Miele dishwasher F11: drain fault
Water left in the bottom of your Miele dishwasher and four beeps with F11? This is the error code you can most often fix yourself.
Error code F11
What does F11 mean on a Miele dishwasher?
F11 is a drain fault. After every drain your Miele dishwasher checks that the water has really gone: the circulation pump runs for two seconds and a pressure switch measures the water level. If the level is still too high at a second check, the programme stops, the drain pump starts and the appliance beeps four times.
With a dishwasher full of dirty dishes and water in the tub, that is no fun. Fortunately the cause is usually in the drain itself: a kinked hose, a drain pump cover that is not clicked in, or a foreign object in the pump. You can often fix that yourself. If it is a fault, a technician comes. 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 dishwasher repair cost?
Whether your Miele dishwasher won't drain, doesn't dry 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 dishwasher 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 dishwasher, 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 fix F11 on your Miele dishwasher yourself
Watch out for glass splinters. Miele warns about this itself: the drain pump often holds small pieces of glass that are hard to see. Wear gloves or work carefully.
- Switch the dishwasher off.
- Take out the lower basket and lift the filter combination (filter and microfilter) out of the base.
- Scoop the water out of the base with a cup or sponge.
- Remove the drain pump cover and rinse it.
- Take any foreign objects out of the pump: glass, cherry stones, labels, bits of plastic.
- Refit the cover correctly: insert it vertically from above and press down on both sides until it clicks.
- Clean the filter and microfilter and put them back.
- Switch the appliance on and start a new programme.
How do I know the drain pump cover is fitted properly?
A cover that is not clicked in is one of the most common causes of F11, for example after cleaning. Press down on both sides until you feel the click and check again before refitting the filters.
Can a kinked drain hose cause F11?
Yes. Check behind or under the dishwasher that the hose is not kinked or squashed, and that the sink waste is not blocked.
When is F11 a fault in the dishwasher?
The drain is clear, the cover is fitted, and F11 still comes back? According to Miele’s service documentation one of these parts is then the cause:
- The drain pump is no longer working properly or is faulty.
- Dirt in the pressure switch, which then measures too high a water level.
- The heating relay on the control board is faulty. Strange for a drain fault, but it is on Miele’s list.
The technician measures the pressure switch, cleans or replaces the pump and replaces the control board if needed. Since 2023 Miele has a new, improved drain pump cover that also fits older G7000 models.
F11, Drain light or Water drainage on the display?
| Message | What is going on | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| F11 | The water is not being pumped away. | Clean the pump and filters, check the hose. |
| Water drainage (text display) | The same, on models with a text display. | Same steps as for F11. |
| Water drainage light flashing | Dirty filters or a foreign object in the pump or non-return valve. | Same steps as for F11. |
| F70 Waterproof | Not a drain problem but water in the base tray. | Unplug, leave the traces, call a technician. |
Where do we repair Miele dishwashers 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 dishwasher?
The full list of all F codes and messages is on our page Miele dishwasher repair. Detailed explanations are also available for F11, F14 and F24.
Frequently asked questions about F11 on a Miele dishwasher
Four beeps with a stopped programme go with an error message such as F11, F24 or F78. Check which code is on the display.
The number is the same and in both cases it is about draining, but the fix is different. On the washing machine you clean the lint filter, see Miele washing machine F11.
Check and rinse them every two weeks. If your appliance shows F177 Clean filter, it is definitely time.
Yes. If it was a foreign object or a loose cover, the problem is solved. If F11 comes back at the next wash, have the appliance checked.
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.