Winterhalter error codes: what they mean and what to do
Most Winterhalter error codes point to one of five things: water supply (Err13, Err14), drainage and filters (Err6, Err24, Err25), heating (Err7, Err8), the hood (Err21) or a leak into the base (Err35). This guide from LE Company, commercial dishwasher engineers in London, explains what each code means on the Winterhalter PT pass-through range and on older GS glasswashers, what you can check yourself, and when to call an engineer. For repairs, see our Winterhalter dishwasher repair in London page.
How a Winterhalter shows an error code
Current UC undercounter machines (touchscreen): most problems appear as pictograms and you can keep washing. A serious error stops the machine, a red bar appears across the top of the display and the start button turns red; tap the bar to see the code. The Errors menu lists current and rectified errors.
PT pass-through machines and earlier UC machines (blue display): a pictogram flashes, and the error memory lists entries as ERR 35 (fault), ERR 35 OK (fault cleared) and ON, newest first.
Older GS glasswashers: Err and a number appear on the control panel with a fault lamp.
For every numbered error, Winterhalter’s operating instructions tell owners the same thing: note the code and call an authorised service technician. The tables below tell you what the code means, so you know what to check first and what to tell the engineer.
Winterhalter PT error code list
These meanings are taken from Winterhalter’s technical card for the PT-M, PT-L and PT-XL pass-through (hood-type) dishwashers. UC and UF machines of the same generation show codes the same way, but some numbers can differ, so tell the engineer your model.
Code | What it means (PT-M / PT-L / PT-XL) | What the machine does |
Err1 | Tank level sensor: short circuit, cable or plug fault | Tank drained, machine off |
Err2 / Err3 | Tank / boiler temperature sensor fault | Tank / boiler heating off |
Err4 | Wash pump or tank level sensor fault: tank level not dropping | Wash pump drive off |
Err5 | Final rinse pump or boiler level sensor fault, or rinse jets blocked | Final rinse pump off |
Err6 | Drain pump not working: tank level not dropping within 3 minutes | Machine off |
Err7 | Boiler heating or power unit fault: boiler not heating up | Boiler stays cold, machine still works |
Err8 | Tank heating or power unit fault: tank not heating up within 15 minutes | Tank heating off |
Err9 | Drain pump not working: self-cleaning programme cannot finish | Machine off |
Err10 | Salt container empty (built-in softener) or water treatment cartridge expired | Message on display |
Err11 to Err12.1 | Wash pump frequency converter overheated or faulty, or its bus cable faulty | Converter or machine off |
Err13 | Tank filling time exceeded: water tap closed, inlet filter or valve blocked, or a leak | Check water supply |
Err14 | Boiler filling time exceeded: water tap closed, inlet filter or valve blocked | Check water supply |
Err15 | Boiler level sensor fault: tank level rising when the boiler should be empty | Boiler heating and inlet valve off |
Err16 / Err17 | Rinse aid / detergent container empty | Dosing stops after 20 more cycles |
Err18.1 | Hood sensor fault: the hood must be opened at least once every 20 cycles | Wash pump drive off |
Err21 | Hood opened while a programme was starting or a wash was running | All functions stop |
Err22 | Service interval expired | Message on display |
Err23 | Mains voltage failure | Machine off |
Err24 | Tank level too high: drain on site blocked or drain pump faulty | Rinse and inlet off, drain pump runs |
Err25 | Filter cylinder blocked: tank level too low during washing | Tank heating off until the hood is opened |
Err26 | Tank level rising while the machine is switched off | Drain pump runs |
Err28 / Err29 | Top / bottom wash arm blocked, not turning properly | |
Err30 | Tank water medium to heavily cloudy | More final rinse water used |
Err31 | Bottom wash arm not fitted properly; boiler level rising during washing | Wash stops, final rinse pump runs |
Err33 | Descaling interval expired | Message on display |
Err34 | Tank not watertight: level dropping with the hood closed | Inlet valve off |
Err35 | Water in the base frame: leakage sensor triggered | Inlet valve, rinse and wash pumps off |
Err36 / Err37 | Top / bottom wash arm drive faulty | Drive off after 3 repeats |
Err40 | Boiler level sensor: short circuit, cable or plug fault | Machine off |
Err DIN | Tank or boiler temperature too low for the hygiene standard | |
Err48 / Err49 | Pump inlet filter not fitted | Machine stops after 30 seconds without the filter |
Err52 | Site power supply does not match the machine’s set supply type | Machine off |
Err54 | Automatic hood opening faulty | Machine off |
Err59 / Err60 | Power unit relay faulty or overheated: boiler / tank heating stuck on | Boiler or tank drained |
What does error 35 mean on a Winterhalter dishwasher?
Err35 means water has reached the base frame and triggered the leakage sensor. The machine shuts off the water inlet and the wash and rinse pumps to stop the leak getting worse. The water can come from a hose, a pump seal, the tank or, as in our case, from water being forced backwards out of a connection.
In October 2026 a London restaurant called us about error 35 on its Winterhalter PT-M. We read the error log, removed the lower panel and found water running into the base tray from the wash-system inlet at the back of the machine. The main wash system was so heavily blocked that the wash pump built up pressure and pushed water back out of the inlet. We cleaned the wash system and removed the upper wash arm, which was blocked beyond cleaning, for replacement. The log also showed Err31 entries, which on the PT series relate to the lower wash arm.
