Frigidaire E21 — Drains slowly

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WASHING MACHINES FAULT CODE · FRIGIDAIRE

E21

DRAINS SLOWLY

What code E21 means on a Frigidaire washing machines, what causes it, and which part to check first.

● SEVERITY: LOW
Frigidaire Washing machines
In short

Frigidaire E21 means: Drains slowly. The documented cause is: Check your house's washer drain and the washer's drain hose for clogs and clear any clogs found. Unplug the washer and check the drain pump for a clog.

01

What E21 means

Drains slowly

WHAT YOU SEE ON THE APPLIANCE

The display shows E21 and the machine stops until the fault is cleared.

02

What the technical documentation says

Causes documented in the technical source published by applianceaid.com

DOCUMENTED CAUSE OR CHECK
Check your house's washer drain and the washer's drain hose for clogs and clear any clogs found
Unplug the washer and check the drain pump for a clog
If the drain path is clear, the drain pump usually needs replacing
03

Replacement parts

06

Tools you'll need

04

Before you open anything

!

Unplug the machine and close the water tap before removing any panel. Water and mains electricity sit centimetres apart inside a washing machine. If the drum still holds water, drain it from the filter first — it can be scalding.

05

What to check, in order

From the quickest check to the one that needs a technician.

1
Unplug the machine and close the water tap.
2
Clear the pump filter at the bottom — it is the single most common cause and takes two minutes.
3
Check the drain hose is not kinked, crushed or higher than 1 metre.
4
Check the door seal and that the door closes with a click.
5
If the fault returns, the part named above needs testing with a multimeter.
Appliance technician checking wiring and connections with a multimeter
07

Find a specialist

08

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Frequently asked questions

What does E21 mean on a Frigidaire?

Drains slowly The documented cause is: Check your house's washer drain and the washer's drain hose for clogs and clear any clogs found. Unplug the washer and check the drain pump for a clog. If the drain path is clear, the drain pump usually needs replacing

Can I fix E21 myself?

It depends on the part involved: Check your house's washer drain and the washer's drain hose for clogs and clear any clogs found. Unplug the washer and check the drain pump for a clog. If the drain path is clear, the drain pump usually needs replacing Clearing a filter or straightening a hose is within reach of anyone; anything behind a panel means mains electricity and water together — that is a job for a technician.

Does Frigidaire use other codes on this appliance?

Yes: we document 39 other codes for Frigidaire on this washing machines. They are listed at the bottom of this page, each with its own meaning.

Does the same code mean the same thing on other brands?

Often not. The same two characters can point to completely different faults depending on the manufacturer — always check the page for your own brand.

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Other Frigidaire codes

Written by TroubleAtlas Technical Team · Last verified: · How we verify — methodology · Sources: applianceaid.com
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