Error shows up right after you start a cycle
You hear little or no water entering, and the tub stays mostly dry.
Start here: Start with the shutoff valve, supply hose, and dishwasher water inlet screen.
Dishwasher not working
Bosch Dishwasher Water Tap Error
Direct answer: On a Bosch dishwasher, a water tap error usually points to one of three things: weak or blocked water supply into the dishwasher, a drain problem that makes the machine think water is not moving correctly, or water in the base pan from a leak trip.
Most likely: The most common homeowner fix is a simple one: the shutoff valve is not fully open, the inlet hose is kinked, the inlet screen is packed with grit, or the filter and drain path are restricted.
Treat this like a fill-and-drain check, not just a mystery error code. Look for standing water in the tub, slow sink drainage, a kinked supply hose, or a faint drain pump hum that never clears. Reality check: this error often comes from a plain blockage, not a dead dishwasher. Common wrong move: replacing the dishwasher water inlet valve before checking the shutoff valve and inlet screen.
Don’t start with: Do not start by ordering an electronic control or tearing into the door. This fault is usually found in the water path, drain path, or leak tray first.
If there is water sitting in the bottomCheck the filter, drain well, sink air gap, and drain hose before chasing a fill problem.
If the tub is dry but the error appears earlyFocus on the water supply valve, inlet hose, and dishwasher water inlet screen first.
Last reviewed: 2026-04-17
What the water tap error usually looks like
Error appears after some draining noise
The dishwasher runs the drain pump, then stops with the warning.
Start here: Check for standing water, a clogged dishwasher filter, a blocked sink air gap, or a kinked dishwasher drain hose.
Error comes and goes
Some loads run, others fail, especially after plumbing work or sediment in the house water.
Start here: Look for a partially plugged dishwasher water inlet screen or a supply valve that is not opening fully.
Error follows a leak or wet floor event
The dishwasher may keep trying to drain, or the warning returns even after restarting.
Start here: Check for water in the base area and signs of an active leak before replacing any fill parts.
Most likely causes
1. Water supply to the dishwasher is restricted
This is the straightest match when the tub stays dry and the error appears early. A half-closed shutoff, kinked hose, or debris at the inlet can cut flow enough to trigger the warning.
Quick check: Confirm the shutoff valve is fully open, inspect the supply hose for a flattening kink, and look for sediment at the dishwasher water inlet screen.
2. Dishwasher filter or drain path is blocked
Bosch units can throw a water tap warning when they cannot clear water properly. If you see water in the sump or hear repeated draining, this is more likely than a bad fill part.
Quick check: Remove and rinse the dishwasher filter, clear debris from the drain well, and check the sink air gap and dishwasher drain hose for blockage.
3. Water in the dishwasher base pan has tripped the leak protection
If the machine keeps draining or throws the warning after a leak, the float in the base can lock out normal filling.
Quick check: Look for signs of recent leaking under the dishwasher, along the toe-kick area, or around the door and inlet connections.
4. A fill component inside the dishwasher has failed
Once the supply is proven good and the drain path is clear, a stuck dishwasher water inlet valve or a problem with the dishwasher float can keep the unit from filling correctly.
Quick check: Only consider this after the external water supply and drain checks pass and the tub still stays dry.
Step-by-step fix
Step 1: Separate a no-fill problem from a no-drain problem
The same warning can show up for opposite reasons. You save time by checking whether the tub is dry or holding water before touching parts.
- Cancel the cycle and open the dishwasher after the pump stops.
- Look at the bottom of the tub with a flashlight.
- If you see standing water above the filter area, treat this as a drain-path problem first.
- If the tub is mostly dry and you never hear a normal fill sound, treat this as a water-supply problem first.
- If the dishwasher keeps trying to drain with little else happening, keep a leak-trip in mind too.
Next move: You now know which path deserves attention first, and you avoid chasing the wrong side of the machine. If you cannot tell what the dishwasher is doing, run a short cycle and listen for the sequence: drain first, then fill. Note which sound never really happens.
What to conclude: Dry tub points toward supply or fill trouble. Standing water points toward filter or drain trouble. Constant draining raises suspicion of water in the base pan.
Stop if:
- Water is spilling onto the floor.
- You smell burning, see smoke, or hear harsh electrical buzzing.
- You need to pull the dishwasher out but the supply or drain connections are under tension.
Step 2: Check the easy water-supply items first
A partially closed valve or kinked hose is common, safe to inspect, and often missed after sink work or moving the dishwasher.
- Find the dishwasher shutoff valve under the sink and make sure it is fully open.
- Inspect the dishwasher water supply hose for kinks, crushing, or a sharp bend behind stored items.
- If the dishwasher was recently pushed back into place, look for a pinched hose where it passes through the cabinet.
