KitchenAid Refrigerator Error Code PO

PO stands for Power Outage on a KitchenAid refrigerator. It indicates that the unit lost power at some point and the freezer temperature rose to 18°F (-8°C) or higher during that time. The code is an informational alert, not a component fault. It is the refrigerator's way of flagging a potential food safety concern after a power interruption.

The PO code means your freezer reached 18°F (-8°C) or warmer during the outage. Food safety depends on how high temperatures actually climbed and for how long. As a general guideline, fully frozen food that still contains ice crystals is typically safe, but any food that thawed completely should be evaluated carefully before consuming. When in doubt, discard perishables.

In the vast majority of cases, the PO code costs nothing to resolve because it simply requires pressing the Confirm button to acknowledge the outage. If the root cause turns out to be a damaged power cord, a faulty outlet, or an electrical issue in the home, repair costs for those items can range from $20 to $200 or more depending on what needs attention. No refrigerator parts are typically needed to address a standard PO alert.

Press the MEASURED FILL button located under the Confirm label on the control panel. This acknowledges the power outage event and returns the display to the normal Home screen. No further reset procedure or service action is required, as the code is informational only.

Pressing the MEASURED FILL button under Confirm only clears the PO notification from the display. It does not repair any underlying issue. Since PO is not a component fault, there is nothing to repair in most cases. If you suspect the power interruption was caused by a loose connection or a tripping breaker rather than a utility outage, those conditions should be investigated separately.