Bosch dishwashers are quiet, and they're good at cleaning. They also behave in a few ways that confuse new owners: codes that appear suddenly and stop the machine, and plastic containers that are still wet when everything else is dry.
Some of this is design. Some of it is a real fault. Here's how to tell.
If your dishwasher is still under Bosch's warranty, contact Bosch first. We're an independent repair company, not a Bosch authorized service center.
Reading a code
Depending on the model, a code shows on the front or top-edge display or flashes as a lit indicator. Write it down before you do anything else.
These three are the ones we see most often.
E15: water in the base
Bosch dishwashers have a tray under the tub, called the base pan, with a float switch in it. If water collects in the pan, the float rises and the dishwasher shows E15. On many models it also runs the drain pump continuously to protect your floor. It's a leak alarm.
The code will persist as long as there's water in the base. To find out why it's there:
- Turn off power at the breaker or unplug the dishwasher, and close the supply valve under the sink.
- Think about the last cycle. The most common single cause is too much suds: regular dish soap squirted in by mistake, a rinse aid spill, or detergent with a heavy foam. Suds overflow the tub and drip into the base.
- Look for obvious leaks. Check the door seal for damage and the spray arms for cracks. A dish or pan handle blocking a spray arm can also throw water at the door.
- Dry the base. Remove the lower kick panel and soak up what water you can with towels. Then let it dry. Leaving the dishwasher off with the kick panel open for a day or so often clears the code. You'll see advice online to tilt the machine to drain the base; since that means pulling the dishwasher from its opening and handling a heavy appliance, it's safer to let it air-dry.
If E15 returns after the base is dry and you've ruled out suds, there's a real leak inside the cabinet. Common sources include the pump and its seals, the heater, hoses and the water inlet. That needs a technician to find.
E24: drain blocked
E24 means water isn't draining the way it should. The fix is often simple:
- •Clean the filter. Twist out the cylindrical filter in the bottom of the tub, rinse it and the flat screen under it, and scrub gently with a soft brush.
- •Check the drain hose under the sink for kinks, especially if things in the cabinet were moved around recently.
- •Check the garbage disposal connection. On a newly installed dishwasher, the knockout plug inside the disposal inlet sometimes wasn't removed. If the disposal is clogged, the dishwasher can't drain either. Run the disposal.
- •Check the air gap, if you have one, the small cylinder on the sink deck. It can clog with debris.
E25: pump blocked
E25 points to something stuck at the drain pump itself. On many Bosch models, under the filter, there's a small cover over the pump. With the power off and the water sponged out, you can often pry that cover up. Look for broken glass, a seed or a bit of plastic jammed against the impeller. Be careful of sharp edges.
If you've cleaned everything you can reach and E24 or E25 returns, the pump or its wiring may be faulty.
Why the plastics are still wet
Nearly every Bosch dishwasher dries by condensation, not with a heating element that bakes the dishes. At the end of the cycle, the final rinse is hot. The dishes, especially glass and ceramic, soak up that heat and hold it. The stainless steel tub cools faster, and the steam in the tub condenses on the cooler walls and runs down the drain.
The system is gentle on dishes and efficient, but it has one trade-off: plastic doesn't store heat well. Plastic containers and lids cool almost as fast as the steam, so water stays on them. Some newer upper-series models add a mineral drying system that improves this, but damp plastics are still expected.
Ways to improve drying:
- •Use rinse aid, always. On a condensation-drying machine, rinse aid does a lot of the drying work. Keep the dispenser full and try a higher setting if drying is poor.
- •Select an extra-dry or sanitize option if your model has one.
- •Load cups and containers at an angle so water doesn't pool in their bottoms.
- •Leave the door closed a little longer after the cycle ends, then crack it open. Some models do this automatically.
- •Unload the bottom rack first so water from the upper rack doesn't drip down.
When wet dishes are a fault
If glass and ceramic dishes are also wet or even cool at the end of a cycle, the final rinse may not be getting hot. The heater, its sensor or the control may have failed. Also check whether the kitchen hot water supply is hot. You'll often notice poor cleaning at the same time.
Other things worth knowing
- •Many Bosch models are very quiet, and some project a light or an indicator onto the floor to show they're running. If the machine seems not to be doing anything, check the light before assuming a fault.
- •The filter needs regular cleaning. It's manual, not self-cleaning. Once a month is a good habit.
- •Mineral film on glasses is a separate problem from wet dishes. Our guide to cloudy glasses and gritty dishes covers it.
When to call
Call a technician when E15 returns after the base is completely dry, when drain codes return after the filter and pump are clear, or when the dishwasher stops heating. We'll diagnose it in your kitchen, explain what failed and give you a price for the repair before any work starts.
You can call or book Bosch dishwasher repair online.