F21, sometimes shown as F2 E1 on newer displays, usually means the washer took too long to drain. The control board stopped the cycle because water was not leaving fast enough.
These steps apply to Maytag, Whirlpool, Kenmore, and some Bosch washers that show F21 or a similar long-drain fault.
Does this affect you?
A long-drain code is rarely the first sign of a failed pump. Most of the time water is physically blocked by coins, lint, a hair tie, a small sock, excess suds, a kinked hose, or a clogged household drain.
Clean the drain pump filter
- Unplug the washer.
- Find the pump filter access panel, often low on the front of front-load models or behind a lower panel on some top-loaders.
- Place towels and a shallow pan under the filter area.
- Open the small drain hose or filter cap slowly so trapped water drains gradually.
- Remove the filter and clear coins, buttons, lint, hairpins, or fabric debris.
- Rinse the filter, reinstall it tightly, and run Drain & Spin or Spin.
Always power off before opening the pump area. A washer stopped mid-cycle can release several gallons of warm water, so open the cap slowly and protect the floor.
Check for oversuds and a kinked drain hose
- If non-HE detergent or too much detergent was used, run an extra rinse or spin cycle with no detergent.
- Pull the washer out unplugged and check the drain hose for sharp bends.
- Make sure the hose is not sealed tightly or pushed too far into the standpipe.
- Check whether the household drain is slow or backing up.
If the filter, hose, suds, and drain point are clear but F21 returns, the drain pump impeller may be jammed or broken. A pump that hums without moving water is a strong clue.
Less often, a pressure switch or control board misreads the water level and triggers long-drain behavior. Those are best tested by a technician rather than guessed at.
Drain pump replacement is a defined repair and often worth it on an otherwise healthy washer. On an older washer with several recent problems, compare the quote with replacement cost.
Sources
- Whirlpool – Washer Error Code F21 (2025)
- Maytag – F21 Long Drain Error Explained (2025)
- Bosch Home – Washing Machine F21 Fault (2024)