Bosch dishwasher / drain system
Bosch Dishwasher E24 Error: Meaning, Fixes, and Repair Cost
The Bosch dishwasher E24 error points to a drain restriction. Check the filter basket, pump cover, hose, air gap, and disposal connection.
Quick answer
What it means
The Bosch dishwasher E24 error usually means the dishwasher detected a drain restriction. Filter debris, a blocked pump cover, a kinked hose, an air gap clog, or a disposal knockout issue are common causes.
Likely causes
- Food debris or glass in the filter basket
- Blocked drain pump cover
- Kinked or clogged drain hose
- Clogged sink air gap
- Garbage disposal knockout left in place after installation
Safe first checks
- Remove the lower rack and clean the filter assembly.
- Inspect the drain pump cover area for glass, labels, or food debris.
- Check the sink air gap and the hose connection under the sink.
- If recently installed, confirm the garbage disposal knockout was removed.
Likely parts and repair cost
Typical repair range: $130-$310. Parts or systems commonly considered:
- Drain pump cover
- Drain hose
- Check valve
- Drain pump
Stop and call a pro when
- Glass is visible in the sump and cannot be safely removed.
- Water returns after every cycle.
- The dishwasher leaks under the cabinet.
What E24 does and does not prove
Bosch describes E24 as a dishwasher drain problem. The code confirms that the expected drainage did not occur; it does not by itself prove that the drain pump has failed. The blockage can be in the filter, pump-cover area, drain hose, sink connection, air gap, siphon, or a recently connected garbage disposal.
Record when the code appears and what remains in the tub. Water present immediately after a cycle points toward a failed drain attempt. Water that disappears and later returns can indicate backflow from the sink connection or a check-valve issue. A new installation makes hose routing and the disposal knockout especially important.
Use the water pattern to choose the next step
| Observation | Check next | Likely direction |
|---|---|---|
| Visible food, labels, or debris in the filter | Clean and reseat the filter correctly | Restricted intake to the drain path |
| Water remains and the pump sounds rough | Inspect the manufacturer-accessible pump-cover area with power off | Debris or damaged pump components |
| Water drains into the sink very slowly | Check air gap, disposal, and sink drain | Restriction outside the dishwasher |
| E24 began after a disposal installation | Verify the dishwasher inlet knockout was removed | Closed disposal connection |
| Tub empties, then dirty water returns | Check high loop, siphon connection, and backflow path | Drain-hose routing or check-valve problem |
Safe filter-to-sink inspection
- Cancel the cycle and disconnect dishwasher power at the breaker. Remove the lower rack and sponge out enough standing water to see the filter area.
- Remove the filter according to the model instructions. Rinse it under running water and inspect the sump for glass, bone fragments, labels, or hard debris. Wear cut-resistant gloves.
- If your manual shows a removable pump cover, release and reseat it exactly as directed. Bosch identifies a loose pump cover as one possible E24 path.
- Under the sink, trace the drain hose without disconnecting a wet fitting. Look for a kink, pinch, low sag, clogged air gap, or a disposal connection changed during recent plumbing work.
- Restore the filter and pump cover completely before power. Run a short drain test while watching both the under-sink connection and the floor below the dishwasher.
Do not reach into a hidden impeller, force the pump cover, or probe with a metal tool. Glass can be difficult to see in cloudy water. If access differs from the official model instructions, stop at the filter and under-sink checks.
Separate appliance work from plumbing work
If the dishwasher pump runs and water backs up at the sink or air gap, a plumber or drain service may be the relevant call. If the sink drains normally but the dishwasher cannot move water through a verified clear hose, an appliance technician can test the drain pump, wiring, control, and check valve. Making that distinction before scheduling can prevent paying the wrong trade for a first visit.
Ask a technician to identify the confirmed restriction or failed part rather than quoting a pump from the code alone. The $130-$310 figure is a planning band for common dishwasher drain-path work, not a guaranteed price. Built-in access, water damage, glass in the sump, a complete pump assembly, or simultaneous plumbing work can move the total outside it.
Repair or replace worksheet
A cleanly diagnosed hose, cover, valve, or drain-pump repair is usually worth comparing first on a younger dishwasher with no leak damage. Replacement becomes more competitive when the unit has cabinet or floor damage, repeated drain failures, unavailable parts, or a quote that combines pump, control, and circulation-system work. Include installation, disposal hookup, possible plumbing correction, and haul-away in the replacement total.
Editorial review
Manually reviewed July 29, 2026 against Bosch Home US E24 self-help and dishwasher error-code guidance. Repair Worth It is independent and is not Bosch, an appliance technician, or a plumbing contractor.
Source trail
Bosch's US self-help page supplies the E24 meaning and filter, hose, siphon, and pump-cover checks. The CPSC link is for exact-model recall verification.
Questions people ask
Does Bosch E24 always mean the drain pump is bad?
No. Bosch E24 often comes from a blockage before the pump fails. Clean the filter, pump cover, air gap, and hose path before assuming the pump needs replacement.
Can a clogged garbage disposal cause Bosch E24?
Yes. If the dishwasher drains into a disposal, a clogged disposal or an unremoved knockout plug can prevent draining and trigger E24.