- Turn off power to the dishwasher before disconnecting anything.
- If you are comfortable shutting off the water, disconnect the supply line at the dishwasher inlet and check the dishwasher water inlet screen for grit or scale. Rinse the screen gently with water; do not gouge it with a pick.
Next move: Restore power, run a cycle, and listen for a steady fill. If the warning stays gone, the restriction was in the supply path. If the shutoff is open, the hose is clear, and the inlet screen is clean but the tub still stays dry, move on to the drain and leak checks before blaming an internal part.
What to conclude: A weak or blocked supply is the most direct cause when the error appears early and the tub never really fills.
Step 3: Clear the dishwasher filter and drain path
On this symptom, a drain restriction is nearly as common as a true fill failure. If the dishwasher cannot clear old water, it may stop and show the same warning.
- Remove the lower rack and take out the dishwasher filter assembly.
- Rinse the dishwasher filter under warm water and use mild soap if greasy buildup is heavy.
- Wipe debris from the sump opening and drain well, but do not force anything down into the pump area.
- If your sink has an air gap on the countertop, remove the cap and clear any sludge inside.
- Inspect the dishwasher drain hose under the sink for a kink or low spot packed with debris.
- If the sink itself drains slowly, clear that problem too, because the dishwasher may be backing up into a restricted sink drain.
Next move: Run a rinse cycle. If the dishwasher drains cleanly and the warning does not return, the blockage was in the filter or drain path. If the tub still holds water or the machine drains weakly, the drain hose may be obstructed deeper or the drain pump may be struggling.
Step 4: Look for a leak-trip in the base pan
If water gets into the base, the dishwasher may run the drain pump and refuse to fill. Resetting power alone will not fix an active leak.
- Turn off power to the dishwasher.
- Remove the toe-kick panel if accessible and use a flashlight to look for moisture, mineral tracks, or fresh drips underneath.
- Check around the door edge, dishwasher drain hose connection, and dishwasher water supply connection for signs of recent leaking.
- If you find only a small amount of old moisture, dry the area and watch closely during the next short cycle.
- If you see active dripping, stop and trace the source before running more cycles.
Next move: If the base area is dry and the dishwasher now fills and runs normally, the trip may have been from a one-time spill or minor overfill event. If the dishwasher keeps draining or the warning returns with fresh moisture underneath, you have an active leak or stuck base float situation that needs repair before normal use.
Step 5: Only now consider a failed dishwasher fill part
Once the supply path is proven good, the drain path is clear, and there is no leak trip, the remaining likely causes are inside the dishwasher.
- If the tub stays dry even with a confirmed open shutoff and clean inlet screen, suspect the dishwasher water inlet valve.
- If the dishwasher intermittently overfills, underfills, or behaves differently when the tub is moved or bumped, inspect the dishwasher float for sticking or damage.
- If the drain path is clear but the machine still leaves water and the pump sounds weak or rough, the dishwasher drain pump may be failing.
- Use your model information before ordering any internal replacement part, because fit varies.
- If diagnosis is still muddy, this is the point to schedule service instead of stacking guesses.
A good result: Replace only the part that matches the symptom you confirmed, then run a full cycle and check for proper fill, wash, and drain.
If not: If a confirmed part replacement does not change the symptom, stop before buying more parts. The issue may be wiring, a sensor input, or a control problem that needs live testing.
What to conclude: At this stage, a component failure is more believable because the common external causes have been ruled out.
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FAQ
Does a Bosch water tap error always mean no water is coming in?
No. It often means poor incoming water flow, but it can also show up when the dishwasher cannot drain properly or when leak protection in the base pan has been triggered.
Why does the dishwasher show the water tap error even though the sink has water?
House water at the sink does not prove good flow into the dishwasher. The dishwasher shutoff valve may be partly closed, the supply hose may be kinked, or the dishwasher water inlet screen may be packed with sediment.
Can a clogged filter cause a Bosch water tap error?
Yes. If the dishwasher cannot clear water through the filter and drain path, it may stop the cycle and show the same warning even though the real issue is drainage.
Should I replace the dishwasher water inlet valve right away?
Usually no. Check the shutoff valve, hose, inlet screen, filter, drain hose, and leak signs first. The inlet valve is a later-step suspect, not the first thing to buy.
Why does the dishwasher keep draining with the water tap error on?
That often points to water in the base pan or a leak-protection trip. The machine may keep trying to pump out and refuse to fill until the leak source is fixed and the base area is dry.
Can I keep using the dishwasher if the error clears after a reset?
Only if it runs a full cycle normally and stays dry underneath. If the warning returns, the machine is telling you there is still a supply, drain, or leak problem that needs attention.