Bosch dishwashers drain through a small pump under the tub. Water passes through a multi-stage filter, into a sump, then through the drain pump and up the drain hose to the sink drain or air gap. Anything that blocks any of those stages keeps water in the tub. The E24 code lights up specifically when the controller detects standing water that shouldn't be there. Clearing the blockage clears the code.
Quick checks
- Standing water in the bottom of the tub at the end of a cycle.
- E24 displayed on the panel, or a continuous beep on older models.
- Garbage disposal recently installed without the knockout plug removed.
- Drain hose missing a high loop or zip-tied flat.
- Filter at the bottom of the tub crusted with food.
Step by step
- Power the dishwasher off at the panel. If it keeps beeping, turn off the breaker for 60 seconds and back on to reset the control board.
- Open the door and pull out the bottom rack.
- Use a measuring cup and a sponge to bail out standing water. Don't run another cycle with water still in the tub.
- Twist out the cylindrical filter assembly at the back of the tub floor (counterclockwise on most models).
- Lift out the filter, the coarse filter screen, and the metal microfilter (on some models). Rinse all parts under hot water with a soft brush.
- Reach into the sump where the filter sat. Wipe with a paper towel and feel around for glass shards, fruit pits, or labels. Pull anything you find.
- Look down into the drain pump opening (often visible at the bottom of the sump after filters are removed). Use a flashlight to spot debris on the impeller.
- Reinstall the filter. Make sure it twists back in fully and the arrow lines up with the lock indicator.
- Pull the dishwasher's drain hose out from under the sink and check for kinks. The hose should rise at least 24 inches above the floor (the "high loop") to prevent sink water from siphoning back.
- If the dishwasher drains into the garbage disposal, run the disposal for 30 seconds to clear food on its side.
- On a new disposal install, confirm the knockout plug inside the disposal's dishwasher inlet was removed — this is a common after-install cause of E24.
- Restore power and run a Rinse-only cycle. The pump should drain cleanly.
If E24 still shows after the filter clean
- Drain hose blocked. Run hot water through it in the sink to confirm flow. Replace if a clog won't clear.
- Air gap blocked. If your sink has an air gap fitting on top, lift the cap and clean any food.
- Impeller jammed. The drain pump impeller is reachable from inside the tub on most Bosch models after the sump cover is removed. Refer to your owner's manual for the access steps for your model.
- Faulty drain pump. A pump that hums but doesn't move water often has a failed motor or seized bearing.
- Inlet hose kinked or shutoff partly closed. Bosch checks both fill and drain timing; a slow fill can confuse the controller and flag drain errors.
If the dishwasher leaks or shows E15 instead
E15 means water reached the safety pan under the tub and the leak-protection system shut everything down. It's not a drain problem — it's a leak. Don't keep running cycles. Pull the dishwasher out from under the counter, dry the pan, and identify the leak before restoring power. Common sources: cracked door seal, loose hose connections, sump gasket. If you can't find it, call a service tech. Running with E15 active can flood a kitchen.
Avoiding the next drain failure
- Scrape plates of solids before loading. Bosch's spray system handles grease and crumbs; it doesn't handle bones, popcorn kernels, or labels.
- Clean the filter monthly. Bosch specifically recommends checking the filter regularly because they don't grind food the way GE or Maytag dishwashers do.
- Confirm the drain hose has a high loop or air gap — both code-required in most areas to prevent backflow.
- Avoid pods that leave gel residue if your water is hard. Switch detergents or add a rinse aid to keep the sump cleaner.
- Run an empty hot cycle with dishwasher cleaner monthly to clear film from the pump and lines.
When to call a tech
- E24 returns after a thorough filter and pump clean.
- Drain pump hums but won't move water.
- E15, F15, or any leak-detection code.
- Standing water with no error displayed — sensor or board fault.
- Repeated codes after a control-board reset.
- Bosch's standard warranty is 1 year parts and labor; certified Bosch service is available through Bosch Home Appliances customer service at 1-800-944-2904.
Good maintenance rhythm
- After every cycle: scrape solids off plates before loading.
- Monthly: remove and rinse the filter assembly under hot water.
- Monthly: run a hot empty cycle with dishwasher cleaner.
- Quarterly: check the drain hose under the sink for kinks; confirm the high loop is intact.
- Quarterly: clean the spray arms by twisting them off and rinsing the spray holes.
- Yearly: pull the dishwasher slightly forward and check the floor underneath for any leak signs.