What E:22 Means
E:22 is raised when water is sitting in the sump when the machine expects it to be empty, and Bosch's three-step response tells the whole story: drain the sump, clean both the fine screen and the coarse multi-filter above it, then find out why water collected in the first place so it does not happen again. Blocked filters are the everyday cause, which is why the filter clean is step two.
Common Causes of E:22
- Fine filter screen blinded with grease and food residue
- Coarse multi-filter packed with debris
- Slow leak elsewhere in the machine collecting in the sump
🔧 One Safe Check You Can Try
Twist out the filter assembly by hand, tap the coarse trap out over a bin and rinse the fine screen under a running tap until the mesh is clear when held to the light. Refit it so the arrows on the ring and the filter line up, and run a hot rinse programme.
⚠ Why You Shouldn't Go Further Than That
- Bosch's third step is the one people skip: if the water is arriving from a leak rather than a blockage, cleaning the filters hides it for a fortnight.
- A filter refitted a quarter turn short unseats during the wash and lets debris straight into the pump.
- Water standing in a sump long enough to be noticed has usually also been standing against the door seal, which is where the smell starts.
- Anything beyond the filters means working underneath the tub, next to the pump wiring, on a machine fixed to the cabinetry.
Opening a panel to inspect or repair something yourself doesn't automatically cancel your manufacturer's warranty — but it can risk accidental damage, and some manufacturers do have specific service conditions. Check your product's warranty terms, or ask us, before deciding.