An Amana front load washer such as the NFW5800HW is a high-efficiency machine with a stainless wash basket, a locking door and separate dispensers, and it rewards a few habits that a top-load washer never asked of you. Use the right detergent in a smaller amount, keep the door seal dry, clean the dispenser and the drain filter, and do not overload the drum. These tips are the ones that prevent the smell, the long-drain code and the off-balance stops that bring most front-load owners to a repair page.
What detergent should you use in an Amana front-load washer?
Use high-efficiency detergent, labeled HE, and measure it. A front-loader uses much less water than a top-loader, so ordinary detergent makes too many suds, and suds are the reason behind the F0 group of codes on Amana washers, which stop the cycle when the drum is oversudsed. Use the amount on the label for the load size, and use less for a small or lightly soiled load. More detergent does not clean better in a high-efficiency machine. It leaves residue in the clothes and in the machine, and it feeds the smell that front-load washers are known for. Our Amana washer suds error guide explains what to do after an oversudsed cycle.
How do you keep the door seal from smelling?
The rubber seal around the door holds a ring of water after every wash, and the moisture, with a little soap film, is exactly what mildew likes. After the last load of the day, wipe the seal with a dry cloth, pulling the folds open to dry the groove at the bottom. Then leave the door ajar so the drum can air out. This one habit does more than any cleaner. If a smell has already started, wipe the seal with a cloth and a mild cleaning solution, and run a tub clean cycle. Our Amana washer smells guide covers the deeper fixes.
How do you clean the dispenser drawer?
Detergent and softener leave a sticky film in the dispenser, and the film builds into a lump that blocks the flow. Pull the drawer out, wash it under warm water with a soft brush and look into the opening it slides into, since residue collects there too. On models that show a detergent cartridge prompt, such as dET, follow the manual for that cartridge. Put the drawer back dry. Do it every month or two, or when you see powder or gel left in the compartments after a wash.
Where is the drain pump filter, and why clean it?
Many front-load washers have a small filter near the lower front corner of the cabinet, behind a panel. It catches coins, buttons, socks and lint before they reach the pump, and a clogged one is a leading cause of the long-drain code F9 E1, which Amana also shows as Ld. Check your manual for the location on your model. Put a shallow pan and towels under the filter, open it slowly because water will come out, remove what it caught and screw it back in firmly. Do this every few months. Our Amana washer won’t drain guide walks through what to do when the drum is full of water.
How full should the drum be?
Fill the drum to about three-quarters at most, and leave a hand’s width at the top. A full drum cannot tumble the clothes, so they bunch and wash poorly, and an unbalanced load triggers the off-balance stop, which Amana also shows as uL. Mix large and small items, and wash a single heavy item, such as a bath mat, with a few towels so that the drum stays in balance. Do not wash a lone comforter in a small machine. If the washer shakes or walks across the floor during the spin, it may also be out of level, and our guide to leveling an Amana washer shows how to adjust the feet.
What does the LOC display mean?
LOC is the control lock. It keeps the buttons from changing a cycle by accident, and it is a feature, not a problem. If the display shows LOC and the buttons seem dead, press and hold the lock button as your manual describes. Do not call for service until you have tried that. If you see an F8 E1 or LF because the washer is slow to fill, check that both water taps are fully open and that the inlet hoses are not kinked before you suspect the washer.
What else extends the life of a front-load washer?
Run a monthly tub clean cycle with a cleaner made for washers, keep the water hoses in good condition and replace them every few years, and avoid using too much fabric softener. If you have questions about how the washer works, read how the Amana HE washer works, and if you are deciding between washer styles, the top-load versus front-load guide compares them. Our Amana washer maintenance guide has the full checklist.
We are an independent repair company, not the manufacturer. If a code keeps returning or the washer will not drain or spin, our Amana washer repair service can test the pump, the lock and the drive, and you can book a visit online.
