My Dishwasher is Not Heating Up
A dishwasher is a welcome addition to many homes after those large family dinners. No family member honestly wants the unenviable task of washing the dishes do they?
The introduction of the dishwasher has no doubt helped to put an end to household quarrels up and down the land, however, unfortunately, over time the dishwasher (like all appliances) can suffer from a variety of faults.
When the water is not heating up during the dishwasher washing cycle, it could mean that you have a fault with the element.
If the water is not reaching a minimum temperature between 40°C and 65°C your plates, dishes, and cutlery could be left with a build-up of grease and deposits.
A dishwasher utilises detergent and hot water to clear away any food residue and deposits, ensuring that your dishes can be clean and ready for when you need them next at meal time.
Element
A dishwasher heats the water by using an element in the bottom of the tub, or a flow through heater which can be found at the base of the machine.
However, if your dishwasher isn't heating up properly, the most likely explanation is a faulty heating element that needs to be replaced. That being said, it's always a good idea to check and make sure a part is faulty before replacing it. Fortunately, we have a step-by-step guide demonstrating how to test the heater in a dishwasher with a multimeter right here.
If, after performing this test, you find that you need to replace the element or flow through heater, you can follow our handy step-by-step guide showing you how to do this here:
PCB
On rare occasions, a defective PCB (printed circuit board) can be a possible cause for why the water is not heating up in your dishwasher.
The printed circuit board is the brains behind your dishwasher, controlling the functions and ensuring everything runs smoothly.
It can be difficult to determine if the PCB is at fault though, as other components can cause it to fail unless there are any visible signs of damage.
Here's what you need to do to get to the PCB in your dishwasher, and hopefully help to determine if it is the PCB that is causing your dishwasher issues.
Safety First! Please ensure that you have disconnected the appliance from the mains before starting any repair.
- To gain access to the PCB you will first need to remove the outer panel.
- Drop the door down and you’ll see a set of screws which go through the inner panel.
- Remove the screws from the control panel and the PCB should be located behind - (model dependent).
- Check for any signs of visible damage and replace if required.
If you are now in need of a replacement PCB, you can see our range of dishwasher spares on the eSpares website. After all, it's probably best you get your dishwasher fixed - as nobody wants to be the person that has to do all the washing up after dinner!
See our video guide showing you how to replace the control board on a dishwasher.
Thermostat
Responsible for regulating the water heating; the thermostat monitors the water temperature throughout the dishwasher wash program - however over time the thermostat can falter, leading to your dishwasher no longer heating up the water.
If you have gone to use the dishwasher and realised that you are facing this problem, worry no more because here at eSpares we have created this article to help you resolve the issue.
Safety First! Please ensure that you have disconnected the appliance from the mains before starting any repair.
- Access the thermostat - the location of it depends on your model (it is most likely fitted in the door or sump area).
- Using a multimeter - you can see here for instructions on how to use a multimeter.
- Check the thermostat and determine whether or not it is the source of the fault - you will be looking at a reading close to zero, as anything too high will mean you’ll need to change the thermostat.
The good news is that if you do need to get a replacement, you can do so by seeing our full range of dishwasher thermostats from our huge offering of appliance spare parts.
You can soon help to get the hot water back into your dishwasher, with our video guide on diagnosing dishwasher heating problems yourself.