PO on an Amana refrigerator means the power was off long enough for the freezer to warm to 18°F (-8°C) or higher — it is a record of what already happened, not an active fault. The separate Temperature Alarm feature only triggers after the fridge stays above 48°F or the freezer above 15°F for a full 1½ hours, which is a deliberately long window to avoid false alarms from normal door-opening.
The documented code list
| Code | What Amana’s official product-help documentation says |
|---|---|
| PO | Power Outage indicator — the freezer temperature rose to 18°F (-8°C) or higher while power was off |
| Temperature Alarm (audio + flashing light) | Fridge above 48°F (9°C) or freezer above 15°F (-9°C) for longer than 1½ hours |
| Flashing “F” | A general fault code — monitor for 1 minute to see if it clears on its own |
PO: Power Outage indicator
This is not describing a current problem — it is telling you the power was off long enough that the freezer warmed past a specific threshold (18°F/-8°C) while nobody was watching. An alert tone sounds three times, and the display shows PO until acknowledged. On most models, pressing MEASURED FILL under “Confirm” clears the alert and returns the display to normal. Check frozen food for signs of partial thawing before assuming everything is still safe, especially if the outage was extended.
Temperature Alarm: fridge/freezer running warm
- Note which compartment triggered it
The two thresholds are different — 48°F for the fridge, 15°F for the freezer — so check the specific compartment the alarm applies to.
- The audio alarm clears automatically
Once the temperature returns to normal, the audible alert stops on its own — but the indicator light keeps flashing until you press the Alarm button to acknowledge it.
- If temperature does not return to normal
Amana’s documentation points to the “Temperature Concerns” section of the troubleshooting guide — check for a door not sealing, blocked vents, or an overloaded compartment before assuming a compressor fault.
Flashing “F”: general fault
Amana’s documented first step for a flashing F is simply to monitor the refrigerator for one full minute to see whether the code clears on its own. If it persists beyond that, Amana’s guidance is to contact Amana or schedule service, since this general code does not map to one specific published cause.
When to call for service
Because the alarm threshold already requires a full 1½ hours out of range before it triggers, a Temperature Alarm that keeps recurring — rather than clearing after a single door-open event — should be treated as a genuine cooling problem and checked promptly, both for food safety and to catch a developing fault early.
