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MAYTAG · F21 ERROR

Maytag F21 Error Code 'Long Drain' on Maxima, Bravos, Epic & 2000-Series Front-Loaders

F21 (sometimes shown as 5d or Sud F21) is Maytag's 'long drain' fault — the washer tried to drain for more than 8 minutes and the water level didn't drop. It's the #1 Maytag front-load fault code we see, and it's almost always a clogged drain-pump filter, not a failed pump.

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Reviewed by Mike Larson, Master Appliance Technician · 18+ yrs in-field · Last reviewed

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Quick answer

Maytag F21 Error Code

Maytag F21 = long drain fault on Maxima, Bravos XL, Epic Z, and 2000-series front-loaders (and similar Whirlpool Duet platforms). Cause: water level didn't drop within the timeout. Top fixes, in order: (1) clean the coin trap / drain-pump filter behind the lower-front access panel — this clears 70 % of F21 calls; (2) check the drain hose for kinks or a missing high loop; (3) replace a seized drain-pump impeller; (4) replace the pressure switch or pressure hose. Most F21 repairs land $185–$385 all-in. $149 trip fee waived on approval. 1-year warranty.

Root causes, ranked by what we find

Most-likely failures (by frequency)

1. Clogged coin trap / drain-pump filter — 70 % of F21 calls

What it is: Maytag front-loaders have a screw-out filter behind a small panel at the lower-front of the cabinet. Coins, hair, lint, hairpins and pet hair pack into the impeller housing. The pump still runs but can't move water — F21 trips after 8 minutes.

Fix: Open the panel, drain through the bleed hose into a shallow pan, unscrew the filter (counter-clockwise), clear debris, reinstall. We do this on every F21 call and confirm full drain before leaving.

Typical all-in: $185–$245 all-in

2. Kinked or improperly looped drain hose

What it is: Drain hose must rise to a high loop at the standpipe (or attach to an air gap). Pushed against the wall behind the washer, it can kink or siphon. Either way, drain rate falls and F21 trips.

Fix: Re-route the hose with a proper high loop, replace the OEM drain-hose clip, confirm no kinks. Free-to-cheap fix.

Typical all-in: $145–$215 all-in

3. Failed drain pump (seized impeller or burned-out motor)

What it is: After clearing the filter, if drain rate is still slow or pump hums without moving water, the impeller has seized on a foreign object or the motor windings have opened.

Fix: Replace OEM Maytag drain pump (W10661045 family), test full drain at 1.5–2.0 gpm before reassembling.

Typical all-in: $285–$385 all-in

4. Failed pressure switch or clogged pressure-sense hose

What it is: The pressure switch sees water level via a small clear hose at the tub bottom. If the hose clogs with detergent residue, the control never sees the water drop and throws F21 even though the pump worked fine.

Fix: Clear the pressure-sense hose or replace OEM pressure switch.

Typical all-in: $215–$315 all-in

Diagnostic order

How to clear Maytag F21 yourself before calling for service

  1. 1. Pop the lower-front access panel

    On most Maxima / Bravos models a small panel at the bottom-front of the cabinet pops off by hand or with a flat screwdriver.

  2. 2. Drain through the bleed hose

    Pull the short bleed hose forward into a shallow pan, remove its plug, let the tub drain — a few quarts to 2+ gallons depending on how much water is trapped.

  3. 3. Unscrew the drain-pump filter

    Once water is drained, turn the filter counter-clockwise to remove. Expect to find coins, lint, hair, pins. Rinse under the tap.

  4. 4. Reinstall, check the hose loop

    Screw the filter back in snug (don't over-tighten — the O-ring seals on light pressure). Plug the bleed hose. Confirm the rear drain hose has a high loop at the standpipe.

  5. 5. Run a Rinse-Drain cycle

    If the cycle completes without F21, you fixed it. If F21 returns, the pump impeller or pressure switch failed — call us.

FAQs

Common questions

What does F21 mean on a Maytag washer?

'Long drain' fault — the washer tried to drain for more than 8 minutes and the water level didn't drop enough. 70 % of the time it's a clogged coin trap / drain-pump filter, not a failed pump.

Can I clear F21 myself?

Yes — open the lower-front access panel, drain through the bleed hose, unscrew the filter and clear debris. If F21 returns after a clean filter, the pump or pressure switch failed and we can fix it same-day.

Is F21 the same as Sud or 5d?

They're related. Sud / 5d shows when excess suds slow the drain; F21 trips after 8 minutes of slow drain regardless of cause. Both clear the same way — drain-pump filter first, then pump or pressure switch.

How much does Maytag F21 repair cost?

$185–$385 all-in. Filter clean $185–$245, drain pump $285–$385, pressure switch $215–$315. $149 trip fee credited to the repair.

What models throw F21?

Maytag Maxima MHW series, Bravos XL MVW, Epic Z, 2000-series, and matched Whirlpool Duet front-loaders share the platform and throw the same code.

Do you carry OEM Maytag drain pumps on the truck?

Yes — W10661045-family drain pumps, pressure switches, pressure hoses, door boots, and bleed-hose plugs across Maxima, Bravos, Epic and 2000-series. We source OEM parts through factory-authorized distributors. Common parts ride on the truck for first-visit completion; less common parts arrive in 2–3 business days direct from the manufacturer.

Related coverage

Keep reading

See all Maytag repair services.

What will this cost?

Pricing & repair-cost pages

Trying to decide repair vs. replace? These pages break down real all-in pricing by brand, model class, and failure mode — so you know the number before we knock.