Whirlpool · Refrigerator Moderate

H — High Temperature Alarm

'H' (sometimes 'HI' or accompanied by a temperature reading) is a high-temperature warning that the fresh food or freezer compartment exceeded the safe threshold (typically 48°F fresh food or 15°F freezer) for more than 90 minutes.

Keep using it?
Yes, with caution
DIY difficulty
Easy
Verified against
producthelp.whirlpool.com ↗

How to fix it

  1. Press any key to silence the alarm.
  2. Verify all doors are fully closed and gaskets are sealing (dollar bill test).
  3. Check food for thaw; do not refreeze meat/dairy that warmed past 40°F.
  4. Watch for 24 hours — if temperatures return to setpoint and H does not return, you are done.
  5. If H keeps reappearing, vacuum the condenser coil and check the condenser fan; if it persists, follow F3 E1/E2 thermistor steps.

Why it happens

Typical signs: 'H' or 'HI' on display · Audible alarm tone · Food feels warmer than expected · Often appears after long door-open or power event

  • Door left open Most common — door ajar overnight or after grocery loading.
  • Recent power outage Often appears alongside or instead of PO.
  • Failed door gasket Air leaking past a damaged seal.
  • Cooling problem developing Compressor weakness or refrigerant loss starting.

More Whirlpool refrigerator codes

6 (flashing) Flashing 6 — 6th Sense Active CF CF — Communication Failure Co Co — Cooling Off / Demo Mode dF dF — Defrost System Failure Er Er — Generic Error / Control Glitch F3 E1 F3 E1 — Fresh Food Thermistor Fault

All Whirlpool codes → All refrigerator codes →

Always unplug an appliance before servicing it. This guide is for informational purposes and is not a substitute for a qualified technician. Verified against manufacturer documentation: producthelp.whirlpool.com.