E22 means the dishwasher’s filter is blocked, stopping water from draining out properly. A clogged or dirty filter lets dirty water collect in the sump instead of flowing out through the drain hose — cleaning the filter resolves it in the large majority of cases.
What E22 means
Bosch dishwashers use a self-cleaning filter system at the bottom of the tub. When it clogs with food particles, grease or debris, water cannot pass through fast enough during the drain phase, and the machine reports E22 rather than run a cycle it cannot properly clear.
How to fix it
- Locate and remove the filter
Check your owner’s manual for the exact release mechanism — most Bosch models use a twist-and-lift filter assembly at the bottom of the tub.
- Clean it thoroughly
Wash it under running water with mild soap and a soft brush to remove debris from both the mesh and the surrounding housing, then reinstall it firmly.
- Run a test cycle
Start a normal cycle and confirm the code has cleared.
The blockage may be in the drain hose or drain pump rather than the filter itself. Check the hose for kinks and, if you are comfortable doing so, inspect the pump for an obstruction.
Keeping it from coming back
Clean the filter every three to six months as routine maintenance rather than only after a fault appears — scrape large food debris off plates before loading, and this interval will keep E22 from recurring.
When to call a professional
If the filter is clean but E22 persists, have a technician check the drain hose and drain pump for a deeper blockage.
Stop and call a qualified appliance technician or electrician if you find scorched or melted wiring, smell burning, see water that has reached electrical components, or if the fault returns immediately after a repair. Never bypass a safety device — thermal fuses, door interlocks and flood switches fail for a reason, and defeating one converts a broken appliance into a fire or flood risk.
