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Bosch Dishwasher E15 Error Code: Water in Base, What to Do

Stop using itUpdated Checked against Bosch US Owner Support

Also shown or searched as: E:15, F15, E3100, E:31-00

E15 on a Bosch dishwasher means the safety switch has found water in the base, under the tub, and the leak protection system has stopped the machine. Bosch's own advice is short: turn off the water supply to the dishwasher and contact service. The code usually returns until the base is dry and the leak is fixed.

What to try first

Safety: Turn off the water and the power before you look for the leak. Do not tilt the dishwasher or pull it out of its opening while water sits in the base; Bosch advises against fixing E15 at home.

  1. 1

    Turn off the water to the dishwasher

    Close the shut-off valve that feeds the dishwasher, usually under the kitchen sink. This is the first thing Bosch asks for when E15 shows, because it stops more water reaching a leak you cannot see yet.

  2. 2

    Switch the dishwasher off and cut the power

    Press On/Off, then unplug the dishwasher or switch off its circuit breaker. Do this before you reach anywhere near the machine.

  3. 3

    Look for water you can see without moving the machine

    Check the floor along the bottom of the dishwasher and the hose connections in the sink cabinet. Wipe up what you find and note where it was, which helps a technician trace the leak. Leave the dishwasher where it is.

  4. 4

    Rule out a foam problem for next time

    Bosch's manual lists three causes of heavy foam: hand dish soap in the rinse aid dispenser, spilled rinse aid, and a detergent that foams too much. Wipe spilled rinse aid off with a cloth, use only dishwasher detergent, and if hand soap got into the rinse aid dispenser, Bosch says to fill it with rinse aid right away.

  5. 5

    Have the model and production numbers ready

    Bosch's service team asks for the E-Nr (model number) and the FD (production number). Both are printed on the rating label inside the door, so write them down along with the code before you call.

Most likely causes of E15

  1. 1. A leaking hose, pump seal or sump inside the cabinet (most common)

    E15 comes back after the base has dried, sometimes only every few cycles, and nothing shows on the kitchen floor.

  2. 2. Too much foam from the wrong detergent or too much of it (common)

    Hand dish soap went in by mistake, rinse aid was spilled inside the door, or you switched to a new detergent just before the code appeared.

  3. 3. Water still sitting in the base after an earlier spill (common)

    The code appeared once, right after an overflow or a leak that has already been dealt with, and the float has not dropped because the pan is still wet.

  4. 4. A water inlet valve that sticks open or dribbles (less common)

    Water pressure in the house is low, or water keeps trickling into the tub when the dishwasher should be idle.

  5. 5. A cracked or blocked spray arm sending water where it should not go (less common)

    A spray arm is cracked or will not spin freely, and E15 shows up partway through a wash rather than at the start.

When to call a pro

  • E15 comes back after the base has had time to dry, or returns every few cycles.
  • You can see water on the floor or in the sink cabinet while the dishwasher runs.
  • E15 appeared with no foam, no spill and no visible water to explain it.
  • Reaching the base means removing the toe kick or door panels, or pulling the dishwasher out of its opening: leave that to a technician.
  • The machine is still under warranty, so the repair should go through Bosch's authorized service.

What a E15 repair costs

$80–$400

HomeGuide's 2026 national ranges, parts and labor: a door gasket seal $80 to $200, a water inlet valve $80 to $170, a float switch $90 to $190 and a drain pump $100 to $400. When foam was the trigger and the base only needs drying, the bill can be little more than the visit; minimum service fees run $70 to $130.

Source

What E15 means on a Bosch dishwasher

Bosch's US support page explains E15 in one sentence: the safety switch has detected water in the base of the dishwasher, and the leakage protection system has been activated. The base is the pan under the tub. A float sits in it, and when enough water collects, the float rises and trips the switch, which is why the machine stops.

On models that show four-digit codes, Bosch's error-code list gives E3100 the same meaning and the same instruction, and its newer use and care manuals print it as E:31-00. The same list gives flashing Active lights the same meaning. Bosch pages for some other countries list F15 alongside E15.

Why Bosch gives no home fix for E15

Most Bosch codes come with a checklist. E15 does not. The US page asks you to turn off the water inflow and contact support, and Bosch's pages for other countries go further, advising against trying to fix it at home for health and safety reasons. The water sits under the tub, beside the pump and the wiring, and getting to it means taking panels off.

Repair sites describe pulling the dishwasher out and tilting it back so the water pours out of the base. Fred's Appliance Academy calls that a quick fix rather than a lasting one and warns it can damage the machine. It also empties out the evidence: once the pan is dry, nothing is left to show where the water came from.

A wet base without a broken part: foam

E15 does not always mean something has failed. Repair guides list the wrong detergent, or too much of it, among the causes: foam can spill past the tub into the base and lift the float just as a leak would. Bosch's manual treats heavy foam as a fault of its own and names hand dish soap in the rinse aid dispenser, spilled rinse aid and a detergent that foams too much. If any of those happened just before E15, the repair may be no more than drying the base, though finding that out still takes a look underneath.

When E15 comes and goes

An E15 that shows up every few cycles, with dry floors in between, is still a leak, just a slow one. On the AppliancePartsPros forum, the owner of a Bosch 800 Plus described exactly that pattern with no drips to be seen. The technician who replied pointed to a water inlet valve that does not open fully, which can let water dribble into the base when the flow is weak. A Bosch technician sheet also lists checking that the inlet valve is not stuck open among its E:15 checks.

What a technician will check

  • The base pan, reached by removing the toe kick and lower panels: the water is dried out and the float (a foam or polystyrene disc that lifts the safety switch) is dried and freed.
  • The connections at the drain pump and the drain hose, which a Bosch technician sheet names among the first checks for E:15.
  • The water inlet valve, to make sure it is not stuck open or letting water dribble in when flow is weak.
  • The sump, the pump seals, the tub floor and the spray arms, looking for the crack or loose joint that let water escape.
  • The safety switch and its connection, once everything underneath is dry.

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Questions people ask about Bosch E15

Can I keep using my Bosch dishwasher with E15 on the display?

No. While the float is up, the leak protection keeps the dishwasher from running, and starting it again would only send more water toward the leak. Keep the water valve closed until the base is dry and the source has been found.

Will unplugging the dishwasher clear E15?

It might for a while, but not for good. iFixit suggests cutting the power for five minutes as a first try. If the float is still sitting in water, the code comes straight back, and even when it clears, iFixit notes that resetting the switch does nothing about the leak that tripped it.

Does Bosch cover water damage from a leak?

On models with AquaStop, the Bosch manual describes an AquaStop Plus Pledge: if a defect in materials or workmanship in the AquaStop system causes water damage, BSH compensates reasonable, verifiable damage. The dishwasher must have been installed as instructed, and the pledge does not cover faulty supply lines or fittings at the tap.

Sources