ANY MAKEDISHWASHER

Any make · Dishwasher

E6 error code on a dishwasher

Water heating fault

The dishwasher can't heat the water, typically because the heating element has failed.

Also shown as E06

Worth repairing?

Get a quote first

Worth fixing on a machine under about seven years old. Older than that, the bill starts to rival a decent new dishwasher.

Can you do it yourself?

Engineer only

Not recommended

Before you start

  • Unplug it before you touch anything inside.

What to do

  1. Look at the dishes

    Cold, greasy dishes alongside this code confirm it.

When to call an engineer

The element needs inspecting and usually replacing. That's mains wiring inside a wet appliance, so unless you're confident, hand it to an engineer.

A repair visit will usually check the heating element, its temperature sensor and the wiring back to the control board.

Before you book
  • Note the model and serial number. They're on a label on the edge of the door or the side of the tub.
  • Write down the exact code, and what the appliance was doing when it appeared.
  • Check whether it's still under warranty. If it is, the repair may cost you nothing.

Parts people end up buying

Only if the checks above point to a part. Match it to your model number first: it's on a label on the edge of the door or the side of the tub.

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About this code

Unbranded and less common appliances don't publish one shared code list, so this page gives the most common meaning across makers. Your manual is the final word, and the model number that finds it is on a label on the edge of the door or the side of the tub.

Last reviewed September 2026.

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