Smeg Dishwasher Error Codes Explained

Smeg dishwashers report faults in two different ways depending on the model, and if you are on the wrong one you will not find your answer anywhere.

Newer machines show a code on a display. A great many Smeg dishwashers in Australian kitchens show nothing of the sort. They flash a pattern of indicator lights on the front panel, and that pattern is the code. National Appliance Repairs services Smeg appliances across five capitals.

If your machine has no display

Count the lights on the fascia from left to right, then note two things: which lights are flashing, and which are steadily lit.

On the common pattern, the fifth light stays lit while one or more of the first three flash. The combination identifies the fault number.

• First flashing, fifth lit
• Second flashing, fifth lit
• First and second flashing, fifth lit
• Third flashing, fifth lit
• First and third flashing, fifth lit
• Second and third flashing, fifth lit

Each is a different fault. Photograph the panel while it is doing it. A photo is worth more on the phone than any description, because “some lights are flashing” narrows nothing.

What the codes mean, and where sources disagree

Worth being straight about this. Smeg does not publish what its dishwasher codes mean in consumer documentation. Its own support guidance for E1 through E9 is to contact the service centre.

That leaves third-party tables, and they do not all agree. Where they converge, the interpretation is reliable. Where they conflict, we say so instead of picking one.

Code	Widely agreed meaning	Confidence
E3	Water not heating within the allowed time. Element, thermostat or wiring	Good
E4	Temperature sensor fault	Good
E5	Machine did not fill within the allowed time	Good
E6	Machine did not drain within the allowed time	Good
E7	Flow meter detected when not fitted. Reset required	Moderate
E1	Water-related. Sources split between flood protection activated and an inlet or overfill fault	Disputed
E2	Water-related. Sources split between safety pressure switch activated and insufficient water	Disputed
E9	Reported as closely related to E1 and E2	Low

If you have an E1 or an E2, do not order a part against a table you found online. Both readings point at the water circuit, but a flood protection trip and a fill fault lead to opposite investigations.

The four you can act on

E5, not filling. Work outward from the machine.

1. Check the isolation tap under the sink is fully open.
2. Check the inlet hose for kinks behind and under the cabinetry.
3. Check the inlet filter at the hose connection for grit and scale.
4. Check whether the rest of the house has normal water pressure.

E6, not draining. Standing water in the base is the giveaway.

1. Clean the filter assembly in the base of the tub.
2. Check the drain hose for kinks and blockages.
3. On a new installation, check the knockout in the waste spigot was actually punched through. This catches out more new builds than anyone expects.
4. Check the sink waste and disposal unit if the dishwasher drains into it.

Our guide to why dishwashers stop draining covers this in more detail.

E1 or E2 with water visible. Turn the water off at the tap and switch the machine off at the wall before anything else.

Any code after a detergent change. Too much detergent, or washing-up liquid used by mistake, creates foam that can confuse level sensors and trip water-related faults. Nothing is broken in that case.

The flood protection question

If your E1 turns out to be flood protection, the mechanism is the same one used across most premium dishwasher brands: a float in a shallow tray under the tub, a switch beneath it, and a control board that cuts the water supply and locks the machine when water reaches the tray.

Different manufacturers name it differently. Bosch calls it AquaStop and reports it as E15. Miele calls it the Waterproof System and reports it as F70. Fisher & Paykel calls it the flood switch and reports it as F30.

In every case the switch is working correctly and the question is where the water came from: a door seal, a hose clamp, a sump gasket, or detergent foam overflowing the tub.

When it needs a technician

Book on E3 and E4, which are heating and sensor faults with nothing to clean or reseat. Book on E5 or E6 that persists after the checks above. Book on any code accompanied by water on the floor, and on anything you cannot identify.

Smeg appliances are premium machines and they are worth repairing properly. Our dishwasher repair service covers Smeg across Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, with same-day appointments subject to availability, upfront quoting, and a 12-month parts warranty with a 3-month labour warranty.

Call:

• Melbourne 03 9123 0548
• Sydney 02 9621 5988
• Brisbane 07 3166 9770
• Adelaide 08 7123 4027 or,
• Perth 08 9470 4450.

Tell us the model number, and either the code or the light pattern. If your machine is still inside its Smeg warranty, contact Smeg first.

Preventing the common ones

• Clean the filter assembly regularly. It prevents E6 and improves wash results at the same time.
• Use dishwasher detergent at the recommended dose, never washing-up liquid.
• In hard water areas, keep rinse aid and salt topped up where the model uses them. Scale is what eventually kills heating elements, and our guide to Australian water and climate covers where that matters most.
• Scrape plates instead of pre-rinsing them, and check the spray arms spin freely.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my Smeg dishwasher flashing lights instead of showing a code?

Because many Smeg models report faults as an LED pattern instead of a displayed code. Note which lights flash and which stay lit, and photograph the panel.

What does E5 mean on a Smeg dishwasher?

The machine did not fill with water within the allowed time. Check the tap is on, the inlet hose is not kinked, and the inlet filter is clear.

What does E6 mean on a Smeg dishwasher?

It did not drain within the allowed time. Clean the filter, check the drain hose for kinks, and on a new installation check the waste spigot knockout was punched through.

Why do online lists disagree about Smeg E1 and E2?

Because Smeg does not publish code meanings to consumers, so the tables in circulation come from service data across different model generations. Both codes relate to the water circuit, but the readings conflict.

Can I reset a Smeg dishwasher error?

Switching off at the wall for a few minutes clears a transient fault. If the code returns straight away, it is not transient and the underlying cause needs addressing.

The short version

Work out which system your machine uses first. If there is no display, the flashing light pattern is the code, and a photo of it is the most useful thing you can bring to a phone call.

E3 through E6 are reliably documented and E5 and E6 have checks worth doing yourself. E1 and E2 are the two where the published tables conflict, so treat any part recommendation based on them with caution. National Appliance Repairs services Smeg dishwashers across five capitals with upfront quoting. Book online or call your nearest office.

Note for the editor: cannibalisation check required against the existing post on common faults with Smeg and Bosch dishwashers. Best outcome is converting that post into the brand hub and linking down to this one and to the Bosch E15 post.

Sources to link at publish: Smeg support, dishwasher error code guidance (use the Smeg Australia equivalent, confirm the AU URL before inserting)