Bosch Dishwasher Not Draining? E24/E25 Fixes & Reset
Updated October 30, 2026. Sources are linked in each section.
⚠️ Caution: power off before reaching in
Switch the dishwasher off at its breaker before reaching into the sump or moving the machine. Broken glass often ends up in the pump area, so use gloves or tongs. Leave electrical testing and pump or control-board replacement to Bosch service or a qualified technician.
In this guide
Match what you see to the right fix
| What you see | Start with |
|---|---|
| A cycle was interrupted and water is sitting in the tub | The 4-second reset and drain |
| E24 on the display | Filter, then drain hose and disposer inlet |
| E25 on the display | Drain-pump cover and pump chamber |
| Drainage failed right after a new disposer was installed | Knockout plug |
| Water bubbles up in the sink or out of the countertop air gap | Air gap and the sink drain |
| Pump hums or grinds | Debris under the pump cover |
| All checks done and the pump is silent | Bosch service |
1. Reset the cycle so the dishwasher drains
If a cycle stopped part-way (a power cut, the door opened, a child pressed buttons), the water may simply not have been pumped out yet. Bosch’s reset instructions are:
- Press Reset 4 sec. or the Start button and hold it for about 4 seconds.
- The dishwasher pumps out the remaining water. Bosch says this takes about a minute.
- When it has finished, the cycle is cancelled. Open the door and press On/Off.
If the water drains, run a short rinse to confirm normal operation. If the pump runs but the water level does not drop, the blockage is downstream: work through the filter, pump cover and hose steps below. Source: Bosch reset instructions.
2. What E24 and E25 mean
- E24: Bosch describes this as the dishwasher not draining properly because the drain filter is blocked. Bosch also lists a kinked or damaged hose, the siphon (sink drain) connection, a loose pump cover and an un-removed disposer plug as causes. See Bosch’s E24 article.
- E25: The drain pump is blocked, or the drain-pump cover is loose or missing. See Bosch’s E25 page.
After fixing the cause, reset the dishwasher as described above to clear the code. A code that returns straight away means the blockage is still there.
3. Clean the filter (the most common cause)
Bosch names food debris in the filter or the pump as the most common reason a dishwasher stops draining.
- Switch off at the breaker. Remove the lower rack.
- Soak up standing water with a sponge or towel so you can see the filter.
- Remove the filter as your manual shows. On many Bosch models you turn the cylindrical filter counter-clockwise and lift it out, then lift out the flat fine filter under it. Check your manual for your model.
- Clean all filter parts with dish soap and a soft brush under running water. Don’t use scouring pads or wire brushes.
- Before refitting the filter, go on to the pump cover in the next step.
4. Remove the drain-pump cover and clear the pump
The pump cover sits in the bottom of the tub, underneath the filter. Bosch’s instructions:
- With the filter out, soak up any remaining water from the sump.
- Pry the cover up with a spoon until it clicks. Grip the cover, pull it upward until you feel resistance, then pull it forward to remove it completely.
- Look in the pump chamber and remove any debris, such as broken glass or food scraps. Bosch warns that some debris may be sharp, so use tongs or gloves.
- Refit the pump cover so it clicks firmly into place. Bosch lists a loose or missing cover as a cause of E25.
- Refit the filter, locking the cylindrical part by turning it clockwise.
- Restore power and run a short rinse.
A pump that hums but doesn’t pump usually has something stuck in it. A pump that stays silent after this step needs a technician; don’t test it with a meter yourself. Sources: Bosch E25 page (pump-cover removal) and Bosch not-draining guide.
5. Check the drain hose for kinks and blockages
- Open the sink cabinet and follow the drain hose from the dishwasher to where it connects to the sink drain or disposer.
- Straighten any kinks or tight bends, especially where the hose passes through the cabinet wall or behind stored items.
- Check that the hose rises in a high loop under the counter (or goes to an air gap) before it drops to the drain connection. Your installation instructions show the required routing.
- If the hose is clogged at the sink end, put a bowl and towel under it, loosen the clamp, disconnect it and flush it with water. Reconnect it with the clamp tight.
