the chamber and ports. Those plug up all the time.
  • Restore power. Plug it back in or flip the breaker on.
  • Run a Cancel/Drain or Drain-only cycle.
    • Most Maytag models: close the door and press the Cancel/Drain button once.
    • Listen: you should clearly hear the drain pump humming and water going into the sink drain.
  • If the pump is silent.
    • Kill power again.
    • Remove the lower toe-kick panel.
    • Find the drain pump (small motor at the side of the sump with a hose on it).
    • Check the wiring connector is fully seated and not burned or corroded.
  • Check the pump for jams.
    • With power off, remove the pump (usually a twist-lock or a few screws).
    • Look for broken glass, bones, or hard debris inside.
    • Make sure the impeller spins freely with your fingers.
  • Reassemble and test again. If it now drains properly, the control will usually clear F15 on its own after a successful cycle.
  • If it still throws F15 after all that:
    • Likely a weak/burned-out drain pump or a failing control board not seeing pump feedback.
    • Manual solution: replace the drain pump first. If a new pump doesn’t solve it, the control board is next in line.

The Technician’s Trick

  • Wet-vac the clog out instead of fighting the hose.
    • Kill power.
    • Pull the drain hose off the sink drain or disposal.
    • Stick a wet/dry vac nozzle tight over the hose end.
    • Turn the vac on, then briefly restore power and hit Cancel/Drain.
    • The pump pushes, the vac sucks. That combo will yank out grease plugs and junk that normal draining won’t move.
  • Free a stuck pump with a tap.
    • Power off.
    • Access the drain pump from the toe-kick area.
    • With one hand on the pump body, give it a firm but not violent tap with a screwdriver handle.
    • Sometimes the impeller is stuck on sludge; the tap breaks it loose and the pump comes back to life.
  • Quick reality check before you buy parts.
    • If the dishwasher drains fine when the hose is dropped into a bucket on the floor but not when hooked to the sink, your problem is the sink/disposal/air gap, not the dishwasher.

Is It Worth Fixing? (The Financial Verdict)

  • ✅ Fix: Machine under ~8–10 years old, stainless tub, otherwise behaving; you just need cleaning or a drain pump (usually well under the cost of a new dishwasher).
  • ⚠️ Debatable: 10–12 years old, noisy wash motor, rust on racks, and now F15; worth fixing only if you can do the pump yourself and the control board still looks good.
  • ❌ Replace: 12+ years old, plastic tub, needs both drain pump and control board, or multiple other faults; repairs creeping near 40–50% of a new mid-range dishwasher.

Parts You Might Need

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

See also

More machines screaming error codes at you? These guides can help you decode the rest of the house: