If your Miele washing machine will not start and shows F138, the machine has detected water where it should not be and has put itself into flood protection. Book online at /book/ or call (07) 3062 2377.

What F138 means on a Miele washing machine

F138 is a flood-protection trip. Miele front loaders carry a sensor in the base tray; when it detects water there, the machine stops, refuses to start a new cycle and stores the code. The code is telling you the machine has found water in the base — it is not telling you where the water came from. Finding the source is the actual job.

What we find on Brisbane Miele F138 jobs

Across the 31 Miele F138 jobs our technicians attended in Brisbane in the 12 months to September 2026, the job records name a drain filter problem on nine, the waterproof system on eight and the drain pump on seven. On several of these the water in the base came from oversudsing rather than a failed part — too much detergent, or the wrong type, pushing foam out of the tub and into the tray.

What you can safely check first

Look at your detergent. If you have recently changed brands, switched to a non-HE detergent, or been using more than the machine calls for, oversudsing is a real possibility and it is free to correct.
Clean the drain filter at the bottom front of the machine. Have a towel and a shallow tray ready — water will come out.
Check under and behind the machine for obvious water, and check the inlet hose connections at the tap.
Do not tip the machine over to drain the base tray. On Miele front loaders that risks moving water somewhere worse and damaging the suspension.

What the repair involves

A technician removes the water from the base carrier, then runs the machine to find where it is coming from — most often the drain filter housing, a hose connection, or the pump seal. The machine is tested through a full cycle before it is handed back, because a flood code that is reset without finding the source simply returns.

Pricing

Our callout fee is $219, which includes the first 30 minutes of on-site labour and a full diagnosis. Parts are quoted separately before further work. Seniors, pensioners and students receive a $20 discount. Return visits are $29 plus parts and labour. All prices are estimates only.

If your machine is still inside the manufacturer’s warranty period, contact Miele Australia first to confirm how your repair should be handled.

Frequently asked questions

Can I reset F138 myself?

Sometimes the code clears once the base is dry, but if the water source has not been found it comes back on the next wash. A code that keeps returning is the machine doing its job.

Is my machine leaking onto the floor?

Not necessarily. Flood protection is designed to catch water in the base tray before it reaches your floor, which is why you may see the code without seeing a puddle.

Could it just be too much detergent?

Yes, and we do see it. Oversudsing pushes foam into the base tray and trips the sensor with no component fault at all.

Not clearing after these steps? A technician can diagnose it on the first visit — see Washing Machine Repairs Brisbane or book online.

Miele F138 Error Code — Flood Protection Fault