If you’d have to pull the dishwasher out of its cabinet to reach a kink, switch off power and water first. If you aren’t comfortable doing that, it’s a job for an installer.
6. New disposer? Check the knockout plug
New garbage disposers come with a plastic knockout plug sealing the dishwasher inlet. If nobody removed it during installation, the dishwasher can’t drain from the first cycle onward.
- Disconnect the dishwasher hose from the disposer inlet.
- Push a pencil into the inlet. KitchenAid’s guidance is that if it goes in about 3 inches, the plug has been removed. If it stops at a solid disc, the plug is still there.
- To remove it, follow the disposer’s installation instructions: switch off the disposer’s power, knock the disc into the disposer, then retrieve the loose disc with tongs. Never put your hand into a disposer.
- Reconnect the hose, restore power and run a drain.
Separately, run the disposer and sink before a dishwasher cycle. Food sitting in the disposer or a slow sink drain also stops the dishwasher from emptying.
7. Clear the air gap (if you have one)
An air gap is the small chrome or plastic cylinder on the sink deck next to the faucet. When it’s clogged, water spurts from it or backs up into the dishwasher.
- Pull or twist off the decorative cover, then remove the inner cap.
- Clean out debris with a small brush or a paper towel, and flush with water.
- Refit the caps and run a short drain.
What a Bosch drain repair usually costs
| Repair | Typical cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Drain pump repair | $100 to $250 | Fixr (Jan 2025) |
| Drain pump replacement | $150 to $400 | Fixr (Jan 2025) |
| Drain hose replacement | $50 to $100 | Fixr (Jan 2025) |
| Diagnostic fee | $50 to $75 | Fixr (Jan 2025) |
National ranges from Fixr, updated January 31, 2025, for dishwashers in general. Bosch parts are matched to the E-Nr, so ask for a quote for your model.
8. When to stop and call Bosch
If water still remains after the reset, filter, pump cover, hose, disposer and air gap checks, or if the pump makes no sound, Bosch directs owners to Bosch Customer Support (1-800-944-2904, US) or an authorized servicer. Have the E-Nr (model) and FD number from the label on the edge of the door ready. Don’t order a pump or control board from a generic article: Bosch parts vary by E-Nr.
If the display shows E15 instead, that’s a different problem: water in the base. See Bosch E15: what to do.
Frequently asked questions
How do I force my Bosch dishwasher to drain?
Hold Start (or Reset 4 sec.) for about 4 seconds. Bosch says the remaining water is pumped out in about a minute and the cycle is cancelled. Then open the door and press On/Off.
Is some water in the bottom of a Bosch normal?
A little water sitting in the sump under the filter can be normal after a cycle. Water covering the filter, or sitting across the tub floor, means it isn’t draining properly.
Why does E24 keep coming back after I clean the filter?
The blockage is usually further along: the pump chamber under the cover, a kinked hose, a full disposer or the sink drain, or a blocked air gap. Work through steps 4 to 7, then reset.
How often should I clean the filter?
Check it whenever you see debris or water left after a cycle. Your Bosch manual gives the routine interval for your model. Heavily soiled loads and unscraped plates clog it faster.
Why is my Bosch dishwasher holding water in the bottom?
Usually the filter or the pump chamber under it is blocked, the drain hose is kinked, or the disposer or air gap is clogged. If a cycle was interrupted, the 4-second reset pumps the water out.
How do I reset a Bosch dishwasher drain pump?
Bosch’s reset is to hold Start (or Reset 4 sec.) for about 4 seconds; the dishwasher then pumps out the water and cancels the cycle. If E25 shows, clear debris under the pump cover first, then reset.
How much does it cost to fix a dishwasher that won’t drain?
Fixr lists $150 to $400 to replace a drain pump and $50 to $100 for a drain hose, plus a $50 to $75 diagnostic fee.
More help: Bosch owner manuals · Dishwasher not draining (all brands) · Printable service checklist
Written and edited by Jordan Hale. Steps checked against Bosch’s US owner-support pages; no hands-on test is claimed. Button labels vary by series, so confirm them in your manual.
