The short answer: E15 means water reached the base tray and floated the anti-flood switch, so the machine stopped to prevent a leak; the owner fix is to unplug it, drain the tray, and let it dry. E24 means the tub is not draining; the owner fix is to clean the filter, straighten the hose, and clear the disposal knockout. Either code that returns after the fix names deeper hardware, a leak on E15 or the drain pump on E24, and needs a technician. Here is each one, step by step, before booking on North Fulton.
E15 and E24 Are Opposite Problems
It helps to see these two codes as mirror images. E15 is about water being where it should not be: it has escaped into the base tray under the tub, tripped a float switch, and the machine has halted to stop a flood. E24 is about water not going where it should: the wash water is stuck in the tub because the drain path is blocked. One is a leak, the other is a clog. That difference decides everything about how you handle them, because the E15 fix is about drying the base and finding a leak, while the E24 fix is about clearing a blockage in the drain.
E15 vs E24 at a Glance
This table sets the two codes side by side so you can confirm which problem you have before you start.
| Code | System | What It Means | Owner Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| E15 | Anti-flood tray | Water reached the base and floated the safety switch, so the machine halted | Unplug, drain the base tray, let it dry, then restart |
| E24 | Drain blockage | Wash water is stuck in the tub because the drain path is clogged | Clean the filter, straighten the hose, clear the knockout, reset |
| E15 returns | Leak source | Water keeps arriving at the base from a hose, seal, or pump | Stop running it; a technician finds and fixes the leak |
| E24 returns | Drain pump | The blockage is deeper than the filter, in the pump or an inner hose | None; the drain pump needs testing by a technician |
The top two rows are the owner fixes that clear most Johns Creek calls. The bottom two are the signal that the code has moved past a simple clog or overflow into hardware, and that is the point to book.
Working an E15 Step by Step
Start by cutting power, because you are going to reach into the base of the machine: unplug the dishwasher or switch off its breaker. Pull the dishwasher out from the cabinet enough to work around it, lay towels down, and gently tip the machine back so the standing water in the base tray runs out toward the front where you can catch it. Let the base dry completely, which can take a couple of hours, since a bit of leftover water will trip the float again. Restore power and run a short cycle while you watch the floor. If E15 stays gone, it was a one-off overflow. If it comes back, water is still finding the base from a leak, and that is a technician job.
The anti-flood system exists to stop a small leak becoming a flooded kitchen, so a repeating E15 is it doing its job. If the code returns after you have dried the base, the leak is still active somewhere in a hose, a door seal, or the pump, and every cycle you run pushes more water toward the base, the cabinet, and the subfloor. Leave the dishwasher off, mop up what you can reach, and book a technician to find the source. Resetting past a repeat E15 is the one thing not to do.
Working an E24 Step by Step
E24 is a drain clog, so you work the drain path from the easiest point outward. First, if there is standing water in the tub, scoop it out so you can reach the base. Unscrew the filter assembly at the bottom of the tub, lift it out, and rinse it under the tap, clearing any food, glass, or debris from the sump beneath it. Next, check the drain hose behind the machine for a kink or a crush against the cabinet, and if the hose connects to a garbage disposal, confirm the knockout plug was removed at installation and the port is clear. Reseat the filter, run a short cycle, and watch that the water drains away. If E24 returns after all that, the blockage sits deeper in the drain pump, and it needs a technician.
When the Code Needs a Technician
Both codes cross into technician territory the moment they return after a clean owner fix. On a repeating E15, the work is finding the leak, which can be a split hose, a failed door seal, a cracked sump, or a leaking pump, and confirming the base is dry and the float works before returning the machine to service. On a repeating E24, the work is clearing or replacing the drain pump and checking the inner drain hose that an owner cannot reach. In both cases we test the anti-flood float and the drain circuit, confirm there is no remaining leak, and match any replacement to your exact Bosch model so the repair holds.
When to Book
Draining the base on an E15, and clearing the filter, hose, and knockout on an E24, are the reasonable owner steps. Book a technician when E15 returns after you dry the base, when E24 returns after the filter and hose are clear, when there is water on the floor, or any time you are not comfortable pulling the machine out. Leaks and drain-pump blockages need proper diagnosis rather than guesswork. We fit model-specific Bosch Genuine OEM Parts selected to your model, and every repair we complete in Johns Creek carries our Completed repairs include a 180-day repair warranty. Written terms are provided with the repair. Diagnostic and travel fees, if applicable, are confirmed before the appointment and before repair approval.