Bosch Dishwasher E24 Troubleshooting (what to do)

Bosch is well known for producing some of the most efficient and reliable dishwashers in the world. However, even the best can develop faults occasionally. If your Bosch dishwasher is displaying the E24 error code it indicates that the appliance isn’t draining correctly.

In this article we look at the Bosch E24 error code and show the best ways to remedy this rare problem.

Bosch Dishwasher E24 Error Code

The E24 error code indicates that your Bosch dishwasher isn’t draining properly which could be caused by any of the following;

• There’s A Blockage In The Drain Hose
• The Filter Is Blocked
• The Drain Pump Is Blocked 
• The Air Gap Is Blocked
• The Pump’s Impeller Cover Is Loose
• There’s A Fault With The Control Panel

Let’s look at each of these issues separately and get your dishwasher working properly again.

A Blocked Drain Hose

The only way waste water can leave the dishwasher is through the drain hose. If this becomes blocked for any reason, it can trigger the E24 error code and prevent the dishwasher from operating correctly.

The first thing to do is inspect the drain hose and look for any twists or kinks that could cause the hose to become blocked. It could also be that the hose has a blockage which will need to be removed.

To remove the blockage you will need to disconnect the drainage hose from the dishwasher and use a plumber’s snake to remove any blockage.

Blocked Filter

All dirty water passes through the filter before leaving the dishwasher. If the filter becomes blocked by food particles, the water cannot leave the appliance.

To solve this you’ll need to remove the filter and wash it using warm water and a brush.

Blocked Drain Pump

If the drain pump has become blocked, water will not be able to leave the dishwasher triggering the E24 error code. To solve this you’ll need to access the drain pump.

You will need to remove the filter first because the drain pump is located below the filter. You will see the pump cover beneath the filter.

To remove the pump you might need to dismantle the dishwasher or at least remove the kick plate to gain access. You need to check that the pump’s impeller can turn freely if it does, the pump could be OK but you should still use a multimeter to determine continuity.

You need to set the multimeter to Rx1 and touch the probes to the pump’s terminals. The reading should be zero or close to it. Then move one of the probes onto the bare metal whilst keeping the other one touching one of the terminals on the pump. This should give a reading of zero or close to it as well. If not, you’ll need to replace the pump.

Blocked Air Gap

The air gap is a safety feature fitted into the waste pipe set up on dishwashers to prevent dirty water re-entering the appliance. It works by sending the waste water upwards before dropping it through a gap-the air gap this means even if there was a backflow, it couldn’t return the way it came.

Over time, the air gap can become clogged with food particles, dust, dirt or other materials and this will prevent the water from leaving the appliance.

To solve this you’ll need to inspect the air gap and remove any foreign bodies from the pipe work.

Loose Pump Impeller Cover

The cover to the pump’s impeller should be sealed tight to prevent any water from getting into the wrong parts of the pump. If the cover has become loose, it makes the impeller unable to spin freely which could allow excess water into the pump which could cause the pump to have to work too hard.

This is relatively easy to solve: just remove the cover and make sure that the impeller turns freely and that there’s no food particles blocking the free movement of the impeller. Then replace the cover ensuring it is fitted securely.

Control Panel Fault

If there is a fault or a glitch in the control panel it could show error code E24 for no reason. However, the dishwasher doesn’t know that it’s a false alarm and will not work until the fault is cleared.

You can often resolve this by resetting the appliance. There are 2 ways to reset a Bosch dishwasher;

1. A Soft Reset
   To perform a soft reset all you need to do is press and hold the “start” button for 3 to 5 seconds. This should reset the appliance and start a drainage cycle to remove water from the unit.
2. A Hard Reset
   If the soft reset doesn’t solve the problem, you can perform a hard reset which involves removing the plug from the wall socket for 10 to 15 minutes. Then replacing the plug and turning the dishwasher back on again. This clears any short term messages from the control panel and should allow you to use your dishwasher again.

However, if after performing a hard reset the E24 error code still shows, the problem wasn’t just a glitch in the control board and you’ll need to contact Bosch to get the appliance looked at by a qualified engineer. Who will most probably replace the control panel.

SEE ALSO: Bosch Dishwasher Not Draining At End Of Cycle? (here’s why & what to do)

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