Sharp F01 dishwasher: what it means & what to check

Stop using it for now. Carrying on with this fault risks further damage or a leak. Switch it off at the wall until it has been looked at.

What F01 actually means

The dishwasher has detected water where it shouldn't be — a leak or an overflow — and has shut itself down to stop the flooding.

Sharp dishwashers carry an anti-flood device in the base tray, and F01 is the alarm it raises when water collects there or the machine takes on more water than it should. Once it trips, the machine stops the programme and normally runs the drain pump rather than continuing to fill, so you may hear pumping with no washing. The right course for this code is unambiguous: switch the dishwasher off, turn the water tap off, and get it looked at.

What F01 looks like on a Sharp dishwasher

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Sharp dishwasher, F01 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Dishwasher door won't open
Door won't lock or click shut
Door lock light flashing
Door stuck shut with the load inside
Won't start even with the door closed
Dishwasher not draining
Water left in the tub at the end of the cycle
Stops mid-cycle full of water

Recognise any of those? That is this fault, and the rest of this page explains what causes it and what you can check yourself.

What usually causes it

A leak from the sump, door seal or a hose joint inside the machine, collecting in the base tray
Water inlet valve not shutting off fully, so the tub keeps filling
Excess foam from too much detergent or hand washing-up liquid, pushing water past the seals
A blocked or badly fitted drain hose causing the tub to overfill
Faulty anti-flood float or water level sensing, so the alarm trips with no real leak

What you can safely check yourself

Work through these in order. Anything beyond this — panels off, testing parts, anything to do with the wiring — is an engineer's job, and not one to attempt with the machine plugged in.

Turn the dishwasher off at the wall socket and close the water tap at the mains before doing anything else
Mop up any water on the floor and look for a puddle under the front edge or at the sides
Take the bottom filter out, rinse it and clear any food debris from the sump area by hand
Check the drain hose behind the machine is not kinked, crushed or pushed too far into the standpipe
If you have used ordinary washing-up liquid or a lot of detergent, that alone can cause foaming and overflow — use dishwasher detergent only at the recommended dose

Which Sharp models show F01

F01 means the same thing on all 15 of these models. If yours is not listed, the explanation above still applies — the code is set by the control board, not the model number.

QW-C13F471W-EN · QW-C13F472W-EN · QW-D592X · QW-D692X · QW-G472W · QW-GD52I472X-EN · QW-GD53I443X-EN · QW-GT13F492W-EN · QW-GT21F472W-EN · QW-GT43F393I-EN · QW-GT45F444I-EN · QW-S486X · QW-T13F491W-EN · QW-T21F472W-EN · QW-T24F463W-EN

Common questions about Sharp F01

What does F01 mean on a Sharp dishwasher?

The dishwasher has detected water where it shouldn't be — a leak or an overflow — and has shut itself down to stop the flooding. Sharp dishwashers carry an anti-flood device in the base tray, and F01 is the alarm it raises when water collects there or the machine takes on more water than it should. Once it trips, the machine stops the programme and normally runs the drain pump rather than continuing to fill, so you may hear pumping with no washing. The right course for this code is unambiguous: switch the dishwasher off, turn the water tap off, and get it looked at.

Can I fix Sharp F01 myself?

There are 5 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Turn the dishwasher off at the wall socket and close the water tap at the mains before doing anything else.
Mop up any water on the floor and look for a puddle under the front edge or at the sides.
Take the bottom filter out, rinse it and clear any food debris from the sump area by hand.
Check the drain hose behind the machine is not kinked, crushed or pushed too far into the standpipe.
If you have used ordinary washing-up liquid or a lot of detergent, that alone can cause foaming and overflow — use dishwasher detergent only at the recommended dose.

This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried them.

How much does it cost to repair Sharp F01?

£66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.

Tried the checks and it's still showing F01?

This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried the checks above. Then it wants someone who can open it up.

What it costs, before you call: the price is the same whatever the fault turns out to be — £66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.

Our own engineers, not a call centre. We cover Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire — most dishwasher faults are seen same day or next day.

Call 0115 648 0929 Book online — postcode and number is all we need

Outside our area? The explanation above still stands — take it to a local engineer and tell them the code. Knowing it saves them time and you money.

Other Sharp dishwasher codes

All Sharp fault codes and repairs →

What this looks like when it happens

Repairs we cover near you

Written by the engineers at ASAP Repairs, 0115 648 0929. We repair these machines for a living in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.

Sharp F01 error — dishwasher