Bosch Dishwasher Error Code E30 — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Bosch dishwasher error E30 means the anti-flood protection system has activated — water has been detected in the drip tray at the base of the dishwasher. The machine has automatically shut down all operations to prevent water from leaking onto your floor. Do not restart the dishwasher until the source of the water has been identified and fixed.

Affected Models

Bosch 300 Series
Bosch 500 Series
Bosch 800 Series
Bosch SHPM88Z75N
Bosch SHXM88Z75N

Common Causes

The door seal has cracked or come away from its channel, allowing water to escape the tub and run down into the base
An internal hose — such as the inlet hose, recirculation hose, or drain hose — has developed a leak or come loose from its fitting
Too much detergent or the wrong type of detergent (e.g., regular washing-up liquid) has created excessive foam that overflowed into the base
The water inlet valve is stuck partially open and is overfilling the tub until water spills over into the base
The wash pump seal has worn out and is leaking water around the pump housing down into the base

How to Fix It

Stop the dishwasher immediately. Switch off the circuit breaker or unplug the machine from the wall. Do not attempt to restart it while E30 is active.

Running the dishwasher with water in the base risks short-circuiting the control board, motor, and other electrical components.
Tilt the machine carefully — raise the front by placing a folded towel under the front feet, or lean it backward slightly — to allow water pooled in the base to drain toward the front and out. Mop up all visible water.

Some models have a small hole at the front of the base for draining. Check your model's manual. Removing the water from the base resets the flood sensor.
Think back to the last cycle before E30 appeared. Did you use standard washing-up liquid, dishwasher pods that spilled outside the dispenser, or an unusually large amount of detergent? Excessive foam is the most common cause of E30 and leaves no visible damage.

If foam was the cause, run two empty rinse cycles after draining the base to flush residual detergent from the system.
Inspect the door seal carefully. Run your fingers all the way around the rubber gasket inside the door frame — feel for any cracks, tears, or sections that have pulled away from their groove. Also check the lower corners of the door seal, which are most prone to leaking.

A damaged door seal must be replaced — pressing it back into place is only a temporary fix. Replacement seals typically cost $15–$45.
Once the base is dry and the obvious causes are ruled out, restore power and run a short rinse cycle. Stay nearby and watch underneath the machine with a torch for any visible drips. If water reappears in the base or E30 returns, call a technician.

A technician can inspect all internal hoses, pump seals, and the inlet valve — these are not accessible without dismantling the machine.

When to Call a Professional

E30 means there is water where there should not be. This is a safety-critical error — internal leaks carry a risk of electrical damage and floor water damage. If you cannot identify an obvious cause such as wrong detergent, call a Bosch-certified technician before using the dishwasher again.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is E30 different from E15 on a Bosch dishwasher?

E15 and E30 are both flood protection errors and are very similar in cause and fix. E15 is the more commonly seen code on older Bosch models. E30 appears on newer models and some regional firmware versions. The investigation steps — drain the base, find the leak, fix the cause — are the same for both.

I used dish soap instead of dishwasher detergent. Could that cause E30?

Yes — this is one of the most common causes of E30. Regular dish soap creates far more foam than a dishwasher can handle. The foam overflows the tub and collects in the base, triggering the flood sensor. Always use detergent specifically made for dishwashers.

After I drained the base and the error cleared, do I need to do anything else?

Yes — even if E30 clears after draining, you must identify why the water got into the base. If it was detergent foam, switch to the correct product and the problem will not recur. If you cannot identify the cause, have a technician inspect the machine before using it again — an unresolved leak will return and may cause more damage.