Bosch dishwasher E24 or E25 error (not draining): what it means and how to fix it
In short
E24 and E25 on a Bosch dishwasher mean water is not pumping out. Clean the filter, check the drain hose and new disposal plug, clear the pump under its cover, then reset; when to call Bosch service.
E24 and E25 on a Bosch dishwasher both mean the machine can't pump the water out at the end of a cycle. E24 points to a drainage problem such as a blocked filter or a kinked drain hose; E25 points to the drain pump itself being blocked, or its cover being loose or missing. Either way it's a "fix soon" fault: nothing dangerous is happening, the dishwasher has simply stopped with water in the bottom, and most cases can be cleared at home in about 20 minutes.
The codes and steps here come from Bosch's own support pages for its dishwashers in the US, Canada, the UK and other markets ("Bosch Dishwasher Error Codes", "E24 error code", "E25 Bosch Dishwasher Error Code" and "Check your dishwasher pump for debris"). Your user manual has the exact drawings for your model.
Before you start
Switch the dishwasher off with its power button, then switch it off at the socket or circuit breaker as well, since you'll be putting your hands near the pump. The water in the bottom may still be hot after a cycle, so give it a while to cool. Lay a towel on the floor in front of the door.
If water is on the floor around the dishwasher or coming out from under it, close the water supply tap and keep the power off. A leak is a different problem (Bosch shows E15 for water in the base tray; see our guide to the Bosch E15 leak warning), and if it keeps happening, call Bosch service or a technician.
Fixes, from simplest to hardest
1. Clean the filter (E24 and E25)
Bosch's first suggestion for E24 is a blocked drain filter. It sits in the floor of the dishwasher under the lower basket.
- Pull out the lower basket.
- Twist the cylindrical filter anticlockwise and lift it out, together with the flat mesh around it.
- Rinse both under a running tap. Use a soft brush on greasy or scaled mesh; don't use anything sharp that could tear it.
- Before you put them back, look into the hole the filter sat in. That's where the pump cover is (step 3).
Put the flat mesh back first, then the cylinder, and turn it clockwise until the arrows line up and it locks. A filter that isn't locked in place can cause the same codes again.
2. Check the drain hose and the sink connection (E24)
Bosch lists a kinked or blocked drain hose as a cause of E24. Behind the kickplate or under the sink, follow the hose and make sure it isn't crushed, twisted or bent sharply, especially if the dishwasher was pushed back in recently.
If the dishwasher has just been installed and drains into a new garbage disposal, Bosch's guidance is to check the disposal's dishwasher inlet: new disposals come with a knockout plug blanking that inlet, and installers sometimes forget to remove it. Knocking it out is usually covered in the disposal's own instructions; if you're not comfortable with under-sink plumbing, ask the installer back.
If the hose connects to a sink trap or siphon, check the connection is tight and the trap isn't blocked with food or grease.
3. Clear the drain pump (E25)
E25 means the pump is jammed or its cover is out of place. The pump sits under a small cover in the sump, beneath the filter you removed.
- With the filter out, soak up the standing water with a sponge and squeeze it into a bowl. Bosch suggests a soft sponge for this.
- Put on protective gloves: Bosch warns that debris in the pump area can be sharp, and broken glass is a common find.
- Lever up the pump cover at its edge with a teaspoon until it clicks free. Bosch's UK page says some models use a manual screwdriver, never an electric one. Lift it out.
- Look inside and remove anything that's stuck: glass, cherry stones, labels, bits of plastic or bone.
- Put the cover back and press it down until it clicks into place. A cover that isn't clicked home triggers E25 by itself.
- Refit the filter and lock it.
4. Reset and test
Bosch's general reset advice is to switch the dishwasher off, or turn off its circuit breaker, wait about a minute, and turn it back on. Some models clear the code in a different way, which your owner's manual explains. Then run a short programme and check that it drains at the end.
When to call Bosch or a technician
Stop and book a repair if:
- the filter is clean, the hose is straight, the pump is clear and the cover clicks in, but E24 or E25 comes back;
- you hear the pump humming but no water moves, or there's no sound from the pump at all when it should be draining;
- water is leaking onto the floor, or you see any sign of water near the plug or wiring.
At that point the drain pump or its wiring may need replacing. That means opening panels with mains electricity behind them, which is a job for Bosch service or a qualified appliance technician; doing it yourself may affect a warranty that's still running. Have the E-Nr (model number) and FD number ready, printed on the rating plate on the inside or rim of the door.
If the code is different
E24 and E25 are drain codes. If your dishwasher shows a different code, such as E15 for water in the base, look that code up instead of following these steps, because the fix is different.
Sources: Bosch Home support: "Bosch Dishwasher Error Codes: Troubleshooting Guide", "Bosch Dishwasher Error Code E24: How to Fix & Reset", "E25 Bosch Dishwasher Error Code", "Check Your Dishwasher Pump for Debris", "Dishwasher not draining" (US and UK).
