Miele washing machine F11: drain fault
Water left in the drum and F11 on your Miele washing machine? In four out of five cases you can fix this yourself.
Error code F11
What does F11 mean on a Miele washing machine?
F11 means the water is not draining away, or too slowly. On models with a text display it says Drainage fault, on simpler models the Drain light flashes. The door stays locked while there is water in the drum, and your laundry is stuck.
In its service documentation Miele lists five causes. You can solve four of them yourself: a blocked lint filter, a jammed pump, a kinked or too high drain hose, or a blocked hose. Only an electrical fault in the drain pump needs a technician. The diagnosis costs €69, the repair a maximum of €179 in total, parts extra.
How it works, in 3 steps
Prices
How much does Miele washing machine repair cost?
Whether your Miele washing machine won't drain, leaks or shows an error code: you pay the same fixed price, just like for any other brand.
A technician finds out at your home why your Miele washing machine isn't working properly. If you don't go ahead with the repair, you only pay for the diagnosis.
If the technician can repair your Miele washing machine, you pay €110. No time limit: even if it takes long or a second visit is needed.
Spare parts are not included. The technician tells you in advance if a part is needed and what it costs.
Chrono surcharge for a visit in the evening, at the weekend or just a few hours after your request.
Second appliance during the same visit? The technician can check and repair it too for €80.
Maintenance as well? The technician can also clean and check your appliance thoroughly, for €50 per appliance on top of the diagnosis and repair.
Prefer remote help first? A video repair costs €49. See all our prices →
How to clean the lint filter and drain pump
This solves F11 in most cases. Water will come out, sometimes more than you expect: have towels ready.
- Switch the machine off and unplug it.
- Open the flap at the bottom left of the machine.
- Put a flat container or a baking tray under the flap.
- Unscrew the lint filter slightly until water runs out. Screw it back when the tray is full, empty it and repeat.
- When no more water comes out, unscrew the filter completely and clean it thoroughly.
- Check through the opening that the pump vanes turn freely. Carefully remove coins, buttons, hair grips or a sock.
- Put the filter back the right way round and tighten it firmly, or it will leak.
- Close the flap, plug in and run a Rinse or Drain programme.
How do I open the door if there is still water in the drum?
First let the water drain through the lint filter, as above. Behind the drain pump flap there is also an emergency release for the door. Only put your hand in the drum once it has stopped completely.
Is it the drain hose?
How high can the drain hose of a Miele washing machine be?
The end of the drain hose must be no more than 1 metre above the floor. Higher, for example over a tall sink, and the pump cannot manage and you get F11 or F37.
Is the drain hose kinked or blocked?
Check behind the machine that the hose has no kink or loop. The filter is clean and the hose clear, but the water still does not drain? Disconnect the hose from the drain and flush it through. If the blockage is in your home’s waste pipe, that is a job for a plumber.
When is F11 a fault?
The pump no longer runs, even with a clean filter and a clear hose? You hear no humming when the machine tries to drain? Then the drain pump probably has an electrical fault. That is the fifth cause Miele lists, and the only one that needs a technician. Replacing the pump is a standard repair, usually done during the visit if the part is in stock.
Can I replace a Miele drain pump myself?
We advise against it. The pump sits at the bottom of the machine, between water and electricity, and has to be refitted watertight. One mistake and the next wash ends up on your floor.
Where do we repair Miele washing machines at home?
Our technicians work in Antwerp, the Brussels-Capital Region, East Flanders, West Flanders, Flemish Brabant, Limburg, Liège, Namur, Hainaut and Walloon Brabant.
Do your technicians have to travel from Vilvoorde every morning?
No. Our technicians live all over Belgium and set off every morning from their own municipality. The parts they need are delivered straight to their homes. That way we get to you quickly, without long drives and often as soon as the next working day.
Another error code on your Miele washing machine?
The full list of all F codes and display messages is on our page Miele washing machine repair. Detailed explanations are also available for F10, F11 and F20. ADD, Ctr or 888 on the display? Read reset a Miele washing machine.
Frequently asked questions about F11 on a Miele washing machine
Check it every two to three months, and always when the machine drains more slowly or smells of drains. If you have pets or wash a lot of fleece, do it more often.
Then the blockage is further along: in the pump itself, in the drain hose or in your home’s waste pipe. Or the hose is higher than 1 metre. Check those points. If everything is clear, the pump is probably faulty.
F11 is about water not draining, F10 about water not coming in. For F10 you check the tap, inlet hose and filter, see Miele washing machine F10.
A few hours is no problem. Not for days: the water will start to smell and the laundry will go musty. Let the water out through the lint filter.
The diagnosis at home costs €69. If the technician can repair it, you pay a maximum of €179 in total, however long it takes. Parts are extra and you hear the price beforehand. If you decide not to repair, you only pay the €69.
Yes, 3 months on the repair. If the same fault comes back within that period, we come back at no extra cost.
No. We are an independent repair service, not an official Miele service partner. Our technicians do repair Miele appliances every week, at a fixed price you know in advance. If your appliance is still under the manufacturer’s warranty, contact Miele directly.