Maytag Refrigerator PO: Power Outage Recorded

PO is an informational code, not a malfunction indicator. The control board recorded that AC power was lost and restored. PO alerts you that the refrigerator was without power for a period and your food may need safety assessment.

What Happens During a Power Outage

When power fails:

• The compressor stops. Cooling ceases.
• The control board loses power (no battery backup on standard Maytag models).
• The sealed refrigerator and freezer compartments maintain temperature through insulation alone.

A well-sealed Maytag refrigerator maintains safe temperatures for:

• Freezer (full): 48 hours if the door stays closed
• Freezer (half-full): 24 hours if the door stays closed
• Fresh food section: 4 hours if the door stays closed

These times decrease significantly every time the door is opened.

Food Safety Assessment

When power returns and PO appears:

Freezer

• Place a thermometer in the freezer. If the reading is 0 degrees F or below, all items are safe.
• If items still contain ice crystals, they can be safely refrozen.
• If items have fully thawed (no ice crystals) and the temperature is above 40 degrees F, discard meat, poultry, fish, dairy, and prepared foods.
• Fruits, bread, and hard cheeses can be refrozen if they still smell normal.

Fresh Food Section

• If the temperature is 40 degrees F or below, all items are safe.
• If above 40 degrees F for more than 2 hours, discard perishable items: raw/cooked meat, dairy, cut produce, prepared foods, opened condiments.
• Whole fruits, vegetables with intact skin, hard cheeses, butter, and unopened condiments are usually safe.

Clearing PO

Press any button on the display to acknowledge and clear PO. On most Maytag models, PO auto-clears after 24 hours of continuous power. The clock will need to be reset if your model has a time display.

PO Appearing Without a Known Outage

If PO appears but you did not experience a power outage:

• Loose plug: The power cord may have been partially pulled from the outlet (someone bumped the refrigerator or cleaned behind it).
• GFCI trip: Some kitchens have the refrigerator on a GFCI-protected circuit. The GFCI can trip from moisture or appliance current fluctuations. Refrigerators should not be on GFCI circuits — plug into a standard non-GFCI outlet or have an electrician install one.
• Dedicated circuit overload: If the refrigerator shares a circuit with other appliances, total current draw may trip the breaker.

Preventing Extended Outage Damage

• Keep the freezer at least 3/4 full. Full freezers retain cold longer. Fill empty space with water containers (frozen water bottles act as thermal mass).
• Consider a plug-in UPS (uninterruptible power supply) or a refrigerator alarm that alerts your phone to power loss. Several $30-50 devices on the market monitor outlet power and send phone alerts.
• If an extended outage is anticipated (hurricane, planned utility work), add bags of ice to the freezer and set the temperature to its coldest setting 24 hours before the outage.

No Repair Needed

PO requires no repair and no parts. It is purely informational. If the refrigerator resumes normal operation after acknowledging PO, everything is functioning correctly.

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Not sure if your food is safe after a power outage? Our technicians can assess your Maytag refrigerator and verify proper operation post-outage. Book a check-up.