Siemens dishwasher: error E12
Code E12 on a Siemens dishwasher display means: limescale in the heating pump or too little salt.
- Meaning
- Limescale in the heating pump or too little salt
- Check first
- Check that there is regeneration salt in the container and that the water hardness is set as in the manual.
- Repair shop
- 270–650 zł
Most common causes
- Limescale in the heating system
- No regeneration salt
- Water hardness is set too low in the dishwasher
What you can check yourself
Check that there is regeneration salt in the container and that the water hardness is set as in the manual.
Run an empty cycle with a descaler made for dishwashers.
If the error comes back, call a repair service. The circulation pump or heater may be covered in limescale.
- the error keeps coming back after these checks,
- water is leaking or you smell burning,
- the appliance trips the circuit breaker.
More detail in our guide: Dishwasher not cleaning well →
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What does error E12 mean on a Siemens dishwasher?
Code E12 means: limescale in the heating pump or too little salt. The most common causes: limescale in the heating system, no regeneration salt, water hardness is set too low in the dishwasher.
Can I keep using the dishwasher with error E12?
If the error goes away after the checks above, yes. If it keeps coming back, water leaks, you smell burning or the breaker trips, stop using it and call a repair service.
Other codes: Siemens dishwasher
- E15water in the dishwasher base (Aquastop)
- E24drain problem: clogged filter or hose
- E25blocked drain pump
- E22clogged filter
- E09water heating problem
- E14 / E17water supply problem
- E27 / E90supply voltage problem
- E01 / E02 / E03 / E04 / E05electronics or control module fault
- E06 / E8000door sensor fault
- E16 / E18 / E32water supply problem
- E20 / E21heating pump blocked or heater fault
- E23drain pump problem
A code can mean different things on different models and years. Always check the manual or the manufacturer's support page too. Repair prices are approximate, for repair shops in Poland.