Kenmore Elite HE3 / HE3t / HE4t / HE5t front-load washers (Whirlpool Duet-built, mid 2000s): quick sheet

Covers: Sears Kenmore Elite HE3, HE3t, HE4t and HE5t front-load washers built by Whirlpool on the Duet platform (Kenmore model numbers start with the 110. source prefix). iFixit dates the HE3 to 2004. The plain HE3 and the 't' models (HE3t/HE4t/HE5t) are not parts-interchangeable for the rear bearing kit, so identify which one you have first.

Single sourceBrands: Kenmore, Whirlpool5 components

These are the Sears twins of the early Whirlpool Duet front-loads and still turn up in rentals and basements. Drain faults (F21) are the classic call, followed by door-lock faults, inlet problems, suds, and loud spin from bearings or a corroded spider. Repair shops treat the rear basket bearings on the early belt-drive Duets as a wear item, and a bearing job usually means a new outer tub because the tub rarely splits cleanly. Quote carefully: the repair can cost more than the machine is worth.

Safety first

Unplug before opening any panel.
Expect water behind the pump access: shut the faucets and drain first.
Bearing or tub work needs two people; the tub and counterweights are heavy.

How it works

Duet-family front-load: the basket hangs on an aluminum spider and rear bearings in the outer tub. The early Duets used a belt drive; Whirlpool later moved to direct drive.

The board stops filling and shows F21 when the drain takes too long (about 8 minutes is the commonly reported limit). Almost always the cause is a clog in the drain path: pump filter or inlet, sump hose, or the pressure-sensor hose.

The 't' models have an internal heater; the CCU (central control unit) and the flowmeter on the inlet side are reported trouble parts on HE3t/HE4t.

Codes on the display: F20 water inlet, F21 drain, F22 door lock, SUD excessive suds (use HE detergent). Other F codes: cancel, run Drain & Spin and call for service per the owner material.

Components & tests

Unlock all 5 components, specs, service mode and teardown

Full library + AI assistant + the OnCall Tech app for iPhone & Android. $34.90, one time.

Get lifetime access

Official manufacturer documentation

Always confirm values against the tech sheet for the exact model.

OnCall Tech is a reference tool for trained technicians and can make mistakes. Always disconnect power and confirm with the manufacturer's documentation before you work. © 2026 OnCall Tech. Original content; not a reproduction of any manufacturer document.Generic part photos (not of this brand): Front-load washer and dryer pair in a home laundry room by Curtis Adams, Pexels License

Diagnostic guides for this appliance

Guide · Washer

Whirlpool family washers & dryers: reading F#E# codes, Service Diagnostic Mode and fault history

Whirlpool-family electronic laundry stores its last few faults as a pair: the F number names the system and the E number names the suspect part. Most knob-and-button consoles reach Service Diagnostic Mode by pressing three buttons in a set order three times in a row within a few seconds; newer touch consoles use a different entry. The exact buttons are on the tech sheet hidden in the console, so read it first and never guess.

8 steps ~15 mineasy

Guide · Washer

Samsung washers & dryers: display codes vs information codes, SmartThings and Smart Care, and service-mode code history

Samsung splits codes into information codes (a user or installation condition such as swapped hot and cold hoses or an unlatched door) and real error codes. The same fault may read differently by generation: older machines used E-numbers or 4E-style codes, newer ones 4C-style, some top-loaders nF. Wi-Fi models push codes to SmartThings when they happen; Smart Care is a separate camera-based check that only reads its own test, not real codes. Many models also keep a stored-code list in a service mode whose buttons vary by model.

7 steps ~20 mineasy

Guide · Washer

Washer routine service: tub-clean cycle, door boot, dispenser, pump filter and hoses (front and top load)

All the major brands build in a cleaning cycle and remind the user about once a month or every 20-40 loads: Whirlpool about every 30 cycles, LG after about 30 cycles ('tcL'), Samsung after 40 washes on front-loaders and 20 on top-loaders. A pro service adds what the cycle misses: the door boot, dispenser, drain pump filter on front-loaders and a hose inspection.

6 steps ~45 mineasy

Other washers manuals

Manual · Washer

Whirlpool WTW6157P-series top-load washer with 2-in-1 removable agitator: quick sheet

Whirlpool WTW6157P** (WTW6157PW white, WTW6157PB Volcano Black; first engineering revision WTW6157PW0 seen in parts listings). ENERGY STAR lists it as available on the market from May 2023 (the 'P' letter is the 2023 model-year code in Whirlpool numbering). 5.3 cu ft US (DOE) class, about 6.1 cu ft IEC in Canada. The smaller WTW5057L** also carries a 2-in-1 removable agitator but differs in capacity (about 4.7-4.8 cu ft) and listed spin (about 770 rpm), and our sources do not confirm the two share the same agitator parts, so it is NOT covered here.

8 components7 common failuresWhirlpool

Manual · Washer

Whirlpool WFW6720R / WFW5720R front-load washers with FreshFlow vent: quick sheet

Whirlpool WFW6720R** (5.0 cu ft US / 5.8 cu ft IEC; ENERGY STAR base model H24JAK50) and WFW5720R** (4.5 cu ft US / 5.2 cu ft IEC; base model H24JAL50). ENERGY STAR lists WFW5720R on the market from July 2024 and WFW6720R from August 2024 ('R' is the 2024 model-year letter). Paired dryers per ENERGY STAR: YWED6720R** (electric, with the 6720) and WGD5720R** (gas, with the 5720). This is a newer platform than the WFW5620H / WFW560CH sheet.

9 components7 common failuresWhirlpool

Manual · Washer

LG WT8400C / WT8600C top-load washers: quick sheet

LG WT8400C* (WT8400CW white, WT8400CB black) and WT8600C* (WT8600CB black steel, with ezDispense). ENERGY STAR lists both on the market from December 2023. 5.5 cu ft US (about 6.3 cu ft IEC on Canadian listings), 27 in wide impeller top-loaders. Newer than the WT7300CW and WT7800CW sheets.

9 components6 common failuresLG