Thermador Dishwasher Repair in Chicago

SAVA HVAC & Appliance Repair repairs Thermador dishwashers across Chicago and the North Shore — Star Sapphire, Sapphire and Emerald models, panel-ready and stainless. Thermador’s newer dishwashers dry with StarDry, which uses zeolite to draw moisture out of the tub, light the interior with Sapphire Glow, and use an adjustable Chef’s Tool Drawer as a third rack. Unlike many premium brands, Thermador publishes what its dishwasher error codes mean: E15 means the safety switch has found water in the base and leak protection has stopped the dishwasher, E24 means it is not draining because the drain filter is blocked, and E25 means the drain pump is blocked or its cover is loose or missing. A code tells us which system to test first, not which part to replace. Diagnosis is $79, credited toward the repair.

What goes wrong on a Thermador dishwasher — and what it usually means

Water in the base — E15

Thermador dishwashers sit on a base pan with a safety switch. When water reaches it, leak protection stops the dishwasher and the display shows E15 (E3100 on newer controls). The code tells us water got out; it does not tell us where from. The usual sources are the door seal, a hose connection, the pump or its seal, or the sump — and we find the source rather than simply drying the base, because the code will return if the leak is still there.

Not draining — E22, E23, E24 and E25

Thermador’s drain codes are specific: E22 is a blocked filter, E23 a drain pump that is blocked, clogged or faulty, E24 a drain problem caused by a blocked drain filter, and E25 a blocked drain pump or a pump cover that is loose or missing. Standing water without a code points to the same system, plus the drain hose, the air gap or the garbage disposal connection. We test the whole drain path before replacing the pump.

Not filling — E14, E16, E17 and E18

Fill codes point to the water coming in: E14 is a flow meter failure or an inflow problem, E16 and E17 are problems with water flowing into the dishwasher, and E18 means the water level is too low or water is not being pumped correctly. The cause can be the household supply to the dishwasher, the inlet valve, the flow meter, or the wash pump itself.

Not heating, or dishes still wet — heater and StarDry codes

On these dishwashers the heater is built into the wash pump, which Thermador’s codes call the heat pump — not a refrigeration heat pump. E04 is a heater electronics fault found in the self-test, E2030 a fault in the heat pump’s internal heater, and E12 limescale build-up in the heat pump, which hard water makes more likely. On StarDry models, the zeolite drying system has its own heater and fan, with their own codes: E2120 for the zeolite chamber heater and E2130 for the zeolite fan motor. Wet dishes without a code point to rinse temperature, the drying system, or how the dishwasher has been loaded.

Control, door and power codes

E0103 and E0107 are relay faults on the main control board, E0106 a fault in the wash arm diverter circuit, E0110 a communication failure between the electronics, E8000 a door sensor circuit fault, and E6900 a detergent dispenser circuit fault. E27 and E9001 mean the supply voltage reaching the dishwasher is too low — a house wiring or circuit problem as much as a dishwasher one, and something we check before replacing a board.

Dishes not coming clean

Poor results with no code usually trace to spray arms with blocked nozzles, a filter that needs attention, a wash pump losing pressure, water that is not reaching temperature, or a detergent dispenser that is not opening. A single blocked spray arm can spoil one rack while the other comes out clean.

Door, latch and panel alignment

Panel-ready Thermador dishwashers carry a custom cabinet door, and the hinges and springs carry that weight every time the door opens. A door that drops open, will not stay closed, or no longer sits flush usually needs hinge or spring work, or a latch that no longer engages.

Thermador dishwasher error codes

Thermador publishes these meanings on its own support site. Newer controls show four-digit codes; many have an older two-digit equivalent, shown together here. The meaning tells us which system to test, not which part has failed.

Thermador dishwashers we service

• Star Sapphire — including the DWHD870
• Sapphire — including the DWHD650 (J models) and DWHD660
• Emerald — including the DWHD650 (W models) and DWHD560
• Custom panel models — including the DWHD770 with StarDry and Sapphire Glow
• Panel-ready and stainless installations, with Home Connect Wi-Fi models

Repair or replace?

Most Thermador dishwasher failures are components — a drain pump, an inlet valve, a flow meter, a door seal, the wash pump with its heater, or a control board — and on a panel-ready installation, replacing the dishwasher also means fitting the custom panel to a new unit. That is why repair is usually the right call. Replacement starts to make sense when the tub is damaged, when water has reached the control electronics, or when several major parts are failing at once. We tell you which situation you are in before any work begins.

What to tell us when you call

The more you can describe, the better the chance we arrive with the right part on the truck. It helps to know:

1. The code exactly as it appears on the display
2. Whether water is standing in the tub, or has appeared on the floor
3. Your model and serial number — we can help you find them
4. Whether the dishwasher drains through a garbage disposal or an air gap
5. Whether it is panel-ready or stainless

Thermador dishwasher repair across Chicago and the North Shore

We service Thermador dishwashers across Chicago and the North Shore and northwest suburbs, including Evanston, Wilmette, Winnetka, Glencoe, Highland Park, Lake Forest, Deerfield, Northbrook, Glenview, Skokie, Lincolnwood and Park Ridge. Same-day service is often available when you call early.

Frequently Asked Questions