Blakeslee Commercial Dishwasher Error Code E5: Tank Overheating
E5 TANK OVERHEATING means the wash tank has gone above its allowed temperature. The manual says to contact Technical Service. Turn the machine off, let it cool and have a service technician inspect the heater control.
High: the wash tank is above its safe limit, so the machine must stay off until it is checked.
- Code
- E5
- Maker
- Blakeslee
- Equipment
- Dish machines
- Applies to
- D-18D / D-18V digital-control door-type
What does Blakeslee error code E5 mean?
Just as the control checks that the wash tank warms up, it also checks that the tank does not exceed its upper limit. When the probe reports a temperature above that ceiling, the control cuts the heater and displays E5 TANK OVERHEATING. The manual entry is wash tank overheating, and the instruction is Contact Technical Service. Typical reasons are a heater contactor that has stuck closed, a probe that reads low so the control keeps heating, or a tank that has been running low on water with the element still on. The alarm is the high-temperature counterpart of E3, so the two should not be treated alike: E3 means too little heat, E5 means too much. Overheated wash water can damage seals, scald operators and boil off detergent, which is why the machine locks out rather than carrying on.
Affected models and control systems
Blakeslee D-18D / D-18V digital-control hood-type dishwasher. The manual's cover prints D-19 L and D-19 LRS and names no D-18 model, so the alarm list is read as covering this hood-type family.
Code numbers and their meaning can change between control generations. We match the full model and control before acting on a code.
What you may notice
- E5 TANK OVERHEATING on the display
- Steam coming from the machine
- Wash water uncomfortably hot
- The machine stops and refuses to start
Possible causes
Likely causes — what usually sits behind error code E5 on this control. A technician confirms which one it is before any part is replaced.
- Tank heater contactor stuck closed
- Tank probe reading lower than the real temperature
- Water level in the tank too low for the element
- Heater control output not switching off
Safe checks before calling for service
- Turn the machine off and let it cool before anyone opens the door.
- Switch off the wall disconnect if there is one.
- Do not restart repeatedly to see whether it clears.
- Keep hands out of the tank and away from steam.
- Note the display text and whether the tank looked low on water or steamed heavily.
How a technician diagnoses error code E5
- Read the alarm record and see whether E1 or E2 appeared before E5.
- With power locked out, inspect the tank heater contactor for welded contacts.
- Check the probe against a reference thermometer after the tank has been refilled.
- Verify the tank fills to the right level and that the overflow pipe seats.
- Test the element and safety devices, then replace the confirmed part.
- An overheated tank holds scalding water and can release steam when opened.
- A stuck contactor is a line-voltage defect that has to be tested with the supply locked out.
- Separating a bad probe from a bad control output needs a meter and a reference thermometer.
How error code E5 differs from similar codes
E5 is tank overheating. B5 is the same alarm on the rinse boiler, and E3 is the tank failing to heat.
Technical reference
- Maker documentation
- Blakeslee owner support
- Edition
- COD. 3100ET_U, Ed. 06 - 09/2018
- Models / control
- D-18D / D-18V digital-control door-type
- Section
- Chapter 8.2 Alarms, table 3 (p. 39)
- Checked
- October 2026
We use the maker's document to read the code and do not reproduce it. Always confirm the complete model and control before applying these steps.
Related Blakeslee dish machine error codes
Is E5 dangerous?
The tank can hold scalding water, so let it cool before anyone opens the door.
Can I wait for it to cool and run again?
It will usually cool, but if the heater control is stuck the problem will return. Get it checked.
Is a low water level involved?
It can be. A tank with too little water overheats faster, so the fill and overflow pipe are checked too.
Need help with Blakeslee error code E5?
A technician confirms the cause on site and gives you the price in writing before any work starts.