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Winter mornings and fog
Kitchens near the coast, or on the north-facing side of a building, can stay cold and damp much of the year. A cold room makes steam condense quickly on the inside of the tub and the door, which leaves dishes damp even when the machine did its job. If E20 is in the picture, rule out the room before the hardware.
About the code
E20 does not have one confirmed meaning across Bertazzoni dishwasher models. Look at the code as one piece of evidence next to what the dishes tell you.
Easy adjustments
- Let the hot tap run before starting, so the machine begins with warm water.
- Open the door a hand’s width as soon as the cycle ends, and leave it there for ten minutes.
- Check that the rinse aid is topped up.
- Load plastics on the top rack with their openings facing down.
Vents and steam paths
Some models release steam through a vent, and others rely on condensation inside the tub. Look at the door area and cabinet gaps above the machine for any item that might block air. A towel left over the door, or a cabinet shelf placed too tightly, can cause problems.
A kitchen with a window that is never opened can also leave humidity high, so a little ventilation helps.
Seeing the difference
If glassware comes out dry and only plastics are wet, the machine is probably fine. Plastic holds less heat than glass or steel, so it dries slowly even when the cycle is working properly. If everything is wet, including steel, and the tub never felt hot, then the heating stage may be involved. The heating element warms the water and the temperature sensor reports how warm it got, and the symptom alone does not show which of the two is at fault.
When this is a technician matter
After the habits above, a repeat of E20 with damp dishes and a lukewarm tub calls for the heating and temperature-sensing circuits to be tested, with the machine open and powered. That is not safe for owners to attempt.
The visit starts with a diagnosis and written estimate, and a part is replaced only if you approve.
What to tell the technician
Say how cold the kitchen runs, whether the machine is against an outside wall, and whether the problem shows more in winter than summer. Those details help separate room effects from a real heating issue, and they cost you nothing to collect. Tell us too whether the rinse aid has been empty for a while.
Write down the temperature of the tap water after ninety seconds of running, if you have a kitchen thermometer. It is a simple number that tells a lot.
Frequently asked questions
It affects how quickly steam condenses, which changes how dry the load feels, though it is not the only factor.
If your model has one, it is fine to try it for a week and compare.
Yes. The meaning is model-dependent, so the dry result is a clue, not proof.
Model compatibility: Bertazzoni reuses codes across series and model years, so E20 may mean something different on another appliance or generation. Confirm this against your model’s documentation and record your full model number before acting.
