The quality of washing depends on the exact execution of the program by the washing machine, one of the important parameters of which is to maintain the required water temperature. If the water in the automatic machine has stopped heating, the cause may be a failure of the programmer, a breakdown of the water heating sensor, but most often this is due to the fact that the heater burned out. In modern models, the failure of the heating element can be signaled by a message that appears on the information panel.
Causes of malfunction
TEN (common abbreviation for “tubular electric heater”) is a metal tube filled with an electrical insulator with good thermal conductivity. In the middle is a conductive (fechromic, but more often nichrome) thread that heats up when connected to the network. The heater in the washing machine is used to heat water in accordance with the program or temperature set by the user.
TEN is one of the parts most vulnerable to breakage in the washing machine. On the one hand, this is due to the periodicity of the spiral, which then heats up, then cools. But the most common reason why the heating element has stopped working is the scaling caused by the high hardness of the water. A thick layer of scale causes a violation of heat transfer, the spiral overheats and burns out. Replacing the heater in the washing machine does not require much effort and can be done at home independently.
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Preparatory stage
Buying a new heater for a washing machine is not difficult, it is only important that it is designed specifically for this model. Despite the fact that they differ little structurally, there may be some differences in size, spiral shape, etc. In addition, a repair will require a set of screwdrivers, tubular and wrenches, as well as a sealant. Well, if there is a tester or an ohmmeter - it will come in handy to verify the malfunction or performance of the heater.
Important:
Before starting work, it is imperative to disconnect the washing machine, disconnect it from the water supply, and drain the water using the drain filter.
We determine the location of the heater
Manufacturers of washing machines can place heating elements in different places - both in front and in the back. As a rule, for Atlant, Zanussi, Whirpool, Electrolux, Ariston, Indesit and Candy washing machines, the heater can be in the back, but Bosch, LG and Samsung often place this element in front. For automatic machines with vertical loading, access to the heating element can be through the side wall.The easiest way to clarify where the heating element is located in a particular model is by studying the operating instructions or by completing a request on the Internet. Very often, a detailed video is posted on the network on how to change the heating element in a washing machine of a specific model.
Another option is a visual inspection of the rear of the washing machine, because to increase maintainability, the designers provided for a fairly simple access to the heating element:
- Ø almost the entire rear area falls on the removable part - it is highly likely that the heating element is mounted on the back
- Ø removable part of a small area - in this case you will have to disassemble the front panel, it is a little more complicated. After all, you will have to remove the top cover, dismantle the tray for powder (detergents), partially disassemble the hatch for linen and only then remove the front panel itself.
In principle, you can immediately remove the back cover (it's simple, you only need to unscrew a few screws / bolts) to make sure which side the heating element is on.
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Replacing the heating element
It is quite simple to determine the heating element by two characteristic connectors to which the wires are connected. However, if you have an ohmmeter at hand, before removing it, you should check heating element - the malfunction may not be caused by its failure. The resistance of the heating element in working condition does not exceed 200 Ohm, otherwise it requires replacement.
Important:
Before starting work, we recommend photographing (sketching) the location of the wires and the order of their connection.
Dismantling the electric heater is very simple - it is fastened with just one nut, for this you need a socket wrench. Having unscrewed the nut, it is necessary to lightly knock on the hairpin, pressing (slightly sinking) it inward. Now, when the mount is removed, you can directly remove the heating element, which is very tightly fitted onto the rubber gasket. We recommend using a slotted screwdriver to loosen the seal slightly.
Before installing a new heating element, it is worth checking for operability - there is always a small probability of a production defect. So it is better to spend a few seconds than to repeat the entire operation of disassembling / assembling the washing machine later. We place the working heating element in its place, carefully monitoring its position - it should sit evenly and tightly, without touching the tank. Fixing the heater by hand, we begin to tighten the nut. To ensure complete waterproofness, the installation site can be additionally treated with a sealant. We tighten the nut on the hairpin tightly, but without excessive effort. After that, after checking the picture / drawing, we switch the wires. If there are traces of rust or burning on the terminals, they must be removed. If necessary, the terminals can be tightened with pliers to achieve good contact.
We put the protective covers of the case in place - the operation is completed. We carry out control - we turn on the function in which the water heats up over 50 degrees. If the hatch cover heats up, then everything is done correctly.
How much does it cost to change the heating element in a washing machine
The cost of work on replacing the heating element does not take into account the price of a new one approximately ... The final amount of the repair is calculated by the master on the spot and depends on the manufacturer and model of the machine. The price includes work on disassembling and removing a faulty heating element, as well as installing a new one and assembling a washing machine.
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