Bosch E25 on a dishwasher
Drain pump blocked or faulty.
The same code appears on Neff and Siemens machines — they share the same control platform.
DIY-able with care
Involves dismantling or a part swap — confident DIYers only
About 40 min to work through
Free to £160
DIY: Up to £40 in parts
What E25 actually means
Where E24 says the water did not leave, E25 points specifically at the pump itself — either something is jamming the impeller or the pump is not running. Glass fragments and fruit stones are the usual offenders, and both are reachable once the filters are out.
Before you start
Electrical safety: Unplug the machine before reaching into the sump — you will be touching the impeller.
Sharp objects: Broken glass is the most common thing found jamming a dishwasher drain pump. Wear gloves and look before you reach.
What causes it, most likely first
Object jamming the impeller
Most likelyA shard of glass, an olive stone or a piece of eggshell wedges against the impeller and stalls it. Usually accompanied by a brief buzz from the pump and then silence.
How to check: Remove the filters and the small pump cover in the sump floor, then turn the impeller with a finger. It should spin freely.
Debris built up in the pump housing
CommonFine grit that passes the filter accumulates in the housing and eventually loads the pump beyond what it can turn.
Failed drain pump
OccasionalThe pump motor itself goes open circuit or seizes. A pump that is silent with the impeller free has usually failed electrically.
Drain pump£15–£40 for the partEngineer
How to fix it, step by step
Isolate and bail out the water
Unplug the machine and scoop the standing water out of the sump with a cup and sponge.
10 minCup, SpongeRemove the filters and the pump cover
Twist out the filter stack. Under it, in the floor of the sump, is a small cover — usually a quarter-turn clip or a single screw. Lift it off to expose the impeller.
10 minScrewdriver, Gloves, TorchClear the impeller
Turn the impeller gently with a finger. Remove anything wedging it, checking carefully for glass. Once clear it should spin with only light resistance.
10 minGlovesReassemble and test
Refit the cover and the filter stack, making sure the filter locks in with a positive twist. Restore power and run a rinse programme, listening for the pump to run at the end.
10 min
Need an engineer for this E25?
We list 75 dishwasher repair businesses across the UK, 35 of which are Bosch-authorised. Diagnostic callouts typically start around £55, and many will put that towards the repair if you go ahead.
- 0800 037 4915London
- 01795 424 337SittingbourneSame day
- 01344 669700BracknellSame day
Parts you might need
Typical UK prices for the part alone, before fitting. Worth knowing before you accept a quote — the part is often a small share of what a repair is priced at.
Drain pump
Empties the dishwasher sump at the end of the cycle.
£15–£40
Worth repairing, or replace it?
At the top of this range the repair costs a significant share of a graded replacement, which typically starts around £190. Worth getting the quote first, then deciding — on a machine under about five years old a repair usually still wins.