GE Dishwasher Error Codes: C1 to C8, PF, H2O and 999

Most GE dishwasher codes are about one of two things: getting water out, or getting it hot enough. C1 through C5 all relate to draining. C6 means the incoming water is too cold, and GE puts a number on it: the water should be at least 120 degrees Fahrenheit. A number followed by H, such as 1H, is not a fault at all, it is delay start.

The codes that genuinely need a technician are the leak and sensor ones: 999, LEAK DETECTED, PrS and C7.

GE dishwasher error, fault and function codes

Code	What GE says it means	GE's recommended action
Number + H (e.g. 1H)	The dishwasher is in Delay Start mode	Not a fault. No fix needed.
C1	The pump out during drain has exceeded 2 minutes	Clean the air gap, check or reposition the hose, and run the disposer.
C2	The total pump out cycle exceeds 7 minutes	Press RESET to silence the beep.
C3	The dishwasher will not drain	Cut power at the circuit breaker for about 30 seconds, then restart.
C4	Machine filled twice after a power failure	Touch Start, then Cancel/Reset. Free the float cover and clear debris from the sump.
C5	The pump out time is too short	Confirm the water supply is on and rerun the cycle. Free a stuck float cover.
C6	Water temperature is too low	Incoming water should be at least 120F. Run the nearby faucet first and avoid using other hot water during a cycle.
C7	The water temperature sensor circuit has become inoperative	Reset power at the breaker. Contact service if it persists.
C8	The detergent cup is blocked from opening fully	Remove the obstruction, close and latch the door, and wait 30 seconds.
Cup Open	The detergent cup has not been closed	Add detergent and latch the cup.
PF	There has been a power failure to the dishwasher	Select your cycle and options, then press Start.
FTD or F56	Failure to drain	Check the drain hose, air gap and disposer.
H2O	A low water situation	If it appears only during 1-Hour Wash, schedule service. On other cycles, check the inlet hose is not kinked.
PrS	The pressure sensor is sending an invalid signal to the control	Likely a harness or sensor issue. Service is recommended.
LEAK DETECTED	A possible leak is detected, and the cycle is cancelled on models with leak detection	Contact service.
999	A possible leak on models with the Floor Protect with Alert feature	On Floor Protect models the dishwasher will not start, so contact service. On other models, reset the control.

Source: GE Appliances' dishwasher error, fault and function codes page. GE notes that not all codes appear on every model.

C6 explains more complaints than any other code

C6 means the water arriving at the dishwasher is too cold, and GE gives the threshold: it should be at least 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

This matters because cold water quietly causes problems people blame on the machine. Detergent does not dissolve properly, grease does not shift, dishes come out filmy, and cycles run long while the dishwasher tries to heat the water itself. GE's suggestions are practical:

• Run the nearby kitchen faucet until it turns hot before starting the cycle. This clears the cold water sitting in the pipe so the dishwasher fills warm.
• Avoid using other hot water during a cycle, such as a shower or the laundry, which steals the supply.
• Check the water heater setting, and use cycle options that give the dishwasher longer.

One sensible caution on the water heater: 120 degrees is the usual recommended setting precisely because much hotter water raises the risk of scalding, particularly with children or older adults in the house. Raising it well beyond that to help the dishwasher is not a good trade.

C1 to C5: the drain family

Five of GE's codes are about draining, and the differences between them are about timing rather than cause. C1 is a pump out that took longer than 2 minutes, C2 is a total pump out beyond 7 minutes, C3 is a flat refusal to drain, C4 is the machine filling twice after a power failure, and C5 is a pump out that finished suspiciously fast.

GE's fixes keep pointing at the same three places, and they are all accessible without tools:

• The air gap on the sink, if you have one. It clogs and is easy to clean.
• The drain hose, for kinks or poor positioning.
• The disposer. Running it clears food that is blocking the shared drain path. On a new installation, the knockout plug inside the disposer inlet must have been removed, or the dishwasher can never drain.
• The float cover and sump, mentioned for C4 and C5. A stuck float makes the machine misread its own water level.

If your dishwasher is simply sitting full of water, our guide to a dishwasher that will not drain walks the same path in more detail.

999 and LEAK DETECTED

These are the two to stop and act on. On models with GE's Floor Protect with Alert feature, 999 means a possible leak and the dishwasher will not start at all. GE says to contact service. On models without that feature, resetting the control is the stated step.

LEAK DETECTED behaves the same way, cancelling the cycle on models that have leak detection. Both exist to stop water reaching your floor and cabinets, so repeated resetting without finding the source is the wrong move.

The codes that are not faults

Worth separating out, because they trigger unnecessary worry. A number followed by H, such as 1H, means delay start is set. PF simply records that power was lost, and you clear it by selecting a cycle and pressing Start. Cup Open means the detergent cup is not latched. None of these needs a technician.

If your GE dishwasher is flashing lights or beeping without showing any code at all, that is a different situation, and our guide to GE dishwasher blinking lights and beeping covers GE's two step reset for it.

Getting it fixed

If you are in Fairfield or anywhere in Solano County, California, we can connect you with a local technician who works on GE dishwashers. Our dishwasher repair page explains how the referral works.

Frequently asked questions

What does C6 mean on a GE dishwasher?

The water temperature is too low. GE says incoming water should be at least 120 degrees Fahrenheit, and suggests running the nearby faucet first and avoiding other hot water use during the cycle.

What is the difference between C1, C3 and C5?

All are drain related. C1 is a pump out longer than 2 minutes, C3 is the dishwasher not draining at all, and C5 is a pump out that was too short. GE points at the air gap, drain hose, disposer and float cover.

My GE dishwasher shows 1H. Is that an error?

No. A number followed by H means the dishwasher is in Delay Start mode.

What does 999 mean?

A possible leak on models with the Floor Protect with Alert feature. Those models will not start, and GE says to contact service.

How do I reset a GE dishwasher?

GE says disconnecting power for a minute or two clears many codes. For C3 specifically it gives about 30 seconds at the breaker. If the code returns, the cause is still there.

Related guides: GE dishwasher blinking lights, GE washer error codes, and Frigidaire dishwasher error codes.