PF
LowDIYDishwasher · 5–10 min

Power failure — dishwasher lost power during an active wash cycle

The PF error on the GE GDT635HSMSS indicates power failure — dishwasher lost power during an active wash cycle. This typically occurs due to household power outage interrupting the active cycle. Most homeowners fix this in 5–10 min by following the steps below.

Quick Fix
Check the household circuit breaker panel and reset any tripped breaker for the dishwasher circuit

Common Causes of PF

  • 1Household power outage interrupting the active cycle
  • 2Circuit breaker tripped during dishwasher operation
  • 3Loose power connection at the dishwasher junction box
  • 4Brief voltage drop causing the dishwasher to lose power momentarily

How to Fix PF

5–10 min
  1. 1

    Step 1

    Check the household circuit breaker panel and reset any tripped breaker for the dishwasher circuit

  2. 2

    Step 2

    Verify that the dishwasher's Power button is illuminated — press it once to wake the unit

  3. 3

    Step 3

    Press Start to resume the cycle from where it was interrupted, or select a new cycle

  4. 4

    Step 4

    Monitor the dishwasher through the next complete cycle to confirm it finishes without interruption

  5. 5

    Step 5

    If PF error keeps appearing without a known power event, have an electrician inspect the circuit and junction box

Tools Needed

none

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about GE PF error

The PF code on the GE GDT635HSMSS stands for Power Failure and means the dishwasher lost electrical power while a wash cycle was running. This is most often caused by a household power outage or a tripped circuit breaker. Check your breaker panel, reset any tripped breaker, and press Start to resume or restart the cycle.

GE dishwashers typically allow you to press Start after a PF event to resume the cycle from close to where it was interrupted. However, if the power was off for an extended time, any heated water in the tub will have cooled, and the dishwasher may restart from the beginning of the cycle to ensure dishes are washed at the correct temperature.

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