Dishwasher Error i20 (Frigidaire, Electrolux): How to Fix a Drain Fault

i20 is a drain fault code used on Frigidaire and Electrolux dishwashers, and on AEG and Zanussi models, which belong to the same Electrolux group. It means the dishwasher couldn’t pump the water out in the time it expects, so it stopped the cycle. You’ll usually find water sitting in the bottom of the tub.

In most homes the cause is a blockage you can clear yourself in half an hour: the filters, the sump, the drain hose or the sink connection. A failed drain pump is less common. Below are the checks in the order Electrolux recommends, then what to do if the code keeps coming back.

If you searched for i20 on a washer: it isn’t an LG washer code. LG washers show OE for a drain problem; see our washer error codes guide.

What i20 Means

Electrolux’s support pages describe i20 as a problem with the water drainage from the dishwasher. Depending on the model, the same fault can appear as C2, F2 or AL6, or as two beeps with a light flashing twice. Whatever the display, the checks are the same.

Check These First, in This Order

1. Clean the filters and the sump

Switch the dishwasher off, remove the lower rack and lift out the filter assembly at the bottom of the tub. Rinse the filters under the tap with a soft brush, then wipe out the sump underneath. Pieces of glass, labels, fruit seeds, bones and grease are the usual culprits. Refit the filters firmly so they lock in place.

2. Check the sink drain or garbage disposal

The dishwasher drains into the sink plumbing, so a clog there stops it too. Make sure the sink drains freely. If the dishwasher drains through a garbage disposal, run the disposal first. On a newly installed disposal, the knockout plug in the dishwasher inlet has to be removed; Electrolux makes the same point about the blanking plug in a new sink connection.

3. Check the drain hose

Look under the sink and behind the dishwasher if you can reach. The hose shouldn’t be kinked, twisted, crushed or damaged, which often happens when the dishwasher is pushed back into its opening. It should also be routed the way the installation instructions show, usually with a high loop or an air gap. If you have an air gap on the countertop, take off its cap and clear any debris.

4. Check a reverse-osmosis filter line

If your sink has a reverse-osmosis water filter, check how its drain line is connected. Electrolux notes that an incorrectly installed RO drain line sharing the dishwasher’s drain connection can send residue into the dishwasher’s drain system over time and restrict draining.

5. Restart and watch

Cancel the cycle, or switch the dishwasher off at the breaker for a few minutes to reset it, then run a short cycle. If it drains and finishes, you’ve found the cause.

If i20 Keeps Coming Back

When the filters, sump, hose and sink connection are all clear and i20 still appears, the problem is usually the drain pump: an impeller jammed by a piece of glass or a bone, or a pump motor that has failed. Less often it’s the pump’s wiring, a stuck check valve or the control board. A technician tests the pump and its circuit, clears or replaces the part, and runs a full drain test.

Related Codes You Might See

• i10: on many models, the dishwasher isn’t filling. Check that the water supply valve under the sink is fully open and the supply line isn’t kinked.
• i30: on many models, water has been detected in the base, which usually means a leak. Switch the dishwasher off and have it checked.

Codes can differ by model, so check your manual. The model number is usually on a label on the inside edge of the door.

How to Prevent i20

• Scrape food off plates before loading, especially bones, seeds and labels from jars.
• Clean the filters regularly, more often if you rinse dishes lightly.
• Run the garbage disposal before starting the dishwasher.
• Don’t push the dishwasher back hard against the hose when you reinstall it.

When to Call a Technician

Book a repair if i20 returns after you’ve cleaned the filters and checked the hose and sink connection, if you hear the pump humming without draining, or if water keeps collecting in the base. We repair Frigidaire and Electrolux dishwashers across Toronto and the GTA, and you’ll get a written price before any work starts. See dishwasher repair for what a visit includes.

Frequently Asked Questions