Bosch Washer No Drain (E18 / F18): Fast, Safe Troubleshooting

Bosch Washer No Drain (E18 / F18): Fast, Safe Troubleshooting

Quick Answer
E18 / F18 usually means your Bosch washer can’t move water out fast enough. The highest-probability fixes are: remove kinks/blockages in the drain hose, then clean the drain pump filter and verify the pump impeller spins freely. Unplug first and let hot wash water cool before draining through the service flap. After cleaning, run Drain/Empty and check for leaks.

Problem Overview
• What you’re seeing: water left in the drum, cycle stalls near drain/spin, and E18 or F18 displays.
• What it means in plain English: the washer timed out while trying to drain, or it detected a blockage in the drain path (hose, pump, filter area).
• The “most common” cause: debris in the pump filter area (coins, hairpins, lint clumps) or a kinked drain hose.

Safety First
• Turn the program to OFF and unplug the washer before opening the service flap or touching hoses.
• If the cycle ran hot, assume the water is hot. Let it cool before you drain it.
• Expect water. Use a shallow tray and towels.

Tools and Supplies
• Towels and a shallow pan or tray
• A small container or bucket for draining
• Gloves (optional, but useful for debris)
• A flashlight

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting

1. Stop the cycle and do a controlled drain (service flap)
   Why it matters: You can’t safely access the pump cover/filter with a full drum, and uncontrolled draining makes a mess and increases slip risk.
   Checks:
   • Set the washer to OFF.
   • Unplug the power cord.
   • Open the lower service flap and use the drain tube (with its sealing cap) to drain into a tray/container.
   What the result means:
   • If water drains smoothly from the small tube, your tub is now safe to work on.
   Next action:
   • Move to the drain hose and pump checks below.
   Stop and call a technician:
   • If you see water in places it should never be (base pan flooding or water actively leaking from the cabinet seams), stop.
2. Check the drain hose for the simple killers: kinks, crush points, bad routing
   Why it matters: A kinked hose can fully block flow even if the pump is fine. This is common after pushing the washer back into place.
   Checks:
   • Pull the washer forward slightly and inspect the entire drain hose path.
   • Look for: sharp bends, crushing behind the unit, or the hose shoved too deeply into a standpipe.
   What the result means:
   • A visible kink or crush is enough to trigger E18/F18 and “no drain.”
   Next action:
   • Straighten the hose and reroute it so it has a smooth curve (no tight bend). Then run Drain/Empty.
   Stop and call a technician:
   • If the drain connection is hard-plumbed and you’re not confident disconnecting it without flooding, stop.
3. Clear the drain hose connection point (standpipe or siphon spigot)
   Why it matters: The washer can drain perfectly, but a blocked standpipe or siphon connection will act like a “wall,” backing water up instantly.
   Checks:
   • If your hose goes to a sink siphon/spigot: disconnect at the spigot and check the spigot opening for sludge buildup.
   • If your hose goes to a standpipe: confirm the standpipe itself isn’t clogged (a slow household drain can mimic a washer failure).
   What the result means:
   • If you find gunk or restriction at the connection, clearing it can solve the issue without touching the pump.
   Next action:
   • Reconnect tightly, then run Drain/Empty. Watch for leaks at the connection.
   Stop and call a technician:
   • If you see signs of a plumbing blockage beyond the washer (multiple drains backing up), this is a plumbing problem, not a washer problem.
4. Clean the drain pump filter / pump cover area (the main fix)
   Why it matters: Bosch’s own guidance for E18/F18 includes cleaning the pump area, because small objects collect here by design and can jam the pump.
   Checks:
   • With the washer unplugged and drained, open the service flap.
   • Slowly unscrew the pump cover/filter (water may still spill).
   • Remove debris from: the cover threads, the pump housing, and the cavity behind the cover.
   • Verify the pump impeller can rotate freely.
   What the result means:
   • If the impeller was jammed, freeing it often immediately restores draining.
   • If the filter area was packed with debris, expect a big improvement after cleaning.
   Next action:
   • Refit the pump cover/filter and tighten firmly (do not cross-thread). Then run Drain/Empty.
   Stop and call a technician:
   • If the cover won’t seat correctly, the threads feel damaged, or you can’t reinstall it without leaking, stop. A mis-seated cover can cause major leaks.
5. Confirm the pump cover is properly seated and leak-tested
   Why it matters: A loose or misaligned cover can leak and can also cause poor pump performance.
   Checks:
   • Visually confirm the cover is fully seated and tightened.
   • After reassembly, perform a controlled check: pour about 1 litre of water into the detergent drawer/compartment and run Drain/Empty while watching the service flap area.
   What the result means:
   • No leaks and strong draining suggests the fix is complete.
   • Leaking at the cover suggests a sealing/seat issue that must be corrected before normal use.
   Next action:
   • If it leaks, stop, drain again, reseat the cover, and retry.
   Stop and call a technician:
   • If it still leaks after reseating, do not run full cycles.
6. Run a Drain/Empty test with an empty drum
   Why it matters: You want a clean, repeatable test without laundry variables.
   Checks:
   • Select Drain/Empty (or a drain program) and start it.
   • Listen for the pump: a steady pump sound plus visible water discharge at the drain is the goal.
   What the result means:
   • Strong discharge and no error: the problem was blockage/routing and is resolved.
   • Pump runs but weak/no discharge: likely a remaining restriction in the drain path or pump performance issue.
   Next action:
   • Recheck Steps 2–5 once. If unchanged, move to “When to Call a Technician.”
   Stop and call a technician:
   • If you hear harsh grinding, repeated clicking, or the pump sounds strained and nothing moves, stop the test.
7. If E18/F18 shows but the unit is not draining AND it also won’t fill normally
   Why it matters: Some Bosch documentation mentions E18 can be linked to restrictions not only in draining but also water flow into the machine on certain models/regions.
   Checks:
   • Confirm the water supply valves are fully open.
   • Confirm inlet hoses are not kinked.
   What the result means:
   • If both fill and drain are abnormal, you may have a broader flow/pressure or sensing issue.
   Next action:
   • At that point, professional diagnosis is the efficient path.

When to Call a Technician
• You cleaned the pump/filter and verified the impeller rotates, but the washer still won’t drain or E18/F18 returns immediately.
• The pump sounds abnormal (grinding) or runs without moving water.
• You cannot reseat the pump cover without leaking.
• You see signs of internal leakage or water collecting under the washer that is not explained by the service flap drain.

Key Takeaways
• E18/F18 is most often solved by: fix drain hose routing, then clean the pump filter area and confirm the impeller spins.
• Always unplug first, and treat drain water as hot unless proven otherwise.
• A quick leak check after reassembly prevents bigger damage later.

FAQs

1. What does E18 or F18 mean on Bosch washers?
   It typically indicates a drain-time or drain-path problem. The washer isn’t moving water out as expected.
2. What’s the most common fix for E18/F18 no drain?
   Clean the drain pump filter/pump cover area and remove debris. Then confirm the drain hose is not kinked.
3. Is it safe to open the pump cover with water inside?
   Not safely. Drain the washer first through the service flap drain tube, and let hot water cool down.
4. Why does it drain sometimes and fail other times?
   Intermittent blockages are common (small items shift and re-jam the impeller). A partially kinked hose can also behave intermittently.
5. I cleaned the filter but it still won’t drain. What next?
   Recheck the drain hose routing and the connection point (standpipe/siphon spigot). If those are clear, the pump may not be performing correctly.
6. Should I keep retrying cycles to “force it through”?
   No. Repeated retries can overheat or stress the pump and can create avoidable leaks. Fix the restriction first, then test with Drain/Empty.