Bosch dishwashers report problems as E-codes on the display, often with the far-right LED flashing. We covered the two most common ones — E15 (water in the base) and E24 (drain) — in their own guide. This page covers the next four we see most on Denver Metro calls, with meanings taken from Bosch’s own service documentation for the SH-series, not from guesswork.
E09 — heater circuit
Bosch defines E:09 as a faulty, open-circuited heater circuit. On current models the heater lives inside the circulation (heat) pump, so the symptom you notice is a dishwasher that runs a full cycle but dishes come out cold and wet, or a cycle that quietly runs long. The fault can be the heater itself or the power module that drives it. Those are very different repairs in cost, which is why E09 gets a resistance check before any part is ordered.
E21 — circulation pump blocked
E:21 means the heat pump (the circulation pump) is blocked or clogged. Glass fragments, fruit pits, toothpicks and broken-off rack tips are the usual culprits. The dishwasher hums or buzzes and nothing sprays. When the blockage is caught early, clearing it is the whole repair; when the pump has been straining against it for weeks, the pump may need replacing. Running more cycles to “see if it clears” is the expensive option.
E22 — water left in the sump
Bosch lists E:22 as water in the sump. The fine filter and the coarse multi-filter are the first thing to look at — a filter clogged with grease and food will leave standing water after every cycle. If the filters are clean and E22 persists, the water is coming from somewhere it should not, and that leak needs finding rather than draining away repeatedly. Note the overlap with E15: E22 is water in the sump, E15 is water in the base pan under the tub. Different places, different causes.
E25 — drain pump cover or blocked drain pump
E:25 has two official meanings: the drain pump cover is missing or not seated, or the drain pump itself is blocked. The cover matters more than it looks — without it seated the pump cannot build pressure and the dishwasher will not drain, ending the cycle early. A cover that popped off during filter cleaning is a common and cheap find; a pump impeller jammed by glass is the other. Both show as E25 with standing water in the tub.
What the far-right LED is telling you
On many Bosch models the code is paired with the rightmost indicator LED: flashing for active faults like E09 and E21, lit steady for E22, E24 and E25. If your model has a hidden control panel, the code may only show on the status lights projected on the floor or on the top-edge display when the door is opened.
Why we don’t recommend guessing parts
E09 is a heater or a power module; E25 is a cover or a pump. Half of these codes resolve without a part at all once the real cause is seen, and the other half require the right part the first time. We diagnose live, quote the actual repair, and credit the diagnostic fee toward it. Dishes coming out dirty without any code? See dishwasher not cleaning.
Repair or replace?
Bosch dishwashers are built to be serviced: pumps, heaters and modules are all accessible and available. A single-fault repair on a unit under ten years old is almost always worth it. A power module plus a pump on a unit well past that is where the math changes, and we will say so.
Bosch dishwasher repair across the Denver Metro
FiXiFY repairs Bosch dishwashers across Denver, Aurora, Lakewood, Westminster and the metro — same-day in most areas, genuine OEM parts. See dishwasher repair, the Bosch page, or the Bosch washer codes guide.
BOOK ONLINECALL (303) 214-1240
FAQ
What does E09 mean on a Bosch dishwasher?
Bosch defines E09 as an open heater circuit. On current models the heater is part of the circulation pump, so dishes come out cold and wet. The fault can be the heater or the power module that drives it.
Is E21 the same as E24 on a Bosch?
No. E21 is the circulation (heat) pump blocked, so nothing sprays. E24 is a drain problem. Both leave water in the tub, which is why they get confused.
My Bosch shows E25 after I cleaned the filter. What happened?
Most likely the drain pump cover was not snapped back into place. Without it the pump cannot build pressure and the dishwasher will not drain. If the cover is seated, the pump itself is blocked.
Can I keep running the dishwasher with E22?
You can, but standing water in the sump after every cycle means something is not draining or something is leaking in. Clogged filters are the easy version; a leak is the one that gets worse.
FiXiFY Appliance Repair — 7030 E 46th Ave Dr, Unit A, Denver, CO 80216 · (303) 214-1240 · support@fixifycolorado.com