Standing water in the tub
There is a pool of dirty water under the lower rack or around the filter when the cycle stops.
Start here: Start with the filter, sump opening, and pump cover area for food, glass, labels, or bone fragments.
Dishwasher not draining
Bosch Dishwasher E24 Code
Direct answer: A Bosch dishwasher E24 code usually points to a drain problem, most often food debris in the filter or pump area, a kinked dishwasher drain hose, or a clog at the sink air gap or sink drain connection.
Most likely: Start with the standing water, remove and clean the dishwasher filter, check the pump cover area for glass or labels, then inspect the dishwasher drain hose and sink air gap before assuming an internal part failed.
If the tub has water sitting in the bottom and the machine hums or stops with E24, treat it like a drain restriction until proven otherwise. Reality check: a lot of E24 calls end with a cleaned filter or cleared hose, not a new part. Common wrong move: running cycle after cycle without clearing the water and debris first just packs the blockage tighter.
Don’t start with: Do not start by ordering a dishwasher drain pump or control board. E24 is far more often a blockage or drain path issue than an electronic failure.
If you see standing waterShut power off, bail out enough water to work safely, and check the filter and pump area first.
If the dishwasher drains into a sink air gapPop off the air gap cap and look for sludge there before opening up the dishwasher.
Last reviewed: 2026-04-17
What E24 looks like in the kitchen
Humming or buzzing before the code
You hear the machine try to drain, but water barely moves or does not move at all.
Start here: Check for a jammed pump impeller area or a blocked dishwasher drain hose before suspecting wiring.
E24 right after sink or disposal work
The code started after plumbing work, a new disposal, or moving the dishwasher.
Start here: Inspect the dishwasher drain hose routing, the sink connection, and whether a disposal knockout plug was left in place.
No big puddle, but dishes stay dirty and wet
The machine may partly drain, then stop with E24 or leave a little water behind each time.
Start here: Look for a partial restriction at the filter, air gap, or drain hose rather than a total blockage.
Most likely causes
1. Clogged dishwasher filter or sump debris
This is the most common cause. Grease, paper labels, seeds, glass chips, and broken food bits collect where the dishwasher starts draining.
Quick check: Remove the lower rack and dishwasher filter. If the filter cup or sump is packed with sludge or debris, clean that first.
2. Blocked or kinked dishwasher drain hose
A hose can sag, kink behind the unit, or clog with grease and soft debris, especially if the dishwasher has been draining slowly for a while.
Quick check: Look under the sink for sharp bends, a crushed section, or a hose packed with gunk at the sink connection.
3. Clogged sink air gap or sink drain connection
If the dishwasher drains through an air gap or into a branch tailpiece, that small plumbing section can clog and trigger E24 even when the dishwasher itself is fine.
Quick check: Remove the air gap cap and check for sludge, or disconnect the dishwasher hose at the sink side and inspect the inlet nipple.
4. Dishwasher drain pump jam or failure
If the drain path is clear but the machine only hums, trips out, or never pushes water, the drain pump may be jammed or worn out.
Quick check: After cleaning the filter area, look for debris in the pump opening. If the path is clear and the pump still will not move water, this branch gets stronger.
Step-by-step fix
Step 1: Confirm this is really a drain problem
E24 is usually about draining, but you want to separate a true no-drain issue from a sink-side backup or a one-time glitch.
- Cancel the cycle and listen for the drain attempt.
- Open the door and check whether water is standing in the bottom of the tub.
- Look at the sink and disposal area for backup water, slow sink draining, or recent plumbing work.
- Turn power off to the dishwasher before putting hands into standing water or removing internal parts.
Next move: If there is clearly standing water and the sink side looks normal, move to the dishwasher filter and pump area next. If the tub is basically empty and the code does not return, it may have been a one-off interruption. Run a short rinse cycle and watch the drain portion.
What to conclude: Visible water in the tub points to a real drain restriction or pump problem. No standing water makes a hard blockage less likely.
Stop if:
- Water is spilling onto the floor.
- The sink or disposal is backing up badly.
- You are not sure the dishwasher power is off.
Step 2: Clean the dishwasher filter and check the pump cover area
This is the highest-payoff check on an E24 call. A small piece of debris in the sump can stop draining completely.
