Error code · Refrigerator

Whirlpool Bottom-Freezer Refrigerator Code PO: Power Outage Indicator

Low risk · DIY check OK

Code: PO
Appliance: Refrigerator
Brand: Whirlpool
Warranty: 30-day workmanship

What PO means

PO is the Power Outage indicator on Whirlpool bottom-freezer refrigerators, for instance the WRB322DMBM and WRB329DFBM. It is not a failure code. It tells you that the power supply to the refrigerator was off and that the freezer temperature rose to 18 degrees F (minus 8 C) or higher in the meantime. The panel reads Power Outage and an alert tone sounds three times. Touching any button silences the tone and clears the icon, and the message goes away on its own once normal power is back.

Common causes of PO

Utility outage long enough for the freezer to warm
Tripped breaker or a plug that came loose
Power strip or outlet that lost its supply
Freezer door left open during the outage

✓ One safe check you can try

1. Touch any button on the panel to stop the tone and clear the icon. 2. Check that the refrigerator is plugged in and its breaker has not tripped. 3. Look through the freezer for food that has thawed or has ice crystals that have melted and refrozen. 4. Throw out anything you do not trust. 5. Watch the display for the following 24 hours to see that the message stays gone.

! Why to stop there

The indicator only reports a past event, so it cannot say how long the freezer stayed warm
If PO appears when the power was never off, we test the refrigerator and its supply
Temperature readings after the outage tell us whether the cooling itself recovered

Opening a panel yourself does not automatically cancel a manufacturer warranty, but it can cause accidental damage, and some manufacturers set their own service conditions. Check your warranty terms, or ask us, before deciding.

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Other Refrigerator codes

Sabbath ModeWhirlpool Bottom-Freezer Refrigerator Code Sabbath Mode: Not an Error, Just a Setting TempAlarmWhirlpool Refrigerator Code TempAlarm: When the Light Keeps Flashing After the Alarm Stops FA ECWhirlpool Bottom-Freezer Refrigerator Code FA EC: Watch the Display After a Reset HI or LOWhirlpool Undercounter Refrigerator Code HI or LO: Reset the Power and Verify FB E1Whirlpool Bottom-Freezer Refrigerator Code FB E1: When the F Keeps Flashing FB E2Whirlpool Bottom-Freezer Refrigerator Code FB E2: Temperature Check After a Reset FB E8Whirlpool Bottom-Freezer Refrigerator Code FB E8: Power Cycle, Then Service FB E9Whirlpool Bottom-Freezer Refrigerator Code FB E9: Reset Steps for the Panel

POPO questions

Is PO a sign the refrigerator is broken?

No. It is an information message that the power was off long enough for the freezer to reach about 18 degrees F or higher. The refrigerator itself may be fine once power is restored.

Is my frozen food safe after a PO message?

That depends on what thawed and for how long, and we cannot judge it from here. Food that has softened or partly thawed should be treated with care, and anything you doubt is better thrown out.

What if PO shows up with no outage?

Then something interrupted the power that you may not have noticed, such as a loose plug or a tripping breaker. If that is ruled out, we test the refrigerator and quote in writing before any work.

Book a visit

Still unsure about PO?

A technician diagnoses it on site and gives you the price in writing before any work starts.

(713) 589-6107