Your home appliances are talking to you!
Error codes are very useful for troubleshooting household appliances. They can quickly tell you why your appliance is not working. There was a time when large household appliances like washers, dryers and fridges were considered efficient household aids but not “smart” ones. Compared to printers, photocopiers and other electronic devices, they were less advanced. Today, mid-range to high-end appliances are computerized and can communicate with you.
“Passive” error mechanisms
Household appliances are partially automated if not almost autonomous. Once plugged in, a refrigerator and freezer work on their own, maintaining their internal temperatures through a simple self-regulation system (thermostat). Washers and dryers, once started, complete various operating cycles (chosen by the user) and automatically produce the desired results. It can nevertheless be said that basic appliances are somewhat passive: they wait for orders.
Embedded computing for smarter responses
It used to be that appliances performed poorly or stopped working altogether whenever a problem occurred. This type of minimal “reaction” relegated them to a lower technology level (roughly starting in the 1980s) compared to computers, which could display on-screen instructions to fix problems (bugs). But thanks to so-called embedded computing (which itself depends on the increased power of electronic circuits on boards, processors, memory, etc.) and miniaturization, appliances have evolved. Embedded computing refers to software and microcontrollers placed inside devices or appliances that are not computer-based, for example, dishwashers. This makes them more reactive (the device changes what it’s doing or attempts to find a solution) and more “sensitive” to their environment (including real-time information).
Error messages or fault codes
One illustration of today’s evolving appliances is their ability to detect problems and communicate them to the user. This is done through what are commonly called error messages. Not all appliances feature a large touch screen, but most can display some kind of information. This may be through a small LCD display or simply with flashing lights (LEDs) or beeps.
Error codes that provide instructions
Communication between humans and machines is simple in the case of standard household appliances, including stoves, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, washers and dryers. It relies on audible or visible codes that refer users to the user guide or instruction manual.
Error codes for different appliances and brands
Failure codes vary by manufacturer and model. For each product, the main error messages explain the problem and provide information on how to fix it.
Lists of error codes by appliance and brand
As shown in the tables below, each brand has its own way of indicating breakdowns and helping identify defective parts to be replaced.
Refrigerator error codes
- Amana refrigerator error codes (to come)
- Blomberg refrigerator error codes (to come)
- Fisher & Paykel refrigerator error codes (to come)
- Electrolux refrigerator error codes
- Frigidaire refrigerator error codes (to come)
- GE refrigerator error codes
- Haier refrigerator error codes (to come)
- KitchenAid refrigerator error codes (to come)
- Kenmore refrigerator error codes
- LG refrigerator error codes
- Maytag refrigerator error codes (to come)
- Samsung refrigerator error codes
- Whirlpool refrigerator error codes
Stove error codes
(to come)
Dishwasher error codes
- Amana dishwasher error codes (to come)
- Asko dishwasher error codes (to come)
- Bosch dishwasher error codes
- Electrolux dishwasher error codes
- Fisher & Paykel dishwasher error codes
- Frigidaire dishwasher error codes
- GE dishwasher error codes
- Ikea dishwasher error codes (to come)
- JennAir dishwasher error codes
- KitchenAid dishwasher error codes
- LG dishwasher error codes
- Maytag dishwasher error codes
- Samsung dishwasher error codes
- Thermador dishwasher error codes (to come)
- Whirlpool dishwasher error codes
Dryer error codes
- Samsung dryer error codes
Washing machine error codes
- LG washing machine error codes (to come)
- GE washing machine error codes (to come)
- Whirlpool washing machine error codes (to come)
- Maytag washing machine error codes (to come)
- Electrolux washing machine error codes (to come)
- Bosch washing machine error codes (to come)
- Amana washing machine error codes (to come)
- Haier washing machine error codes (to come)
- Equator washing machine error codes (to come)
- Frigidaire washing machine error codes (to come)
- Moffat washing machine error codes (to come)
- Samsung washing machine error codes (to come)
Getting a household appliance repaired when it displays an error code
Is one of your household appliances (refrigerator, freezer, stove, dishwasher, washer or dryer) showing an error code? If you can’t resolve the issue on your own, you’ll need to have it checked by a professional appliance repair technician.
