Bosch dishwasher drain error: the pump was fine, a piece of glass was in the way
A recent job in the Los Angeles area, August 2026. The drain pump worked. Something was in its way.
In this guide
The error
A Bosch dishwasher was taking too long to drain, and it stopped with an error. The obvious suspect is the drain pump. On this dishwasher the pump turned out to be fine.
What was in the way
A piece of glass and other debris were blocking the drain. Cleaning it out fixed the problem. No part was replaced.
What the photo shows
The white plastic part in my glove, in the photo at the top of this page, came out of the dishwasher’s drain path. A sliver of glass sits right in its opening, and hair and gunk are wrapped around its base. That’s the blockage.
Why a good pump can still throw a drain error
The dishwasher can’t see its pump. It can only tell that the water isn’t leaving in the time it expects. A worn pump, a kinked hose, a clogged filter or a blockage like this one all look the same from the control’s side, so the error alone doesn’t tell you which part to buy.
On Bosch dishwashers, drain trouble shows up as codes such as E24 or E25. Bosch describes E24 as a drain problem, often a blocked filter or a kinked hose, and E25 as a blocked pump or a loose pump cover. Our page on Bosch error E24 has the steps for that code.
What you can check, carefully
Turn the dishwasher off and unplug it, or switch off its breaker. Take out the filters at the bottom of the tub and rinse them.
Under the filters sits the pump cover. Bosch’s own instructions for E25 have you pry it up with a spoon until it clicks, lift it out and remove any debris and standing water. Bosch also warns that some of that debris may be sharp. Wear gloves, especially if you know a glass broke in there.
Put the cover back so it clicks into place, and refit the filters. A loose pump cover is one of the causes Bosch lists for E25. If the dishwasher drains into a garbage disposal, run the disposal before you try again.
If it still won’t drain, or you’d rather not reach in where the glass went, that’s the point to call. We can check the pump, the drain hose and the drain connection without guessing at parts.
Bosch dishwasher repair in Los Angeles
We repair Bosch dishwashers across the Westside, Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley. The $85 service call is credited toward the repair if you go ahead, and repairs carry a 30-day labor and 90-day parts warranty. CA BEAR registered (#A 50636). Book a dishwasher repair or call (213) 205-2055.
FAQ
Does a drain error on a Bosch dishwasher mean the pump is bad?
Not necessarily. On this Bosch the drain pump worked fine. A piece of glass and debris were blocking the drain, and cleaning them out fixed it without any new parts.
Where does broken glass end up in a dishwasher?
Small pieces get past the racks and collect at the bottom of the tub, in the filters and the drain path below them. Bosch's own instructions for clearing a blocked pump warn that the debris may be sharp, so wear gloves.
How do I clear the drain on a Bosch dishwasher myself?
Turn the dishwasher off and unplug it. Take out the filters and rinse them. Bosch's instructions then have you pry up the pump cover under the filters with a spoon, lift it out and remove any debris. Wear gloves, since some of it may be sharp, and make sure the cover clicks back into place.
What's the difference between Bosch E24 and E25?
Bosch describes E24 as a drain problem, usually a blocked filter or a kinked drain hose, and E25 as a blocked drain pump or a pump cover that's loose. Both can come from the same handful of debris.
Do you repair Bosch dishwashers in Los Angeles?
Yes, across the Westside, Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley. The $85 service call is credited toward the repair if you go ahead, and repairs carry a 30-day labor and 90-day parts warranty.
Got an appliance that needs fixing? We cover LA and the Valley.
Call (213) 205-2055 or text a photo of your appliance.