Your Washing Machine Is Not Heating Up Water

So your washing machine isn't heating up any more? We are going to explain the reasons for this below.

THE POSSIBLE CAUSES FOR THIS FAULT:

• There's a drain issue

• The heating element is faulty

• The thermostat is damaged

• The wiring is worn out

• The pressure switch is damaged

• The motherboard is faulty

There's a drain issue

If your washing machine's drain hose is set too far into the trap, water will be draining constantly and the washing machine will compensate for this lack of water by replacing it with new water. This means the water doesn't get time to warm up. For the washing machine to be set up properly, the drain hose needs to be 65cm from the ground and set 10cm inside the stand pipe. Air must be able to circulate around the drain hose.

The heating element is faulty

The heating element heats the water in your washing machine. If it is faulty, the appliance won't heat up any more. It's also likely to stop in the middle of a cycle, the LEDs may start blinking or a breakdown code may be displayed. If your machine's programme stops and you think the issue is related to the heating element, start a "cold wash" programme. If the programme runs through to completion, it means the heating element is probably at fault (please note, this won't work on all models). You can test the heating element using a multimeter set to megohm mode and check its continuity. If it is at zero, you need to replace the heating element.

The thermostat is damaged

The thermostat tells the timer that a certain temperature has been reached. If the thermostat's internal contact is defective, the appliance won't heat up and will stop in the middle of a programme, or refuse to start. If the programme continues to stop in the middle, you can test it by starting a "cold wash" programme. If this programme runs through to completion, and you've previously checked that your heating element is working, then it is probably the thermostat that's at fault. You then need to test and change this part. Some washing machines are fitted with a safety thermostat that can be reset and has a little button on it. This thermostat is designed to trigger and cut off the heating if there is an issue. You therefore need to work out what the issue is before restarting it.

The wiring is worn out

The electrical wires which connect the main elements in the appliance all have connectors at the end which may be defective. They can, for example, become oxidised, disconnected or even burnt out by a short circuit. If one of the damaged wires is connected to an element that is part of the appliance's heating system (heating element, temperature probe, etc.), your washing machine will no longer be able to heat up. Check your washing machine's wiring and connectors carefully and replace them if they show signs of giving out. You can get to them by taking the panels off your washing machine.

The pressure switch is damaged

The pressure switch tells the control module the level of water in the washing machine. Most of the time, it plays an important role in telling the washing machine to heat up. If it is faulty, the washing machine will not authorise the water to heat. Old mechanical pressure switches can be checked using a multimeter, but unfortunately, on newer machines, they are increasingly digital so you can't test them that way.

The motherboard is faulty

The motherboard manages all of your washing machine's functions. If it is defective, it won't authorise your appliance to heat up. If all the elements have been checked, then it may be the case that the module itself needs changing.