Bosch Washer E47 Error — Inlet Valve Clogged Fix

What it means

Bosch washer E47 error means a faulty water inlet valve — Bosch's specific code for the inlet valve being clogged or failing.
Different from E29 in that E47 specifically points at the valve being obstructed (debris, limescale) rather than a complete electrical failure.

Affected Models

Bosch Serie 2 / Serie 4 / Serie 6 / Serie 8 washing machines
Bosch Logixx, Maxx, Classixx ranges (older naming)
Bosch WAW, WAT, WAY, WAQ model series
Bosch Varioperfect washers
Same codes appear on Siemens and Neff washers (shared platform)

Common Causes

Inlet hose mesh filter blocked (most common — easy fix)
Limescale build-up inside the inlet valve
Debris in the valve from old plumbing
Valve solenoid weakening (partial failure)
Low water pressure preventing valve from operating correctly

How to Fix It

Clean the inlet hose mesh filter.

Turn off the tap.
Unscrew the inlet hose from the back of the machine.
Inside the connection port is a small mesh filter.
Pull it out with pliers, rinse under running water, refit.
Years of use accumulate grit and limescale — this is the most common single E47 fix.
Check water pressure.

Make sure the tap is fully open.
Test pressure at other taps in the house — if all weak, the household supply is the issue and the valve struggles to operate.
Run a service / descale cycle.

Run a hot wash with descaling tablet to flush limescale through the inlet path.
In hard-water areas, scale build-up inside the valve itself can trigger E47 — descaling sometimes restores function.
Replace the inlet valve (technician).

If filter cleaning and descaling don't help, the valve assembly needs replacement.
Back panel off, valve out, new valve in.
Moderate technician work; £30-£50 for the part.

When to Call a Professional

Most E47 cases clear with cleaning the inlet hose filter — owner DIY.
If the filter is clean and E47 persists, the valve itself needs replacement (technician).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Bosch E29 and E47?

Both are inlet valve errors but at different stages.
E29 is the general 'faulty water inlet valve' code — total failure or no response from the valve.
E47 is the more specific 'inlet valve clogged or partly faulty' code — the valve responds but flow is restricted.
E47 is more often fixed by cleaning the inlet filter (since it's a flow issue, not a no-response issue); E29 more often needs a full valve replacement.
Try the filter clean first either way — it costs nothing and fixes a meaningful share of both codes.