On a Bosch dishwasher, E15 means water in the base has tripped the AquaStop float, E24 means the drain path is blocked, E25 means the drain pump impeller or its cover is stuck, E22 is a clogged filter, E09 is the heater, E14 is the flow meter, E18 and the tap symbol mean no water is coming in, and h:xx is a delay start, not a fault. Cut power for five minutes, dry the base, clean the filter and pump cover, check the hose and tap, then run a rinse. A code that returns needs a technician.
This guide is written by a working technician at Cactus Appliance in Irvine. We repair Bosch dishwashers across Orange County, same day, seven days a week. It covers the codes on the Bosch 100, 300, 500, 800 and Benchmark series, what each one usually turns out to be on a visit, and what you can safely check first. Thermador and Gaggenau dishwashers are built by the same group, BSH, and use the same codes.
Try this first
- Power cycle at the breaker. Off for five minutes, on, press Start. A glitch clears; a real fault returns within minutes.
- Dry the base for E15. Power off, open the door, soak up any water you can reach in the tub and sump with a towel, and leave the door open for several hours. If E15 returns with a dry tub, the base tray needs draining on a visit.
- Clean the filter and check the pump cover. Switch the power off. Twist out the cylinder filter, rinse it, then unclip the drain pump cover under it and pick glass or seeds out of the impeller. Refit the cover until it clicks.
- Check the drain path. The hose needs a high loop under the counter, and a new disposal needs its knockout plug removed.
- Open the water tap fully and straighten the inlet hose; a weak kitchen faucet means a weak supply here too.
- Use dishwasher detergent only. Foam from hand soap fools the water sensors and can set off E15 or E16.
How Bosch dishwashers show errors
Models with a display show an E, a colon and two digits, such as E:24; E24 and E:24 are the same code. Models without a display light the tap symbol (Check Water Supply) and show other faults as a pattern of program lights that only the service test mode decodes; the meanings below still apply once the code is known. A lit rinse aid or salt indicator is a refill reminder, not a fault.
Hold Start (marked Reset 3 sec on most panels) for about three seconds to cancel the program and drain the tub; many older models cancel by holding the two marked wash buttons together. A code from a failed part returns at the same point in the next cycle; photograph the display before you reset, so the technician sees the exact code.
Water in the base, drain and fill codes
| Code | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| E15 | Water in the base: the float switch in the base tray has lifted and the AquaStop protection has stopped the cycle; the drain pump may run until the tray is dry. | Switch off, dry the base, and check the door seal, the sump seal and the hoses. E15 with a dry tray is a stuck float or a leak inside: call. |
| E24 | Drain fault: the water did not leave the tub in time. A kinked drain hose, a blocked air gap or disposal inlet, or a pump cover left loose. | Clean the filter, check the hose and the knockout plug. If the tub still holds water, the hose, the check valve or the pump needs service. |
| E25 | Drain pump blocked: the impeller cannot turn or the pump cover is loose, usually glass or a seed in the impeller. | Switch off, lift the pump cover under the filter, clear the impeller and refit the cover. If E25 returns with a clear pump, the pump has failed. |
| E22 | Filter blocked: residue in the filter or the sump is restricting the pumps. | Clean the filter and mesh screen, wipe the sump. If it returns with a clean filter, the pump needs a look. |
| E23 | Drain pump fault: the control sees a short or an open winding in the drain pump. | Clear the pump as for E25. If E23 stays, the pump needs replacing. |
| Tap symbol / E18 | No water: a closed tap, a kinked hose or a blocked inlet screen; E18 is the same fault seen at the inlet valve. | Open the tap fully and check the pressure at the faucet. If it stays with a good supply, the inlet valve or the flow meter needs a test. |
| E16 | Water entering when it should not: an inlet valve not closing fully, or foam fooling the water sensor. | Run an empty rinse without detergent. If the tub fills by itself while idle, close the tap and call. |
| E17 | Fill level too high: very high supply pressure, or a flow meter that miscounts. | Power cycle once. If it returns, the flow meter or the inlet valve needs service. |
| E05 | Fill fault: on most generations the control saw too much water in the tub; some models list it as a water switch fault. | Power cycle once. If it returns, the inlet valve, the flow meter or the water switch needs a test. |
Heater, temperature and sensor codes
| Code | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| E09 | Heating fault: the heater did not raise the water temperature, or its circuit reads open. | Power cycle once. If E09 returns, the heater, its sensor or the power module relay needs testing. |
| E12 | Limescale on the heater: it runs, but scale keeps the heat from the water. | Run a descaler cycle and keep the salt topped up on models with a softener. If E12 returns, book a visit. |
| E13 | Water too hot: the incoming water is above the limit the control accepts. | Check the water heater: Bosch installation guides cap the supply at 140 degrees, and the code trips only well above that. With a normal supply, E13 points to the temperature sensor (NTC) or its wiring. |
| E14 | Flow meter fault: the sensor that counts incoming water sends no pulses. | Check the tap and hose. If E14 repeats with a good supply, the flow meter or the inlet valve needs service. |
| E04 / E26 | Water distribution fault: the motorized water switch that feeds the upper or lower spray arm did not reach position. | Check that both spray arms turn freely, then power cycle. If it returns, the water switch needs replacing. |
| E28 | Turbidity sensor fault: the sensor in the sump that reads how dirty the water is gives no signal. | Clean the filter and the sump. If E28 repeats, the sensor is replaced. |
| E19 | Heat exchanger fault: the valve on the water reservoir in the side wall did not operate. | Power cycle once. If it returns, the valve needs a technician. |
| E07 | Drying fan fault on models with a fan: it did not run or its outlet is blocked. Most Bosch models dry by condensation and do not have this code. | Check that the vent is clear, then power cycle. If E07 returns, the fan motor is the fault. |
Pump, control and power codes
| Code | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| E20 / E21 | Circulation pump fault: E20 is a short or open winding in the wash pump motor, E21 a pump that cannot turn freely. | Clear anything jammed in the sump, then power cycle. If it returns, the pump needs replacing. |
| E01 / E02 | Control electronics fault: a self-check inside the power module failed. E02 is usually listed as the heater relay on the module. | Breaker off for five minutes. If it comes back, the module is replaced and programmed for the model. |
| E27 | Supply voltage fault: the line voltage was outside the control’s range, a brownout or a weak circuit. | Check the breaker and the outlet. If E27 repeats on a good circuit, the module needs a test. |
| h:xx | Not an error: a delay start is set, and the number is the hours until the cycle begins. | Press the delay start button until the cycle time shows again, or hold Start for three seconds. |
Codes and their meaning vary by model and production year, and the same code can have more than one cause. The owner’s manual for your model number (on the door edge label) is the definitive list, and only an on-site test confirms which part has failed.
