Bosch Dishwasher E24 Error: Clearing the Drain

What does E24 mean on a Bosch dishwasher?

E24 means the dishwasher "is not draining properly due to the drain filter being blocked," according to Bosch's E24 support page. Bosch lists water pooling at the bottom after a cycle, a dishwasher that pauses or stops mid-cycle, and gurgling or humming noises as signs that go with it ^[1]. Some displays show it as E-24.

The filter is not the only possible cause. Bosch's US code list gives E24 the same checks as E22: a blocked filter, a blocked drain pump or loose pump cover, a kinked or sharply bent drain pump hose, and a clogged air gap or drain hose ^[2]. Bosch's E24 pages do not say which models use the code, so treat the steps below as general Bosch guidance and keep your own model's manual handy. If you are not sure which brand or appliance a code belongs to, try our error code lookup.

E24 has close neighbors. E25 means "the drain pump is blocked or the drain pump cover is loose or missing" ^[4]. E23 means the drain pump is blocked, clogged or faulty, and for that one Bosch simply says to contact customer support ^[2]. E15 is not a drain code at all: it means water was found in the base and the leak protection has switched on.

What causes the E24 code?

Food and debris in the filter are the first thing to suspect, because Bosch names the blocked drain filter in its own definition of E24. After that, the water has a path to follow: from the filter into the sump, through the drain pump, along the drain hose and out through the air gap or high loop into the sink drain or garbage disposal. A blockage anywhere on that path can stop the drain.

Checkpoint	What goes wrong	What Bosch says to do	Who fixes it
Filter	Food and debris block it	Remove it, wash it with soap and a soft brush	You
Pump cover	Loose or not clicked in	Seat it until it clicks into place	You
Drain pump	Debris around the impeller	Clear debris and standing water; call Bosch for E23	You, or Bosch service
Drain hose	Kinked, sharply bent or clogged	Straighten it; clear it over a bucket	You
Air gap	Clogged with debris	Power off, check it, clear it, run a rinse	You
New disposal	Knockout plug still in place	Remove the plug from the dishwasher inlet	You or the installer
Sink drain	Slow or clogged on its own	Clear the household drain	You or a plumber

The table follows Bosch's code list for the filter, pump cover, hose and air gap ^[2]. The disposal plug comes from Bosch's E24 page, which also tells you to check that the inlet hose is not kinked or damaged and that the siphon connection is sealed ^[1]. In our reading, the siphon connection is where the drain line joins the sink drain. The sink drain row is general plumbing, not a Bosch step: if the sink itself drains slowly, our guide to a dishwasher that is not draining covers that and the other brand-neutral causes.

How do you fix the Bosch E24 error?

Work from the inside of the tub outward, and test after each fix. Before you reach into the sump, turn off the dishwasher at its circuit breaker so the pump cannot start while your hand is inside. Bosch's pump cleaning steps begin with disconnecting the appliance from the power supply ^[5]. A built-in dishwasher is often hardwired, so the breaker is usually the easiest way to do that.

Step 1: Turn off the power

Switch off the dishwasher's breaker and leave it off until the pump cover is back in place. Keep a towel and a sponge nearby, because the sump will hold water if the dishwasher could not drain.

Step 2: Remove and clean the filter

Bosch's general advice is to remove the filter and wash it under running water with mild soap and a soft brush ^[2]. On the models covered by one Bosch US manual (SHSM63, SHS863, SHS843, SHVM63 and SHV863 series), the filter system has three parts: a Large Object Trap, a Flat Fine Filter and a Micro Filter. You unscrew the Large Object Trap to lift out the whole system, take the micro filter out of the fine filter, rinse them, and reinstall them by screwing the trap in until the marking arrows align ^[5]. That manual warns against abrasive brushes or steel wool, which can damage the filter. Other Bosch models may differ, so check your own manual.

