What E3100 Means
Water has reached the base tray and the float switch sitting there has tripped the leak protection system. This is the four-digit generation’s number for the condition the short-code machines report as E15, and both of Thermador’s documents give the same first instruction: shut the water off.
Common Causes of E3100
- A leak from a hose clamp, the sump, or a seal that has been weeping long enough to fill the base tray
- A door gasket that has hardened and lets wash water escape at the sill
- A float switch stuck up by debris, reporting water that is no longer there
🔧 One Safe Check You Can Try
SAFETY FIRST: close the supply valve serving the dishwasher before anything else, and if the base tray water has reached the floor, switch the circuit off at the panel too. Only then start a service call. Do not start another cycle to see what happens.
⚠ Why You Shouldn't Go Further Than That
- Leak protection has already cut the machine off; overriding it is how a slow weep becomes a floor and cabinet repair.
- Finding the actual leak means tipping the machine to reach the base, and that is done with the supply isolated and the tray emptied first.
- A stuck float and a genuine leak look identical from the front, and only one of them is safe to ignore for an afternoon.
Opening a panel to inspect or repair something yourself doesn't automatically cancel your manufacturer's warranty — but it can risk accidental damage, and some manufacturers do have specific service conditions. Check your product's warranty terms, or ask us, before deciding.