GE Dishwasher Error Code F151

The F151 error code on a GE dishwasher indicates a continuous flow fault, meaning the water level inside the tub has reached flood stage multiple times during a single cycle, forcing the control board to trigger repeated drain sequences. This fault is not a single overfill event but rather a pattern of recurring high-water conditions, which tells the control system that water is entering the tub at a rate or frequency that cannot be attributed to normal fill operations. The dishwasher's water level sensor or float switch monitors tub water height throughout the cycle, and when flood-stage thresholds are crossed repeatedly, the F151 code is set to alert the user and technician that a systematic fill control problem exists.

The primary systems involved are the water inlet valve, the water level pressure sensor or float assembly, and the wash cycle control logic. If the inlet valve is failing to shut off completely, water will continue trickling into the tub even after the fill cycle ends, gradually accumulating until the flood threshold is triggered. Alternatively, a faulty pressure sensor or float switch may be misreading the actual water level, reporting falsely high conditions and sending the control board into repeated emergency drain mode even when the actual water level is normal.

A defective inlet valve that does not fully close is the most frequently identified root cause of this fault. Secondary causes include a stuck or debris-fouled float switch that remains in the raised position, a pressure sensor that has drifted out of calibration, or a drain system that is slow to evacuate water, causing residual water to combine with new fill water and push levels above the flood threshold. Wiring or connector issues between the water level sensor and the control board can also produce erratic level readings that mimic the conditions triggering F151.