What causes Miele Washer F11?

A blocked drain filter, often from coins, buttons, hair grips or fluff (Miele support pages and service manual). A drain pump impeller jammed by a foreign object, or a faulty drain pump (Miele support and service manual). A kinked or looped drain hose (Miele support). The end of the drain hose set higher than 1 m (3 ft 3 in) above the floor (Miele support). A blocked non-return valve in the drain path (Miele service manual). A blocked household drain, standpipe or sink connection (Miele service manual: check the on-site drain system).

How do I fix Miele Washer F11?

Switch the washing machine off. If the load was washed at a high temperature, wait for the water to cool, since Miele warns of a scalding risk when draining the suds. Check the drain hose behind the machine. Remove any kinks or loops, and make sure the end of the hose is no more than 1 m (3 ft 3 in) high. Miele says to watch kinked spots afterward, as the plastic can weaken and tear; a damaged hose needs replacing. Open the access panel for the drain pump at the bottom front and put a shallow container or universal tray and towels underneath. There may be a lot of water in the drum. Slowly unscrew the drain filters to let the water out, tightening them again whenever you need to empty the container. Don't unscrew them completely until the water has stopped flowing. Remove the drain filters, clean them thoroughly, and check that the drain pump impellers can turn freely. Take out any foreign objects such as buttons or coins. Refit each drain filter on its correct side and screw it tight, then check again that it's tight. Miele warns that a loose filter can leak and cause water damage. Close the access panel. Check the household drain, standpipe or sink trap the hose empties into, in case the blockage is there rather than in the machine. Run a short rinse and spin. If F11 comes back, contact Miele Service or book a repair.

When should I call a pro for Miele Washer F11?

F11 keeps returning after the hose, filter and pump impeller are clear: Miele says to contact Miele Service. A technician checks the drain pump's operation, the drain hose and the non-return valve, following Miele's service manual, and replaces the drain pump if it has failed. The drain hose is split or damaged: Miele says it must be replaced and to contact Miele Service. You can't get the water out or the filter won't unscrew: don't force it, call for service. The machine is under warranty or extended cover: use Miele Service first.

Code: F11🧺 Miele Washer

Miele Washer F11: Drain Restricted (Drainage Fault) Meaning and Fixes

Q: What does Miele Washer F11 mean?

F11 on a Miele washing machine means the drain is restricted: the machine ran its drain pump but the water level didn't drop far enough in time. Miele says to check that the drain hose isn't too high or kinked, then clean the drain filter and make sure the drain pump impeller turns freely. Expect water in the drum when you open the filter, and if the laundry was washed hot, let it cool first. If F11 keeps coming back after that, book Miele Service. Miele's support pages in the US, Canada and the UK describe Fault F11 as "The drain is restricted" and list three things to check: the end of the drain hose is too high (the maximum delivery head is 1 m, or 3 ft 3 in), the drain hose is kinked, or the drain filter and drain pump are blocked. Miele's technical information for its W1113, W1119, W1203, W1213 and W1215 Touchtronic washers gives the detail behind the code: when the drain pump is switched on, the electronics check whether the water level falls to 30 mm water column within 150 seconds. If it doesn't, the Drain LED flashes, the program ends and the drain pump runs for another 120 seconds. In other words, F11 is a drainage check, not a dead-machine fault, and most of the time the cause is a blockage you can reach.

Reviewed 2026-10-26 · Based on 4 manufacturer & service sources

What the code means

Miele's support pages in the US, Canada and the UK describe Fault F11 as "The drain is restricted" and list three things to check: the end of the drain hose is too high (the maximum delivery head is 1 m, or 3 ft 3 in), the drain hose is kinked, or the drain filter and drain pump are blocked. Miele's technical information for its W1113, W1119, W1203, W1213 and W1215 Touchtronic washers gives the detail behind the code: when the drain pump is switched on, the electronics check whether the water level falls to 30 mm water column within 150 seconds. If it doesn't, the Drain LED flashes, the program ends and the drain pump runs for another 120 seconds. In other words, F11 is a drainage check, not a dead-machine fault, and most of the time the cause is a blockage you can reach.

Likely causes

A blocked drain filter, often from coins, buttons, hair grips or fluff (Miele support pages and service manual)
A drain pump impeller jammed by a foreign object, or a faulty drain pump (Miele support and service manual)
A kinked or looped drain hose (Miele support)
The end of the drain hose set higher than 1 m (3 ft 3 in) above the floor (Miele support)
A blocked non-return valve in the drain path (Miele service manual)
A blocked household drain, standpipe or sink connection (Miele service manual: check the on-site drain system)

Safe DIY checks

⚠ Before you start

Switch the machine off before opening the drain pump panel, and let hot wash water cool before draining it, since Miele warns of scalding. Water can pour out quickly, so have a tray and towels ready and tighten the filters to stop the flow if your container fills. Don't open the cabinet or remove the pump yourself; there are mains-voltage connections inside.

Switch the washing machine off. If the load was washed at a high temperature, wait for the water to cool, since Miele warns of a scalding risk when draining the suds.
Check the drain hose behind the machine. Remove any kinks or loops, and make sure the end of the hose is no more than 1 m (3 ft 3 in) high. Miele says to watch kinked spots afterward, as the plastic can weaken and tear; a damaged hose needs replacing.
Open the access panel for the drain pump at the bottom front and put a shallow container or universal tray and towels underneath. There may be a lot of water in the drum.
Slowly unscrew the drain filters to let the water out, tightening them again whenever you need to empty the container. Don't unscrew them completely until the water has stopped flowing.
Remove the drain filters, clean them thoroughly, and check that the drain pump impellers can turn freely. Take out any foreign objects such as buttons or coins.
Refit each drain filter on its correct side and screw it tight, then check again that it's tight. Miele warns that a loose filter can leak and cause water damage. Close the access panel.
Check the household drain, standpipe or sink trap the hose empties into, in case the blockage is there rather than in the machine.
Run a short rinse and spin. If F11 comes back, contact Miele Service or book a repair.

🛠 When to call a pro

F11 keeps returning after the hose, filter and pump impeller are clear: Miele says to contact Miele Service.
A technician checks the drain pump's operation, the drain hose and the non-return valve, following Miele's service manual, and replaces the drain pump if it has failed.
The drain hose is split or damaged: Miele says it must be replaced and to contact Miele Service.
You can't get the water out or the filter won't unscrew: don't force it, call for service.
The machine is under warranty or extended cover: use Miele Service first.

Parts that commonly fix it

Always match the part number to your exact model.

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Drain pump (exact Miele part for your model)

Only if a technician confirms the pump has failed after the filter and impeller are clear. Order by your machine's model and serial number.

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Washer drain hose

Replace a kinked or split hose, as Miele advises. Match the fitting to your model.