Written by
Lena Hartwell Appliance Care EditorPublished October 27, 2026
VERIFIED
Error codeF3 / F-3
ApplianceDishwasher
Heater alert on a legacy Dacor
EDW and IDW 24-inch dishwashers (Epicure and Distinctive) report F3, or F-3, when the heater is suspected. During washing and rinsing the water temperature never went up, and the controller registers that as a heater fault. The series is an older, legacy one.
How it is listed
In the manual’s display list this code carries the label ELECTRICAL, so you may see that word beside the number.
Owner steps
None are listed in the manual for the owner.
Switch the dishwasher off at the breaker.
Leave heater testing to a technician, who runs manual test mode; its Rinse step is the one that powers the heater.
Other entries in the list
F4 is the drain pump, triggered by leftover water in the sump.
Call (415) 687-5926 if F3 stays on a dishwasher in San Francisco or the wider Bay Area, and look through Dacor dishwasher repair beforehand. The model number, the code on the display and anything you have tried make the call quicker.
Model compatibility: Dacor reuses codes across series and model years, so F3 / F-3 may mean something different on another appliance or generation. Confirm this against your model’s documentation and record your full model number before acting.
Plain language
What this code means
F3 is a heater fault: no rise in water temperature is detected during wash and rinse.
Important safety warning. Do not attempt repairs involving electrical components, gas, water lines, refrigerant or sealed systems. Unplug the appliance if it is safe to reach the outlet, and leave internal diagnostics to a qualified technician.
Seeing this code on your Dacor appliance?
Book a specialist visit for a clear estimate and approval before any repair.
You submit a request with your appliance model and symptom, we confirm an appointment window, and a technician performs an on-site diagnosis. You then receive a clear estimate and decide whether to proceed before any repair begins.
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Replacement parts are selected for the exact model and confirmed with you before ordering or installation.
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Ready to get your Dacor appliance working again?
Book a repair online or call us — clear estimates and approval before any repair work begins.
