What should I check first for Whirlpool washer error F10?

Check the installation and ventilation, and that the machine is not sitting next to a heat source. This is the one free fix for this code.

What usually causes Whirlpool washer error F10?

Machine installed with poor ventilation, or next to a heat source

F10High

Whirlpool washer error F10

F10 on a Duet means the motor control unit overheated and tripped its thermal protection.

Symptom
F10
Free checks
3 checks
Most likely cause
Machine installed with poor ventilation, or next to a heat source

The 3 free checks

Start at the top. Unplug the machine first.

01
Check the installation and ventilation, and that the machine is not sitting next to a heat source. This is the one free fix for this code.
02
Unplug the washer, then check the wiring connections on the motor control board.
03
Check the drive system for worn or failed parts.

What causes it

Listed most likely first.

Cause	How often	DIY
Machine installed with poor ventilation, or next to a heat source	Most common	Yes
Worn or failed component in the drive system	Common	Call a pro
Wiring harness damaged	Common	Call a pro
Motor control board failed	Occasional	Call a pro

If none of that fixed it

If the checks come up clean, the motor control board is the part that typically gets replaced.

Before you check anything

Disconnect the power first. Unplug the machine at the socket, or switch off its circuit at the consumer unit if it is hard-wired. Do this before opening any panel, reaching into a pump filter, or moving the appliance.
Turn off the water before disconnecting a hose, and have a towel and a shallow tray ready — a drain hose holds water even when the drum looks empty.
Gas, mains wiring and sealed refrigeration are for a qualified professional — in many countries that is a legal requirement, not advice. If you smell gas, do not touch any switch: leave, and call your gas emergency number from outside.
Stop if you smell burning, see scorched wiring, or find water near an electrical connection. None of those is a code to look up.

The checks on this page are the manufacturer’s own, rewritten and sourced, and they are reference information rather than a repair instruction for your particular machine. Model, age and installation all change what is safe to do. You are the one standing in front of it — if a step looks wrong for the machine you have, trust that and call a technician.