Error code · Washer

Whirlpool Front-Load Washer Code rL: Items Found During Clean Washer

Low risk · DIY check OK

Code: rL
Appliance: Washer
Brand: Whirlpool
Warranty: 30-day workmanship

What rL means

rL, shown on some models as F-34, appears on a Whirlpool front-load washer from the Duet and WFW family when something is detected inside the drum during the Clean Washer cycle. That cycle is meant to run empty so the cleaner can reach the drum and seal. If the control sees clothes or other items, it stops and shows the code. Models like the WFW5620HW and WFW90HEFW do this, in current and older generations. The remedy is to take everything out and start the cycle again.

Common causes of rL

Clothes or small items left in the drum
Item stuck in the door seal or behind the gasket
Load sensing that is reading weight with an empty drum

✓ One safe check you can try

1. Open the door and remove every piece of clothing from the drum. 2. Check the door seal folds for a small item that fell behind the gasket. 3. Restart the Clean Washer cycle. 4. If rL returns with an empty drum, cut power at the outlet for five minutes, then try once more.

! Why to stop there

If the drum is truly empty and rL persists, we cannot tell yet whether the load sensing is misreading.
Older Duet washers are still common in Houston homes. We repair them, and we say plainly when a repair does not pay off.
We test the sensing before we quote a part.

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.

→Same appliance

Other Washer codes

OFb or ofbWhirlpool Top-Load Washer Code OFb or Ofb: Load Out of Balance oLWhirlpool Top-Load Washer Code oL: Overloaded Tub PFWhirlpool Washer Code PF: Power Failure During the Cycle Rinse Light OnWhirlpool Top-Load Washer Rinse Light On: Spray Rinse in Progress Sd or 5dWhirlpool Top-Load Washer Code Sd or 5d: Suds Reduction Is Running LdWhirlpool Top-Load Washer Code Ld: Water Is Slow to Leave the Tub Sense and Wash FlashingWhirlpool Top-Load Washer Sense and Wash Lights Flashing: Unbalanced Spin LdLWhirlpool Top-Load Washer Code LdL: Lid Fails to Lock

rLrL questions

Is rL an error?

Not really. It is a notice that the Clean Washer cycle found something in the drum. Remove the items and restart, and the cycle should run as designed.

Is F-34 the same as rL?

Yes. Some displays show F-34 instead. Both mean items were detected during the Clean Washer cycle, and the fix is to empty the drum and run the cycle again.

What if the drum is already empty?

Look behind the door seal for a small item, then try a power reset. If rL still shows, the sensing may be reading wrongly, and we can test it and quote before any work.

Book a visit

Still unsure about rL?

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

(713) 589-6107