Bertazzoni Dishwashers E3 Error: Water heating fault
What Does E3 Mean on a Bertazzoni Dishwasher? Error code E3 means the dishwasher’s wash water failed to reach its programmed temperature setpoint within 90 minutes. Bertazzoni dishwashers — built on a proven Swedish-engineered platform — rely on a stainless heating element and an NTC thermistor working together to achieve precise wash temperatures. When the […]
Quick Assessment
Answer to continue safely
Is it safe to keep using?
Maybe. The dishwasher will complete cycles but without proper sanitization temperatures. This is a hygiene concern for households with vulnerable occupants. The dishwasher is not dangerous to operate, but dishes are not being properly cleaned until the fault is resolved.
Can I reset the code?
Yes. Cut power at the circuit breaker for 60 seconds and restart. If the incoming water supply is warm and the element is functional, the cycle may complete without retriggering E3. Persistent recurrence indicates a component fault.
When to stop immediately?
Stop if you notice: E3 appears on every cycle regardless of incoming water temperature, A burning or acrid smell comes from the base of the dishwasher during the heating phase.
Symptoms You May Notice
Dishes exit the cycle greasy and unsanitized
Because wash water never reached the correct temperature, detergent enzymes did not activate fully. Oily film and food residue remain on glassware and plates after a full cycle.
Drying performance is poor; dishes are wet at cycle end
Bertazzoni dishwashers use residual heat from hot rinse water to dry dishes. If the water never got hot, there is no stored heat to evaporate moisture, leaving dishes wet.
E3 code appears mid-cycle or at cycle end
The board logs E3 after the 90-minute heating timeout expires. On some models the code appears at the end of a cycle that technically completed but without proper temperature.
Possible Causes
Heating element burned out or open-circuit
The stainless-sheathed heating element at the base of the tub can fail over time, especially in hard-water areas where scale buildup causes localised hot spots. A failed element will read infinite resistance on a multimeter.
Requires ProfessionalThermistor/NTC sensor reading incorrectly
The NTC thermistor tells the control board the actual water temperature. If it drifts out of specification, the board may believe the water is already at setpoint when it is still cold — or vice versa, triggering E3 even if the element is working.
Requires ProfessionalCirculation pump not moving water over the element
The element heats water that flows past it via the circulation pump. If the pump is underperforming due to a partially blocked impeller, water sits largely stationary and the element cannot raise the bulk temperature fast enough to avoid the timeout.
Requires ProfessionalLow incoming water temperature in winter
In very cold climates, incoming water can be near freezing. If the water heater is undersized or the supply run is long and uninsulated, the dishwasher may genuinely struggle to reach setpoint within 90 minutes on the coldest cycles.
DIY PossibleSafe Checks You Can Do
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1
Run hot water at the kitchen tap first
Before starting a cycle, run the hot tap at the kitchen sink for 60–90 seconds until the water is genuinely hot to the touch. This purges the cold water from the supply line and gives the dishwasher a head start on heating.
This technique is especially valuable in winter or in homes where the dishwasher supply line runs a long distance from the water heater.
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2
Check water heater setpoint
Confirm your water heater is set to at least 49°C (120°F). Dishwashers rely on incoming hot water as a starting point; a water heater set too low makes the appliance's job significantly harder.
Settings below 49°C are also a legionella risk. If you can't locate the thermostat, contact your water heater manufacturer.
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3
Reset and run a high-temperature cycle
Power-cycle the dishwasher at the breaker for 60 seconds. Select the hottest available wash program (typically "Intensive" or "Sanitize") and run a full cycle while the incoming water is already hot from the tap flush.
If E3 does not recur on a high-temp cycle after the tap-flush, the fault was borderline incoming water temperature, not a component failure.
When to Call a Professional
Contact a qualified technician if:
- Fault returns consistently after confirming hot incoming water supply
- Heating element tests open-circuit with a multimeter (infinite resistance)
- Thermistor resistance at room temperature is far outside the 60 kΩ specification
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