Standing water in the tub
There is a pool of dirty water below the filter area when the cycle ends.
Start here: Start with the filter, sump opening, and anything blocking the drain path inside the tub.
Dishwasher not draining
Miele Dishwasher F11 Fault
Direct answer: A Miele dishwasher F11 fault usually means the machine is not draining fast enough or not draining at all. Most of the time the cause is standing water, a clogged dishwasher filter, debris in the sump, a kinked dishwasher drain hose, or a blockage at the sink air gap or sink drain connection.
Most likely: Start with the easy drain path checks: remove standing water, clean the dishwasher filter, look for glass or food packed around the sump, then inspect the dishwasher drain hose and any air gap at the sink.
If the tub has water sitting in the bottom and the cycle stops with F11, treat it like a drain restriction until proven otherwise. Reality check: a lot of F11 calls end with a dirty filter or a blocked hose, not an electronic failure. Common wrong move: running cycle after cycle with dirty water still in the base just packs debris tighter into the drain path.
Don’t start with: Do not start by ordering a dishwasher drain pump. Pumps do fail, but a plain blockage is more common.
If you hear the pump hum but water barely moves,look for a clog in the filter, sump, hose, or air gap before blaming the pump.
If the dishwasher is silent when it should drain,the drain pump may be jammed or failed after you rule out simple blockages.
Last reviewed: 2026-04-17
What F11 usually looks like in the kitchen
Humming or buzzing during drain
You hear a motor sound when it should drain, but little or no water leaves.
Start here: Check for a jammed pump impeller, clogged hose, or blocked air gap or sink connection.
No drain sound at all
The machine reaches the drain part of the cycle and stays quiet, then shows F11.
Start here: After clearing the filter and hose path, suspect a stuck or failed dishwasher drain pump.
Problem started after sink or disposal work
The dishwasher was fine before plumbing work, then suddenly will not drain.
Start here: Look first at the sink drain connection, air gap, or a hose kink behind the dishwasher.
Most likely causes
1. Clogged dishwasher filter or sump
This is the most common cause when F11 appears with standing water. Food sludge, labels, glass chips, and grease collect where the water first leaves the tub.
Quick check: Remove the lower rack and filter, then look for debris packed in the filter well or around the sump opening.
2. Blocked or kinked dishwasher drain hose
A hose can clog with grease and soft debris or get pinched when the dishwasher is pushed back into place.
Quick check: Follow the dishwasher drain hose from the machine to the sink connection and look for sharp bends, sags full of sludge, or a blocked end.
3. Blocked sink air gap or sink drain connection
If the sink side is plugged, the dishwasher may pump but the water has nowhere to go. This often shows up right after sink plumbing work.
Quick check: If there is an air gap on the sink, remove the cap and check for gunk. Also inspect the dishwasher hose connection at the sink drain or disposal inlet.
4. Jammed or failed dishwasher drain pump
Once the filter and hose path are clear, a pump that only hums, trips, or stays silent during drain becomes the main suspect.
Quick check: Listen during the drain portion. A loud hum with no flow suggests a jam. Silence after the machine should be draining points more toward pump failure or a wiring/control issue.
Step-by-step fix
Step 1: Confirm it is a real drain problem, not just a little leftover water
A thin film of water under the filter is normal on many dishwashers. F11 with a real puddle is different.
- Open the dishwasher and look at the bottom of the tub.
- If water is pooled above the filter area, scoop or towel out enough water so you can work without spilling it onto the floor.
- Check whether the sink beside it is draining normally or backing up.
- If the sink is slow too, clear the sink-side drain issue first because the dishwasher may be trying to drain into a blocked line.
Next move: If the sink drain was the only problem and the dishwasher drains normally after that is corrected, the F11 fault may not return. If the sink is fine or the dishwasher still leaves water behind, move to the internal drain path checks.
What to conclude: You are separating a house drain problem from a dishwasher drain problem before taking the machine apart.
Stop if:
- Water is spilling out onto the floor and you cannot control it.
- The sink or disposal is leaking under the cabinet.
- You smell burning or hear harsh grinding from inside the dishwasher.
Step 2: Clean the dishwasher filter and check the sump for debris
This is the highest-payoff check on an F11 fault. Small debris can block flow even when the filter does not look terrible from above.
- Switch off power to the dishwasher or turn off the breaker before reaching into the sump area.
- Remove the lower rack.
- Unlock and remove the dishwasher filter assembly.
- Wash the filter with warm water and mild dish soap. Use a soft brush only if needed.