- Pull out the lower rack.
- Remove the dishwasher filter assembly and rinse it with warm water and mild soap.
- Wipe sludge from the filter well and sump opening.
- Check the pump cover area for glass, twist ties, paper labels, fruit pits, or bone fragments and remove them carefully.
- If you can see the impeller area, make sure nothing is physically jamming it.
Next move: Reassemble the filter, restore power, and run a short cycle or cancel-drain. If the water leaves quickly, the blockage was inside the tub area. If the dishwasher still hums or leaves water, the restriction is likely farther down the drain path or the pump is not moving water.
What to conclude: A dirty filter or jammed sump is the most common E24 fix. If cleaning changes the sound but not the result, keep following the drain path outward.
Step 3: Check the sink-side drain path
Many E24 problems are not inside the dishwasher at all. The clog is often at the air gap, disposal inlet, or sink tailpiece.
- If your sink has an air gap, remove the cap and clean out any sludge inside.
- Trace the dishwasher drain hose to the sink connection or disposal inlet.
- Disconnect the hose at the sink side with a towel or shallow pan ready.
- Inspect the hose end and the sink-side inlet for grease, food paste, or a leftover disposal knockout plug.
- If the sink drain is slow, clear that plumbing issue before blaming the dishwasher.
Next move: If you clear the sink-side blockage and the dishwasher drains normally, you found the problem. If the sink-side connection is clear, move on to the full dishwasher drain hose and hose routing.
Step 4: Inspect the dishwasher drain hose for kinks, sags, or internal clogging
A partially collapsed or clogged dishwasher drain hose can let a little water through, then trigger E24 when the flow slows down.
- Follow the dishwasher drain hose from the machine toward the sink as far as you can reach.
- Look for a sharp kink, crushed section, low sag full of sludge, or a hose pinched behind the dishwasher.
- If accessible, remove the hose and flush it through at a sink or outside with water until it runs clear.
- Reinstall the hose with a smooth path and proper high loop under the counter if applicable.
Next move: If the hose flushes clear or a kink is corrected and the dishwasher now drains fast, the hose was the issue. If the hose path is clear and water still will not move, the remaining likely cause is a jammed or failed dishwasher drain pump.
Step 5: Decide whether this is a pump problem and act on it
Once the filter, sump, air gap, sink connection, and dishwasher drain hose are clear, the drain pump becomes the main suspect.
- Run a drain or short cycle and listen closely.
- If the pump only hums, clicks, or stays silent while water remains, the pump is likely jammed or failed.
- If you already cleared visible debris and the drain path is open, plan for dishwasher drain pump diagnosis or replacement.
- If you are not comfortable pulling the dishwasher and opening the lower access area, this is the point to book service.
A good result: If a final test drains the tub completely, keep using the dishwasher and monitor the next few cycles for normal drain speed.
If not: If E24 returns with a confirmed clear drain path, replace the failed drain-path part that matches what you found or call a pro for pump-level repair.
What to conclude: At this stage, repeated E24 is no longer a simple cleaning issue. The machine has a confirmed drain-path fault or a drain pump that is not doing its job.
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FAQ
What does E24 mean on a Bosch dishwasher?
It usually means the dishwasher is not draining properly. The most common causes are a clogged dishwasher filter, debris in the pump area, a blocked dishwasher drain hose, or a clog at the sink air gap or sink connection.
Can I keep running the dishwasher with an E24 code?
Not until you clear the water and find the restriction. Repeated drain attempts can overwork the pump and leave dirty water sitting in the machine.
Why did E24 start after I replaced my garbage disposal?
The most common reason is a disposal knockout plug left in place at the dishwasher inlet. A kinked dishwasher drain hose during reinstall is also common.
Does E24 always mean the drain pump is bad?
No. Most E24 cases are blockage-related, not pump failure. Check the dishwasher filter, sump, air gap, sink connection, and dishwasher drain hose before blaming the pump.
Is a little water in the bottom normal after the repair?
A small amount of clean water down in the sump area can be normal. A visible pool across the tub floor or dirty water around the filter is not.
What if the sink drains slowly too?
Treat the sink drain problem first. A restricted kitchen drain can stop the dishwasher from emptying properly and trigger E24 even when the dishwasher parts are fine.