Panasonic mini split error code F97
Compressor overheating (discharge temperature too high).
- TypeProtection
- SystemCompressor / inverter
- Can I fix it?Homeowner checks, then maybe a tech
What F97 means on a Panasonic
The refrigerant leaving the compressor got hotter than the safe limit. Often low charge.
On this platform, F97 is a protection: the system stopped or throttled itself to prevent damage; many clear on their own once conditions return to normal.
Common causes
- Low refrigerant charge.
- A blocked outdoor coil or failed fan.
- A partly closed service valve.
- A failing compressor.
How to fix it yourself
Work through the checks below first; they resolve most cases. If they do not, the repair itself may need a technician.
- Look at the outdoor unit: clear leaves, cottonwood fluff, snow or ice from the coil and make sure the fan can spin freely and nothing is stacked against the cabinet.
- Confirm the service valves are fully open.
- Cool down with power off for 30 minutes and retry.
- Anything inside the refrigerant circuit (sensors are fine, but valves, compressors and leaks are not) needs EPA-certified refrigerant handling. That is a technician job.
Switch off power at the breaker before opening either unit. Capacitors in the outdoor unit hold a charge for several minutes after power is cut.
When to call a technician
Recurring F97 with a clean coil needs a charge check.
Which Panasonic units show F97
This page applies to Panasonic Exterios, ClimaPure and Multi-zone (CU-xE) units. Panasonic's own documentation lists F97 as "Compressor overheating (discharge temperature too high)", the same definition used across the Panasonic it is built on. If your unit shows a code with a different shape (for example a four-character code, or a plain number), it is from a different table; use the lookup with your exact code.
Where Panasonic shows this code
The indoor unit blinks its Timer lamp when a fault is stored. To read the code, point the remote at the unit and hold the CHECK button (on the back of the remote, under the flap on most models) for about 5 seconds until -- shows, then press the temperature up or down button; each press shows a code, and the unit beeps continuously (not a short beep) when the code shown is the stored fault. H codes are faults (a sensor, motor or board that needs attention). F codes are protections: the outdoor unit stopped itself because of pressure, temperature or current.
Other Panasonic codes
Same part of the system as F97:
Questions people ask
Can I reset a Panasonic F97 code myself?
Yes. Turn the system off at the breaker for five minutes, then restart it. If F97 comes back, the fault is real and needs the checks above.
Is it safe to keep running a Panasonic showing F97?
Not repeatedly. A protection code means the unit stopped itself to prevent damage, and resetting it over and over can turn a cheap repair into a compressor failure. Reset once, check the basics, and stop if it returns.
Do I need a technician for Panasonic F97?
Work through the checks below first; they resolve most cases. If they do not, the repair itself may need a technician. Recurring F97 with a clean coil needs a charge check.
Sources
- Panasonic residential split service manuals (H/F code tables)
Updated September 2026. Codes and definitions vary by model year. If your manual disagrees with this page, your manual wins. Send a correction.