Bosch 800 E15: Aqua-Stop Water Tray Fix (2026)

Quick answer: The Bosch dishwasher E15 code (SHX, SHP, SHE 800-series) means the float in the base pan has tripped and the Aqua-Stop logic has locked the machine down. Most Bosch dishwasher E15 codes are not real leaks — they are condensation from a failed sump grommet or a hairline crack at the drain elbow. Here is the full diagnosis for a Bosch dishwasher E15 that keeps coming back after the tray has been dried.

E15 on a Bosch SHX, SHP, or SHE 800-series dishwasher means the float in the base pan has tripped — the Aqua-Stop logic believes the machine is leaking and refuses to run. The diagnostic isn't always the obvious leak; many E15s are condensation from a failed sump grommet, a hairline crack at the spray-arm bearing, or a soaked insulation blanket that hasn't dried.

Symptoms you'll see

• E15 displays and the dishwasher won't start
• Water visible in the base pan when you tilt the unit
• Drain pump runs continuously even with door open
• Door latch beep but no spray action
• Recurring E15 after each drying cycle (condensation trap)

Root causes

• Sump-body crack. The plastic sump cracks at the spray-arm bearing seat; tiny weep over weeks soaks the base.
• Failed pump-housing seal. Drain pump O-ring degrades and pushes water under the tub each cycle.
• Door gasket water track. Vent fan failure routes condensation down inside the door and into the pan.
• Inlet hose Aqua-Stop solenoid. The hose-end solenoid leaks internally and dribbles into the base when the inlet is pressurized.

Diagnostic steps

1. Pull the dishwasher and lay it on its back 6 hours to dry; restart and see if E15 clears.
2. Inspect the spray-arm bearing seat from below for crystallized dish-detergent residue (a leak signature).
3. Run a drain-only cycle with no water inlet — recurring E15 = sump or insulation, not inlet.
4. Pressure-test the inlet hose with the dishwasher disconnected; replace the Aqua-Stop hose if it weeps.

Cost in 2026

Base pan dry + insulation swap: $245–$315. Sump body replacement: $385–$485. Aqua-Stop inlet hose: $215–$285.

Twin Cities note

In Wayzata, Edina, and Eden Prairie kitchens with stone tops, we see E15 most often after a counter refinish where the unit was tipped — that's enough to chase a hairline sump crack into a slow weep.

When to call us

If the symptom doesn't clear after the steps above, book online or call (612) 456-7890. We carry the most-common parts for this fault on the truck and most repairs complete same-visit.

Frequently asked questions

Can I disable the float?

Don't. The float is what keeps a slow leak from soaking the subfloor for a month.

Is the base pan always dry on a healthy machine?

Yes. Any standing water in the pan after a cycle is abnormal on a Bosch 800.

Does E15 always mean a part replacement?

No — about 30% of the time it's pan dry-out plus insulation, no part. The rest need a sump or seal.

Related guides

• Bosch dishwasher repair
• Dishwasher leaking
• Bosch appliance repair

Extended diagnosis and safety notes

Kill the breaker, pull the machine, and tip it back 45 degrees onto the rear feet. Water will run out of the base pan; catch it in a shallow tray. Now stand the unit up, remove the toe kick, and shine a light at the float — a black foam block on a plastic post at the front left of the pan. If the float is stuck up, the pan needs a full dry-out (24 hours with a fan) before the code will clear.

To find the source, run the machine with the toe kick off and watch. Nine times out of ten the drip is at the black rubber sump grommet on the underside of the tub, or at the elbow where the drain hose clamps to the sump. Both are $18 parts. If the drip is at a corrosion pit in the stainless tub itself, the machine is done — that is a replacement, not a repair, on any Bosch dishwasher over eight years old.

When to stop and call

Do not defeat the float by taping it down. The Aqua-Stop hose contains a 120V solenoid; if it fails while bypassed, the machine will overflow across the kitchen floor. Central Minnesota Appliance Repair stocks Bosch sump grommets, drain elbow kits, and Aqua-Stop hose assemblies on every truck.

Cost expectations

Grommet or elbow reseal: $175-$220. Aqua-Stop hose replacement: $260-$320. Base pan + float assembly: $310-$395. See our Twin Cities Bosch cost guide.

Twin Cities service coverage

Central Minnesota Appliance Repair services this fault same-day across Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Edina, Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Woodbury, Blaine, Burnsville, Apple Valley, and the surrounding suburbs. Our $149 diagnostic trip fee is applied 100% toward the repair when you approve the quote at the door, and every repair is backed by a one-year parts-and-labor warranty on the components we install. We stock the OEM parts named above on our trucks so most jobs finish in a single visit — no parts-order return trip and no downtime waiting on shipping. Book online at /schedule-service or call the number at the top of the page to lock in a two-hour arrival window.