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On a compact front load Whirlpool, FdL (shown by some units as F29) tells you the washer is unable to release its door. One possible reason is water still sitting inside the machine.
Releasing the door with the Power button
Begin by pressing hard on the door right where the lock is, and then hold your finger on Power for no less than 3 seconds. Did you run a Hot cycle? Then let the washer cool, and hold Power again for 3 seconds or longer. After that, switch the washer on. A code that remains calls for a look at the possible cause given under the “Clean filter” code; fix that, turn the washer on once more, and, if the door is still locked, repeat the Power hold of at least 3 seconds.
Cleaning the filter
The Drain Pump Filter could need attention. Look in the Cleaning and Maintenance chapter of the manual, in the part titled “Cleaning the Drain Pump Filter”.
When the door stays shut
- Turn to “How to Open Door in Case of Failure” in your Owner’s Manual.
- Washed on a hot program? Allow the water to cool off before you drain the washer or open the door.
Washers covered
Compact front load washers.
Related washer codes
- Fod and F18: suds, which also involves the drain pump filter.
- F9E1: drainage trouble.
- F9E2: a blocked drain pump on towers.
Whirlpool washer repair in San Francisco
When the door stays shut, a technician can come to your home in San Francisco or the Bay Area; see Whirlpool washer repair or call (415) 687-4102. Note whether a hot cycle was running and which of the steps above you carried out.
Model compatibility: Whirlpool reuses codes across series and model years, so FdL / F29 may mean something different on another appliance or generation. Confirm this against your model’s documentation and record your full model number before acting.
