What’s Your Dishwasher Trying to Tell You? A Guide to Common Error Codes
A dishwasher error code tells you which system failed the machine's own check, and most codes fall into five families: draining, water supply, leaks, heating, and motor or control faults. Find your brand's code below, try the first steps for that family, and call a technician if the code returns or points to a leak, the heater or the motor.
Every meaning in this guide comes from the manufacturer's own support pages. Codes differ between brands and even between models, so confirm yours against your owner's manual or the brand's site.
How do you read your dishwasher's error code?
Most dishwashers with a digital display show the code as letters and numbers, such as E24 on a Bosch or 5C on a Samsung. Write it down before you reset anything, since a reset can clear it.
Whirlpool and KitchenAid models without a display use flashing lights. Whirlpool says a flashing Clean light is usually an error code. Count the first set of rapid flashes for the Function (F) number, wait for the short pause of about 1 to 2 seconds, then count the second set for the Error (E) number. Seven flashes, a pause, then one flash is F7E1. Samsung notes that some of its models also use flashing lights instead of a digital code.
Manufacturers stress that codes vary by model. GE says plainly that not all codes are found on all models, so treat the tables below as a starting point.
What do the most common codes mean?
Bosch
| Code | What Bosch says it means |
|---|---|
| E15 | Water detected in the base; the leakage protection system has activated |
| E18 | Water level too low, or water is not being pumped correctly |
| E22 | Filter is blocked |
| E24 | Not draining properly because the drain filter is blocked |
| E25 | Drain pump is blocked, or the pump cover is loose or missing |
E24 and E25 have their own walkthrough in our post on Bosch dishwasher E24 and E25 errors.
Samsung
| Code | What Samsung says it means |
|---|---|
| 4C / 4E | Not getting water at the pressure or temperature it needs |
| 5C / 5E (also SC / SE) | The dishwasher can't drain |
| LC / LE | The leak sensor detects moisture |
| OC / 0C / oE | More water in the dishwasher than there should be |
| HE | Heater error; temperature inside is being detected incorrectly |
LG
| Code | What LG says it means |
|---|---|
| IE | The specified amount of water is not supplied to the tub |
| OE | The tub is not fully drained |
| AE / E1 | A leak inside the dishwasher has activated the float switch |
| FE | Water supply exceeds the standard amount (overfilling) |
| HE | Water supplied to the dishwasher is not being heated |
| LE | Issue with the cleaning motor (not a leak code on LG) |
| bE | Bubble error, usually from the wrong detergent |
Whirlpool and KitchenAid
| Code | What Whirlpool and KitchenAid say it means |
|---|---|
| F9E1 | Long drain; not draining |
| F8E4 | Water detected in the drip tray |
| H20 | Not detecting water |
| F7E2 | Wash motor error |
| F6E1 | User interface error, main control |
GE
| Code | What GE says it means |
|---|---|
| C1 | Pump-out during drain has exceeded 2 minutes |
| C3 / FTD / F56 | Will not drain; failure to drain |
| H2O | Low water situation |
| C6 | Incoming water temperature is too low |
| LEAK DETECTED / 999 | Possible leak (999 means a leak on models with Floor Protect; on others, the control needs a reset) |
| PF | There has been a power failure |
What should you try first for each type of code?
Drain codes (Bosch E22, E24, E25; Samsung 5C; LG OE; Whirlpool F9E1; GE C1, C3)
- Remove the filter and clean it under running water with a soft brush.
- Check the drain hose under the sink for kinks or a crushed section.
- If the hose connects to a garbage disposal, run the disposal. On a newly installed dishwasher, Whirlpool and Bosch both say to confirm the knockout plug was removed from the disposal's dishwasher inlet.
- If your sink has an air gap, GE recommends cleaning it.
- Look for heavy suds. Whirlpool says to use only automatic dishwasher detergent, never hand dish soap.
Water supply codes (Samsung 4C; LG IE; Bosch E18; Whirlpool H20; GE H2O)
Confirm the water shutoff valve under the sink is fully open and the inlet hose is not kinked behind the machine; LG, GE and Bosch list one or both of these checks for their water supply codes. If someone recently worked on the plumbing, the valve may have been left partly closed.
