PO is KitchenAid's outage indicator for refrigerators. Freezer temperature reached 18F (-8C) or higher; MEASURED FILL under Confirm acknowledges it.
Model compatibility: KitchenAid reuses codes across series and model years, so PO may mean something different on another appliance or generation. Confirm this against your model’s documentation and record your full model number before acting.
What this code means
Outage indicator: power was off and the freezer temperature rose to 18F (-8C) or higher.
PO on a KitchenAid refrigerator is a notice, not a malfunction. It says the refrigerator had no power for a while and that the freezer got as warm as 18°F (-8°C) or more in that time.
At a glance
| Code | PO |
|---|---|
| What it means | Outage indicator: power was off and the freezer temperature rose to 18F (-8C) or higher. |
| What you can check | Press MEASURED FILL, the button under Confirm, to clear PO and bring back the Home screen. Treat the food separately, because the code says nothing about whether it is still safe. |
| When to call a technician | If cooling still seems off after an outage and the alert has been confirmed, book a service visit and describe what the display showed. |
Quick answers
What appears? PO takes the place of the temperature reading, an alert tone beeps three times, and Confirm blinks on the control panel until you answer.
How do I clear it? Press MEASURED FILL, the button below Confirm. PO goes away and the Home screen returns. This holds for both the French door bottom freezer and side by side articles.
Will another button do the job? The help pages name only MEASURED FILL under Confirm.
Does PO say whether the food is safe? No. The temperature is a threshold from the manufacturer. Frozen and refrigerated food after an outage is a food-safety question, answered by ordinary guidance and not by the code.
What if the display shows something else? The PO articles stop there. A blinking F, for instance, is a different entry.
What the alert is for
The idea is that you learn about a warm-up you might have slept through or missed while away.
Other entries to read
- Flashing F: a fault flag that calls for a power cycle and a cooling check
- H2O: a filter reminder cleared with two buttons
Refrigerator repair in the metro areas we cover
If cooling still seems off after an outage, our team serving the Miami, New York, Houston, Los Angeles and San Diego metro areas takes calls on (844) 919-2035. Mention what the screen read and whether the PO was confirmed.
Source: KitchenAid Product Help, French Door Bottom Freezer Refrigerator: Control Concerns; Side by Side Refrigerator: Control Concerns
Important safety warning. Do not attempt repairs involving electrical components, gas, water lines, refrigerant or sealed systems. Unplug the appliance if it is safe to reach the outlet, and leave internal diagnostics to a qualified technician.
Sources & references
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