UniMac Commercial Washer Error Code EMTY: Did Not Drain in Time
EMTY on the WE-6 display means the washer did not drain within the allotted time. It is recoverable. Press Enter (Start) to restart the drain step, or Clear to abort and run the stop routine.
Medium: the cycle waits for an operator and the tub stays full until the drain is cleared.
What does UniMac error code EMTY mean?
At a drain step the computer opens the drain and expects the tub to empty within the programmed time. If water is still present when that time ends, it shows EMTY, holds its outputs off and gives the operator two minutes to respond. Enter, or Start, repeats the drain step. Clear aborts the cycle and runs the stop routine. The manual recommends no more than one minute for a programmed drain step, and it points out that a drain step set shorter than the machine's real drain time will trigger EMTY. That makes a recently edited program the first thing to suspect on a washer that used to drain fine. On a machine whose program has not changed, a slow or blocked drain line is the usual explanation, and the error will repeat each cycle until the line is cleared.
Affected models and control systems
UniMac pocket hardmount washer-extractors UW35P2, UW35P3, UW60P2 and UW60P3 with the WE-6 computer control.
Code numbers and their meaning can change between control generations. We match the full model and control before acting on a code.
What you may notice
- EMTY on the display
- Water left standing in the tub
- Buzzer pulsing on and off
- The cycle waits for Enter or Clear
Possible causes
Listed in UniMac's documentation
- Programmed drain-step time shorter than the machine needs to empty
Other likely causes — what usually sits behind error code EMTY on this control. A technician confirms which one it is before any part is replaced.
- Drain line partly blocked by lint or debris
- Drain valve slow to open or not fully opening
- Building drain backing up so the tub empties slowly
- Level input still sensing water after the tub has emptied
Safe checks before calling for service
- Press Enter (Start) once to repeat the drain step, as the manual says.
- Look for a kinked or blocked drain hose and a floor drain that is backing up.
- If the water will not leave, press Clear to abort and run the stop routine.
- Do not open the door while water remains, because the computer keeps it locked.
- Note whether the drain time in the cycle was edited recently and which step EMTY appeared in.
How a technician diagnoses error code EMTY
- Read EMTY and the step it appeared in.
- Time the real drain and compare it with the programmed drain-step time.
- Check the drain valve, the drain line and the building drain for restriction.
- Test the drain output and the level input during a drain step.
- Edit the step time, clear the line or replace the failing part, then run a full cycle.
- The drain valve and level input are wired at line voltage inside the cabinet.
- A full tub that will not drain holds a great deal of water and weight behind the door.
- Changing a drain-step time means working in the programming mode of the computer.
How error code EMTY differs from similar codes
EMTY is the drain alarm and FILL the fill alarm, and both give the operator the same two-minute choice between Enter and Clear.
Technical reference
- Maker documentation
- UniMac owner support
- Edition
- Part No. F232090R3, February 2007
- Models / control
- WE-6 computer control (UW60P2 family washer-extractor)
- Section
- Operation: Display Interpretations (pp. 15-21) and Error Recovery Routine (p. 22)
- Checked
- October 2026
We use the maker's document to read the code and do not reproduce it. Always confirm the complete model and control before applying these steps.
Related UniMac washer error codes
Does the manual give a drain time?
It recommends no more than one minute for a programmed drain step.
Can a short drain step cause EMTY?
Yes. A step set shorter than the machine's real drain time triggers it even when nothing is blocked.
What if I press Enter and it comes back?
Then the water is not leaving, and the drain line or valve needs attention before another cycle.
Need help with UniMac error code EMTY?
A technician confirms the cause on site and gives you the price in writing before any work starts.