- Look into the filter well and sump opening for glass, bone fragments, paper labels, seeds, or grease buildup.
- Carefully remove debris by hand or with a towel. Avoid forcing anything deeper into the opening.
Next move: If the dishwasher drains normally on the next drain or rinse cycle, the blockage was in the filter or sump. If the tub still will not drain, the restriction is likely farther down the drain path or at the pump.
What to conclude: A cleaned filter and clear sump rule out the most common easy fix and make the next checks more meaningful.
Step 3: Inspect the dishwasher drain hose and sink-side connection
A clear filter does not help if the hose is kinked, packed with sludge, or blocked at the sink end.
- Pull the dishwasher forward only as much as needed to see the drain hose, protecting the floor as you move it.
- Trace the dishwasher drain hose from the machine to the sink drain, disposal inlet, or air gap.
- Straighten any hard kink or pinch in the hose.
- If there is an air gap on the sink or countertop, remove the cap and clean out any debris inside.
- Disconnect the hose at the sink-side connection and check for grease or food blockage at the end of the hose and the inlet it connects to.
- Flush the removed hose section with water at a sink if it is clearly clogged and easy to handle.
Next move: If you clear a clog or kink and the dishwasher now drains strongly, the F11 fault was caused by a restricted hose path. If the hose path is open and the machine still will not drain, the pump area is the next likely spot.
Step 4: Listen to the drain pump and check for a jam
Once the filter and hose path are clear, the sound the machine makes during drain tells you a lot.
- Restore power and run a short cycle or cancel-drain so the dishwasher tries to pump out.
- Listen closely near the lower front of the dishwasher during the drain portion.
- If you hear a steady hum or buzz but little water exits, shut power back off and check the pump area for debris if it is accessible from your model's filter well or lower access area.
- If the pump is silent when it should be draining, note that along with any error timing or repeated attempts to drain.
- If you find a small object jamming the impeller and can remove it without forcing parts, reassemble and test again.
Next move: If removing debris restores a strong drain, the pump was jammed rather than failed. If the pump still only hums, trips, or stays dead with a clear drain path, the dishwasher drain pump is the most likely failed part.
Step 5: Replace the failed drain-path part or call for service if the diagnosis is no longer simple
By this point you have either found the blockage or narrowed it to the main failed component.
- Replace the dishwasher drain hose if it is kinked internally, split, or still restricted after cleaning.
- Replace the dishwasher filter assembly only if it is broken, will not lock in place, or is missing pieces that let debris reach the sump.
- Replace the dishwasher drain pump if the drain path is clear and the pump is jammed beyond cleaning, only hums, or stays dead during drain.
- After the repair, run a rinse or cancel-drain and watch the full drain-out at the sink connection or air gap discharge.
- If the machine still shows F11 with a clear path and a known-good pump, stop there and schedule service for wiring or control diagnosis.
A good result: A good repair will empty the tub quickly, clear the fault, and let the cycle finish without water left in the bottom.
If not: If F11 returns after the drain path and pump are addressed, the remaining issue is usually electrical diagnosis rather than another guess-and-buy part.
What to conclude: You are down to the actual failed part or a service-level electrical problem, not a general clog hunt anymore.
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FAQ
What does F11 mean on a Miele dishwasher?
It usually means the dishwasher is not draining properly within the expected time. The most common causes are a clogged dishwasher filter, debris in the sump, a blocked dishwasher drain hose, a blocked air gap, or a bad dishwasher drain pump.
Can a dirty filter really cause an F11 fault?
Yes. A dirty or damaged dishwasher filter is one of the most common reasons for this fault. Even a small amount of glass, paper, or grease in the sump area can slow draining enough to trigger the code.
Why does my dishwasher hum but not drain?
A humming sound usually means the dishwasher drain pump is trying to run but cannot move water. That is often caused by a jammed impeller or a blockage farther down the drain path.
Should I replace the drain pump first for F11?
Usually no. Start with the filter, sump, dishwasher drain hose, and sink-side connection. Pump replacement makes sense only after the drain path is clearly open and the pump still hums, jams, or stays silent during drain.
Can a sink or air gap cause my dishwasher to show F11?
Yes. If the sink drain connection or air gap is blocked, the dishwasher may pump against that restriction and still fail to empty. This is especially common after sink plumbing or disposal work.
Is it safe to keep running the dishwasher with F11?
It is better to stop and clear the drain problem first. Repeated cycles with standing dirty water can worsen the blockage, leave odor behind, and sometimes lead to leaks when water backs up where it should not.