F10 and F11 are the two codes Miele washing machine owners see most, and they are close relatives. F10 means water cannot get in. F11 means water cannot get out.
Both usually come down to a tap, a filter or a hose, and Miele publishes the steps for both. National Appliance Repairs works on Miele appliances in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, and these are two codes where the fix is often in your hands.
Your Miele may not say F10 at all
Older Miele washing machines show a numbered fault code. Newer models, including the W1 range, often show a written message instead.
Miele Australia confirms that all of these describe the same fault, a blocked or restricted water inlet:
- F10
- Water inlet fault
- Hot water inlet fault
- Service water inlet fault
- The Check inlet indicator light flashing
For drainage, older machines show F11, and some models flash a Drain indicator light. If your display shows words, the words are the code.
| Code or message | What Miele says it means | First thing to check |
|---|---|---|
| F10, Water inlet fault, Check inlet light | The water inlet is blocked or restricted | Is the tap fully open? |
| Hot water inlet fault | The hot water inlet is blocked or restricted | Is the hot tap open, on models with a hot connection? |
| F11, Drain light | The drain is restricted | Is the drain hose kinked or too high? |
Need This Fixed Today?
Our licensed technicians repair this exact fault every week – fast, reliable, and backed by a workmanship guarantee.
- Licensed & insured
- Workmanship guarantee
- No fix, no fee
Fixing F10: water not getting in
Miele’s published steps, in order:
- Stop the programme, open the tap, and restart: A tap that was turned off, or only partly on, is the most common cause.
- Clean the inlet filter: Turn off the tap and unscrew the inlet hose from it. Remove the rubber seal from the recess. Hold the free end of the hose upside down and the small plastic filter will fall out. Clean it, put it back, and reassemble. Turn the tap on and check the connection does not drip, tightening it if it does. The filter must go back in.
- Remove kinks and loops from the inlet hose: Keep an eye on those spots afterwards, because the plastic can weaken and tear where it was bent.
Miele also gives a simple test for water supply: with the tap fully open, at least 5 litres should flow within 15 seconds. If yours delivers less, the problem is the building’s supply, not the machine, and that is a job for a plumber.
A damaged inlet hose has to be replaced, and some Miele models use hoses with built-in leak protection, so use the correct one.
Why Australian water makes F10 more likely
The inlet filter exists to catch sediment and grit before it reaches the machine’s valve. In hard water areas, mineral deposits add to what collects there. A filter that has not been checked in years slowly restricts flow until the machine decides it is not filling fast enough.
If you are in a hard water area, cleaning the inlet filter once or twice a year prevents a lot of F10s. Our guide to how Australian water and climate wear out appliances covers where that matters most.
Fixing F11: water not getting out
Miele describes F11 as a restricted drain. Work through these in order.
- Check the drain hose for kinks, especially behind the machine, where it gets pushed against the wall.
- Check the drain height. Miele specifies a maximum delivery head of 1 metre. That is the height the pump can lift water to. A drain hose hooked over something higher than that, or run up to a standpipe that is too tall, will produce F11.
- Check where it drains to. A blocked laundry tub, a standpipe full of lint, or a sink with a slow waste will back water up, and the machine reports it as its own fault.
- Clean the drain filter. On Miele front loaders it sits behind the flap at the bottom front of the machine. Your operating instructions describe how to drain the remaining water safely before removing it. Have towels and a shallow tray ready, because there will be water.
Coins, hair ties and lint are the usual finds. Once it is clean, run a Drain or Spin programme to test.
Our guide to washing machines that won’t drain covers the general checks for any brand.
F11 on your dishwasher is a different job
One point of confusion worth clearing up: Miele uses F11 for drainage on its dishwashers too. If you have searched “Miele F11” and found instructions about non-return valves and wash cabinets, those are for the dishwasher. Our guide to the Miele dishwasher F11 error covers that one.
When it needs a technician
Book if F10 persists with the tap fully open, a clean filter and a supply that passes the 5-litre test. That points to the inlet valve or the machine’s pressure sensing.
Book if F11 persists with a clean filter, a clear hose and a drain within the 1-metre limit. That points to the drain pump.
Book straight away if there is water on the floor, or if the machine shows a waterproof system message, which means water has been detected where it should not be. Our guide to the Miele F70 error explains how that protection works on Miele dishwashers.
We are not a Miele authorised agent, and we say so plainly. Our washing machine repair service works on Miele across all five capitals, with upfront quoting and a 12-month parts warranty with a 3-month labour warranty. If your machine is still under its Miele warranty, contact Miele first.
Call:
- Melbourne 03 9123 0548
- Sydney 02 9621 5988
- Brisbane 07 3166 9770
- Adelaide 08 7123 4027 or,
- Perth 08 9470 4450
Tell us the code or message, and what you have already checked.
Frequently asked questions
What does F10 mean on a Miele washing machine?
The water inlet is blocked or restricted. Check the tap is fully open, clean the inlet filter in the hose connection, and remove any kinks in the hose.
What does F11 mean on a Miele washing machine?
The drain is restricted. Check the drain hose for kinks, keep the drain within Miele’s 1-metre maximum height, and clean the drain filter.
My Miele says “Water inlet fault” instead of F10. Is that the same?
Yes. Newer Miele machines show written messages. Water inlet fault, Hot water inlet fault, Service water inlet fault and a flashing Check inlet light all mean the inlet is blocked or restricted.
How do I know if my water pressure is too low for a Miele?
Miele’s test: with the tap fully open, at least 5 litres should flow within 15 seconds. If it is less, the supply needs a plumber.
Is Miele F11 the same on the washing machine and the dishwasher?
Both are drainage faults, but the parts and the fix are different. Check which appliance the instructions you are reading are written for.
The short version
F10 is water in, F11 is water out, and newer Miele machines may say it in words. For F10, open the tap fully, clean the inlet filter and straighten the hose, then run Miele’s 5-litre flow test. For F11, straighten the drain hose, keep it under a metre high, and clean the drain filter.
If the code survives all of that, the inlet valve or drain pump is next. National Appliance Repairs works on Miele washing machines across five capitals with upfront quoting. Book online or call your nearest office.
Call Us:
or leave a message using the form below