Leak and overfill codes (Bosch E15; Samsung LC, OC; LG AE, FE; Whirlpool F8E4; GE LEAK DETECTED)
Turn off the water supply to the dishwasher first; Bosch's E15 instructions and Whirlpool's F8E4 instructions both start there. After that, brands differ: Whirlpool's F8E4 guidance for installed units says not to turn off the power and to keep the door closed, while LG's AE guide has you switch power off before drying the base pan. Follow your brand's page.
Common triggers that manufacturers list include hand dish soap creating excess suds, a unit that is not level, and food buildup on the door gasket. If water has reached an outlet, cord or wiring, shut off the breaker and call a technician rather than drying it out yourself.
Heating codes (Samsung HE; LG HE; GE C6)
GE says water entering the dishwasher should be at least 120°F, and recommends running the kitchen faucet until the water is hot before starting a cycle. Samsung suggests emptying the dishwasher, adding detergent and running a normal cycle; if HE returns, turn the power off at the breaker and request service. LG lists its HE code as needing professional service. Testing the heater and temperature sensor means removing panels and taking electrical measurements, so that part is technician work.
Motor, control and power codes (LG LE; Whirlpool F7E2, F6E1; GE PF, and 999 on models without Floor Protect)
Try one power reset: switch the dishwasher's breaker off for about 30 seconds, then back on. On GE, a PF code only means power was interrupted; select a cycle and press Start. If a motor or control code returns after a reset, LG and Whirlpool both point you to service. On GE models with Floor Protect, 999 is a leak alert: treat it like the leak codes above and call for service.
Example: Say a Bosch dishwasher shows E24 and leaves water in the tub. The first steps are cleaning the filter and checking the drain hose under the sink for a kink. If the dishwasher was just installed and drains into a garbage disposal, the knockout plug in the disposal's inlet is a likely cause; if the code comes back after those checks, the drain pump needs a technician.
When should you call a technician?
Call for service when:
- The same code returns after you have done the first steps for its family
- Any leak code appears with water under or in front of the dishwasher
- The code points to the heater, a temperature sensor, the wash motor or the control board
- The breaker trips, you smell burning, or the dishwasher keeps running and will not shut off
Appliance Surgeon's diagnostic visit is $75, credited toward the repair if you approve the written quote, and we are open Monday through Saturday 8 AM to 10 PM and Sunday 10 AM to 10 PM with no evening or weekend surcharge. See dishwasher repair for details, or check typical prices in our appliance repair cost guide.
Sources
- bosch-home.com: Bosch E15, E18, E22, E24, E25 meanings and first steps
- bosch-home.com: Bosch E24: drain filter blocked; check pump cover and disposal knockout plug
- bosch-home.com: Bosch E15: water in base, leakage protection activated; turn off water inflow and contact support
- samsung.com: Samsung 4C/4E, 5C/5E, LC/LE, OC/0C/oE, HE meanings and steps; some models use flashing lights
- lg.com: LG IE, OE, AE/E1/FE, HE, LE, bE meanings; HE and LE need professional service
- lg.com: LG AE/E1: leak activating the float switch; level, door gasket, detergent, dry the drain pan with power off
- producthelp.whirlpool.com: Whirlpool F/E flash-counting method, flashing Clean light, F9E1, F8E4, H20, F7E2, F6E1; codes vary by model
- producthelp.kitchenaid.com: KitchenAid uses the same F/E method and the same five codes
- producthelp.whirlpool.com: F9E1 steps: clean filter, check hose, disposal knockout plug, 30-second power reset, use only dishwasher detergent
- producthelp.whirlpool.com: F8E4 steps: turn off water supply, do not turn off power, keep door closed (installed units); suds from dish soap
- products.geappliances.com: GE C1, C3, FTD/F56, H2O, C6 (120°F, run faucet first), LEAK DETECTED, 999, PF; not all codes on all models
More guides from our technicians
Dishwasher Leaking From the Bottom of the Door? 6 Causes
A puddle in front of the dishwasher mid-cycle: gasket, detergent suds, spray arm, float switch, pump seal or a cracked tub, and how to narrow it down.
Dishwasher Leaves Dishes Wet? Why Drying Fails and What Helps
Wet dishes at the end of the cycle come down to rinse aid, drying method, and a few fixable faults. What to change tonight and when it is a repair call.
Dishwasher Not Cleaning Dishes? 7 Fixes Before You Call
Dishes coming out gritty, greasy or spotted? Work through spray arms, filters, water temperature, detergent and loading before booking dishwasher repair.