What the common codes turn out to be on a service call
E15: water in the base, but no puddle on the floor
Likely causes: a few ounces in the base tray from a worn lower door seal, a loose sump gasket, a split drain hose or a fill fitting; foam from the wrong detergent; a unit that was moved and tipped old water onto the float.
Try this first: cut power, dry the tray, run a cycle with dishwasher detergent only and watch the bottom of the door for drips.
How we fix it: we pull the unit, trace the wet trail to its source and replace the seal, gasket or hose; with a dry tray it is the float switch or its harness, a short repair.
E24 and E25: the tub will not drain
Likely causes: glass in the drain pump impeller, a pump cover left loose, a kinked hose, a disposal knockout plug never removed, or a drain pump with a dead winding.
Try this first: clean the filter, clear and refit the pump cover, check the hose and the disposal, run a rinse.
How we fix it: we test the pump under power, clear the check valve and the hose, and replace the pump when it is the cause, as in our write-up Bosch Dishwasher E25 Error: The Drain Pump Fix (September 2026). An Asko with the same symptom is in Asko dishwasher not draining.
E09: the dishes come out cold and wet
Likely causes: an open heater element, a burned terminal at the heater, a temperature sensor out of range, or a power module relay that no longer closes. On newer models the heater is part of the circulation pump assembly.
Try this first: one power cycle. Nothing else is safe from the outside.
How we fix it: we measure the heater and the sensor, check the relay output, and replace the heater assembly or the module after the test. On an older unit, sometimes a new dishwasher is the honest answer.
Tap symbol, E14 and E18: no water coming in
Likely causes: a clogged inlet screen, a failed inlet valve coil, a flow meter that no longer counts, or a shut-off valve under the sink that is only part open.
Try this first: open the tap and listen at the start of a cycle for the inlet valve click and the sound of water; silence points to the valve, a click with no water to the screen or the supply.
How we fix it: we measure the supply pressure, test the valve coil and the flow meter, and replace the inlet valve or the flow meter. A control fault looks the same on any brand: our GE dishwasher that would not complete a cycle was the user interface control, found by testing.
Stay safe. Switch the breaker off before you touch anything behind the kick panel; the heater circuit and the water share that space. Never bypass the float switch, the door latch or the AquaStop; each one exists to stop a flood or a fire. If the tray keeps filling, close the tap and leave the power off.
When a code means a part has failed
The service call is $79 and covers the trip and the diagnosis. We confirm the failed part by testing it, not by reading the code. You get a written price for parts and labor before any work starts, and the $79 is applied to it when you approve. Common parts such as drain pumps and inlet valves are usually on the van; a heater assembly or a power module comes from local distributors, usually the next business day. Parts and labor are under warranty, and if the same fault returns within 90 days the return visit has no service-call fee.
Dishwasher repairs we have written up
- Bosch Dishwasher E25 Error: The Drain Pump Fix (September 2026), Orange County
- Why Is My Asko Dishwasher Not Draining? (October 2026), Orange County
- GE Dishwasher Not Completing Cycle: UI Control Fix (October 2026), Orange County
Bosch dishwasher error code FAQ
How do I reset a Bosch dishwasher?
Hold Start (marked Reset 3 sec on most panels) for about three seconds to cancel the program, or switch the breaker off for five minutes. Many older models cancel by holding the two marked wash buttons together. If the code returns on the next cycle, the fault is real.
What does E15 mean on a Bosch dishwasher?
E15 means water in the base tray has lifted the float switch, so the leak protection stopped the cycle. Dry the tray and find the drip; if E15 returns with a dry tray, the float has stuck or the leak is inside.
What is the difference between E24 and E25 on a Bosch dishwasher?
Both are drain faults. E24 means the water did not leave in time, usually a kinked hose, a disposal knockout plug or a loose pump cover; E25 means the drain pump impeller is blocked or the pump has failed. Clear the filter and pump cover first; a code that stays needs a pump test.
Do Thermador and Gaggenau dishwashers use the same codes?
Yes. Thermador, Gaggenau and Bosch dishwashers are built by BSH on shared platforms, so the codes mean the same thing on all three badges.
Can I keep using the dishwasher with an error code on it?
With E22, E24 or the tap symbol you can usually run another cycle after the checks above. With E15 or E16 cut power and close the tap. With E09 or a control code, book a visit.
How much does it cost to fix a Bosch dishwasher error code?
The service call is $79, applied to the repair. A hose, a blocked pump or an inlet valve is the affordable end; a drain pump or a flow meter is the middle; a heater and pump assembly or a power module is the expensive end.
Do you repair Bosch dishwashers in Orange County?
Yes. Cactus Appliance repairs Bosch dishwashers in Irvine, Tustin, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Anaheim and every other Orange County city, same day, seven days a week.
