How the leak protection works
At the bottom of the dishwasher there is a plastic base tray with a small polystyrene float. If water leaks inside the machine, it collects in this tray, the float rises and presses a switch. The dishwasher then shows E15, stops washing and runs the drain pump to protect your kitchen floor. On some models the pump keeps running until the tray is dry.
Common causes of E15
| Cause | Notes |
|---|---|
| Too much foam | Hand washing liquid or too much detergent creates foam that overflows. Very common. |
| Leaking pump or heat pump seal | Seals harden with age and limescale. |
| Cracked or loose internal hose | Water escapes inside the base. |
| Door seal or lower door gasket | Water runs down inside the door frame. |
| Water softener or brine container leak | Salt container cap missing or cracked. |
What you can do safely
- Switch off the dishwasher at the plug or isolator.
- Make sure only dishwasher tablets or powder are used, never hand washing liquid.
- Check the salt container cap is screwed on tightly.
- Leave the machine switched off for a day or two so the base tray can dry, then try a short program.
- If E15 returns, there is a real leak that needs repair.
Tilting the dishwasher to pour water out of the base hides the problem but doesn't fix it. If the leak is still there, it will return, and water may soak into your kitchen cabinets.
How we repair E15
Our technician removes the dishwasher from the cabinet if needed, opens the base, finds where the water is coming from and replaces the leaking seal, hose or component. We then dry the base, reset the float and run a test cycle while watching for leaks. The inspection is AED 75, and every part we install carries a 1-year warranty. Learn more on our dishwasher repair page.
