SMEG Dishwasher E3 Error Code — Meaning & Repair Cost (2026)
Heater fault — water not heating. Below: the most likely causes, and what the matching repair costs — Estimated national ranges with a metro localizer. Reviewed July 2026.
What E3 means
Heater fault — water not heating.
Likely causes, most common first
- The wash water heats too slowly (rises under ~1.5°C in 20 minutes), pointing to a failed heating element or heater relay.
Base: 3 published national repair-cost guides (retrieved 2026-07) · full source registry on the methodology page · Code meaning & causes · Reviewed July 2026
What it usually costs to fix Estimated
E3 on a SMEG dishwasher resolves to the dishwasher not drying dishes problem. We don't yet publish a verified parts factor for SMEG, so the ranges below use the mainstream baseline.
$100–$300 national estimate to fix the fault behind E3. Enter a ZIP to localize.
| Most common repair | Typical total | DIY? |
|---|---|---|
| Heating element replacement | $150–$300 | DIY possible |
| High-limit thermostat / vent-fan replacement | $100–$260 | DIY possible |
Plus a typical service-call / diagnostic fee of $75–$150, often credited toward the repair.
Pick a quality tier for a class-typical estimate, or a specific brand to override it (brand adjusts the parts portion only). Enter a ZIP or Canadian postal code to localize to your metro's labor costs. Everything updates without a page reload; no data leaves your browser except the shard lookup.
Base: 2 published national repair-cost guides (retrieved 2026-07) · full source registry on the methodology page · National base range (BLS OEWS May 2025 + BEA RPP 2024) · Reviewed July 2026 · Estimated
Codes are universal — your location changes the repair price, never the code's meaning. See the methodology for the exact localization formula and sources.
Reviewed by a Red-Seal certified appliance technician.