Step 3: Clear the pump area and seat the pump cover

The pump cover sits under the filter. Bosch's own method is to scoop out the standing water, pry off the pump cover with a spoon, clear the area, and press the cover back until it clicks. In the manual's words, you pry the cover off "until it clicks, then grip the cover and pull upward until it resists and then pull forward," then check the compartment and remove any foreign objects ^[5]. Bosch's E25 page describes the same spoon method and warns, "Use caution as some debris may be sharp" ^[4].

In our view that warning matters most for broken glass, which can end up in the sump after a chipped glass breaks. Look before you reach, wear sturdy gloves, and pick shards out rather than sweeping with bare fingers. When you put the cover back, make sure it snaps in: Bosch notes that the drain pump will not work properly if the cover is not snapped in completely ^[5]. Then reinstall the filter.

Step 4: Check the drain hose, air gap and high loop

Follow the drain hose under the sink and straighten any sharp bend or kink. If you suspect a clog, Bosch says to disconnect the drain hose over a bucket, clear the debris and reconnect it. If your sink has an air gap (the small cap beside the faucet), Bosch says to turn off the appliance, check the air gap and clear it, then run a rinse cycle to test ^[2]. Without an air gap, the hose should rise in a high loop under the counter. Bosch's manual tells owners to make sure the drain hose is installed with a high loop ^[5].

Step 5: Remove the knockout plug on a new disposal

If E24 appeared right after a new garbage disposal went in, check the disposal first. Bosch says the installer may not have removed the knockout plug, and that it must come out of the disposer's dishwasher drain connection ^[1]. Turn off power to the disposal before you work on it. Our garbage disposal guide explains the disposal side of that job.

Step 6: Reset and test

Only reset once the cause is cleared. Bosch's general reset is to turn the dishwasher off with its power button or at the circuit breaker, wait about one minute, turn it back on and run a short test cycle with no dishes ^[3]. To cancel a running cycle on the manual's models, you press and hold Start for about 3 seconds, wait about 1 minute while the dishwasher drains, then press On/Off ^[5].

Can you use drain cleaner to clear an E24?

No. Do not pour drain cleaner or other drain chemicals into the tub, the sump or the air gap. Bosch's manual says never to use harsh chemicals to clean your dishwasher, because some products can damage it and may present health hazards ^[5]. In our view a caustic product sitting in a sump you then have to open by hand is a real risk. Bosch's own fixes for E24 are all mechanical: clean, straighten, clear and reseat. If the household sink drain is the clog, clear that drain with a plunger or a plumber, not with the dishwasher.

When should you call Bosch about E24?

If E24 returns after the filter, pump cover, hoses, air gap and disposal all check out, contact Bosch customer support. Bosch's code list says to contact support at 1-800-944-2904 if the issue persists after resetting ^[2].

Call Bosch or a qualified appliance technician, and leave the breaker off, when:

• the code comes back after a full set of checks and a reset
• the pump area is clear but the pump hums, stays silent or the display moves to E23
• the display shows E15, which means water in the base; Bosch says to turn off the water inflow and contact support
• you smell burning or see damaged wiring

We do not recommend replacing a drain pump or opening the toe panel or electrical parts yourself. That work belongs to Bosch service or a trained technician. If the water problem is in the household plumbing, call a plumber.

Other brands use their own codes for related faults. Samsung's leak code is covered in our Samsung dishwasher LC guide, and LG's is the LG dishwasher AE code. You can also browse every Bosch appliance guide or all dishwasher repair guides.

How can you keep E24 from coming back?

• Clean the filter on a schedule. Bosch's manual suggests 3 to 6 times a year for light to average use and 8 to 12 times a year for heavy use, plus after loads heavy in food or starch ^[5]. Bosch's cleaning guide puts it more simply as every few months ^[6].
• Scrape plates before loading. The same manual says the filter system is designed so you do not need to pre-rinse, but leftover food should be scraped off first ^[5].
• Keep the hose and air gap clear. In our view, bulky items stored under the sink are an easy way to crush or kink the drain hose. A clean filter also helps a dishwasher that smells.