Bosch Dishwasher E15 and E24: the Two Codes You See Most

The short answer: an E15 means water has pooled in the base tray under the tub and the anti-flood float has tripped to stop a leak, while an E24 means water is not draining out of the tub. E15 sometimes clears with a simple tilt-and-dry, and E24 usually clears once you clean the filter and clear the drain path. If either code returns after those steps, the fault has moved past a quick fix into a real repair.

Why These Two Codes Dominate

Bosch dishwashers run a continuous self-check on water level, and the two things that go wrong most are water where it should not be and water that will not leave. E15 covers the first, a leak into the base, and E24 covers the second, a blocked drain. Because both involve the same water circuit, owners often see them within months of each other on the same machine, and both have a clear owner-fixable layer before they become model-specific repairs. Understanding the mechanism behind each one tells you immediately whether to reach for a towel or the phone.

The Two Codes at a Glance

E24 and E25 are close relatives. E24 points at the drain path as a whole, while E25 points specifically at the pump or its cover. If clearing an E24 blockage does not stick, an E25 often follows, which narrows the fault down to the pump itself.

E15: the Anti-Flood Leak Trip

Every Bosch dishwasher has a shallow tray built into its base with a foam float and a microswitch sitting in it. If water reaches that tray, the float rises, flips the switch, and the control board shows E15 while the drain pump runs to try to empty the base. It is a safety feature doing its job. The question is why the water got there. Two harmless causes are a heavy overfill that spilled over, or condensation and cleaning water that collected during a move or a tilt. The serious cause is an active internal leak, from a cracked hose, a failed pump seal, a leaking spray arm feed, or a loose tub connection.

To sort harmless from serious, cut the power, pull the machine out, and tip it back about 45 degrees over a towel so the base tray drains. Dry it, set it upright, restore power, and run a short cycle. If E15 stays gone, it was a one-time overfill. If the base fills and the code returns, water is still getting in from somewhere and the leak has to be found and repaired.

E24: the Drainage Blockage

E24 shows up when the machine tries to pump water out and the level does not drop as expected. The drain path runs from the sump, through the fine and coarse filters, out the drain hose, and into your sink drain or disposal. A clog anywhere along that path throws the code. Start at the bottom of the tub: twist out the cylindrical filter assembly, rinse away food debris and grease, and check the sump opening underneath for glass, a bone, or a fruit pit. Next, inspect the drain hose behind the machine for a kink or a sag full of standing water. Finally, if the dishwasher was recently connected to a new garbage disposal, confirm the disposal's knockout plug was punched out, since a plug left in place blocks drainage entirely and is a classic post-install E24.

What a Technician Checks

When these codes survive the owner steps, the diagnosis gets specific. For a returning E15, the technician runs the machine with panels off and watches for the leak point, dyeing the water if needed, then checks the pump seal, hose clamps, and tub gasket. For a stubborn E24 or a follow-on E25, the drain pump is pulled and the impeller is inspected for a jam or a burnt winding, and the pump's electrical resistance is measured. Our dishwasher repairs in Brookville cover the full water circuit, and you can see the scope on our dishwasher repair page. Bosch pumps and anti-flood assemblies are model-specific, so getting the right Genuine OEM Parts the first time matters.

When to Call a Technician

Try the tilt-and-dry for E15 and the filter-and-drain clean for E24 first, those two steps resolve a large share of these codes. Call for service when E15 returns after you have dried the base, when water is visibly leaking onto the floor, when E24 will not clear after the filter and hose are clean, or when an E25 appears. Leaks and drain pump work involve water lines and electrical parts that need proper testing. Completed repairs include a 180-day repair warranty. Written terms are provided with the repair.

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