The lesson: clean the wash arms, filters and wash system as the operating instructions say. A blocked wash system can cause a leak, not only poor results.
Winterhalter error 21 and 23: hood and power
On the PT series, Err21 means the hood was opened while a programme was starting or a wash cycle was running; the machine switches off all its actuators. Close the hood and start again. On older GS 202 / GS 302 glasswashers Err 21 relates to the water level or the inlet valve: close the water tap and call service. On the PT series, Err23 means a mains voltage failure, and the machine switches off. Check the supply to the machine; if the code returns with the power on, the machine needs an engineer.
Winterhalter error 13, 14 and 6: water in and water out
Err13 and Err14 mean the tank or the boiler took too long to fill. Check that the water tap is fully open and that the inlet filter is not blocked; if both are fine, the inlet valve or the rinse pump may be faulty. Err6 and Err9 mean the drain pump is not getting the water out, and Err24 means the tank level stayed too high because the drain on site is blocked or the drain pump is faulty. For drainage problems in general, see why a dishwasher is not draining.
Winterhalter error 8 and 7: tank and boiler not heating
Err8 means the wash tank did not heat up within 15 minutes, and the tank heating is switched off. Err7 means the boiler did not heat up; the machine can still run, but the rinse water stays cold. Both point to the heating element or the power unit, and both need an engineer. Err DIN means the tank or boiler temperature is too low to meet the hygiene standard.
Winterhalter error 25, 48 and 49: filters
Err25 means the filter cylinder is blocked, so the tank level drops too low while washing. Err48 and Err49 mean the pump inlet filter is not fitted: after 30 seconds without the filter the machine switches off. Clean the filters and refit them properly; if the code returns with clean filters in place, call an engineer.
What does error 33 mean on a Winterhalter?
Err33 is a reminder, not a fault: the descaling interval set on the machine has run out. London water is hard, and scale in the boiler, tank and pipework is one of the main causes of poor results and failed heaters on Winterhalter machines.
Winterhalter’s instructions for its UC machines say to use an acid-based descaler suitable for commercial warewashers (Winterhalter recommends its A 70 LS) with the menu-guided descaling programme, ideally at the end of the day. Never mix descaler with chlorine detergent, because it releases chlorine gas: switch off or disconnect any external detergent pump first. Do not cancel the programme, and do not leave descaler in the machine overnight. The water lines and the boiler can only be descaled by an authorised technician.
What happens when it goes wrong: in October 2026 we were called to a Winterhalter PT-M in a London kitchen that would not drain. The owner had tried to descale it with too little descaler. The residue had turned to sludge and blocked the whole waste pipe and the drain pump, and several pipes had ruptured. We cleaned the drain and pump by hand, then returned to fit new hoses, a boiler kit and 15 mm flexible pipework, and descaled the machine properly. Our advice to that kitchen, and to yours: do not descale without an engineer if you are not sure of the procedure.
Winterhalter error 40
On the PT series, Err40 means a fault on the boiler level sensor: a short circuit, a damaged cable or a plug that is not connected properly. The machine switches off. It is not something an owner can fix; an engineer has to test the sensor and its wiring.
Older Winterhalter GS glasswasher error codes
Older GS 202 / 215 and GS 302 / 315 glasswashers use a shorter list, and the numbers do not mean the same as on the PT series. Winterhalter’s instructions for these models are: switch the machine off; for Err 20 close the water tap and call service; for other codes check that the water tap is open and switch on again; if the code comes back, note it and call service. A flashing blue programme button means the filters are blocked: switch off, clean the filters and switch on again after 2 minutes.
Code | GS 202 / 215 and GS 302 / 315 glasswashers | What Winterhalter tells you to do |
Err 1 | Fault inside the machine; it switches off | Call service |
Err 2 / 3 | Boiler or tank above 95 °C (GS 202 / 215) | Switch off at the mains isolator and call service |
Err 6 | Internal fault or blocked drain | Clear the drain or call service |
Err 20 | Water inlet (solenoid) valve not closing | Close the water tap and call service |
Err 21 | Water level too high or inlet valve not closing | Close the water tap and call service |
What about Winterhalter error 202, 305 or 501?
Three-digit numbers such as 202, 305 and 501 are not in Winterhalter’s published code lists that we have checked, so we will not guess what they mean. If your machine shows one, take a photo of the display and the rating plate and send it to us with your enquiry: our engineers read the full error log on site.
When to call a Winterhalter engineer
Call an engineer if a code returns after you have checked the water tap, the filters and the drain, if water is leaking (Err35), if the machine is not heating (Err7, Err8) or if a sensor or power fault is shown. Regular cleaning and planned servicing prevent most of these codes; see commercial catering equipment maintenance and the top reasons commercial dishwashers break down.
Book a Winterhalter repair in London
LE Company’s call-out is from £175 + VAT and includes the first 30 minutes on site, when the engineer reads the error log and finds the cause. The cost of the repair is agreed with you before any work starts. See our Winterhalter dishwasher repair and commercial dishwasher repair pages, we also repair Hobart dishwashers, read our frequently asked questions, or call +44 20 3603 7172, Monday to Saturday, 8am to 8pm.