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Replacing the heating element in a washing machine: what do you need to know? How to remove the heating element from the washing machine? How to unscrew the heating element on a washing machine

2018-05-30 Evgeniy Fomenko

Location of the heating element in washing machines

Before disassembling the washing machine to get the heater, you need to determine where the heater is located in the washing machine.

It's not difficult - you just need to look at the back of the car and see how big the back cover is. If it is large, covering the entire wall, then most likely the heating element is located right behind it. Usually down under the washing tub.

In this case, removing the heating element is quite simple, since you just have to unscrew the back wall.

If the cover is small, then most likely it is a hatch to provide access to the machine belt. In this case, the heating element should be looked for at the front of the machine, behind the front panel. Disassembling it takes much longer and is more difficult than removing the back cover.

If the instructions for the washing machine have not been preserved, then you can also be guided by the fact that for washing machines of the brands Zanussi (Zanussi), Kandy, Electrolux, Ariston, Indesit (Indesit), Virpul, Atlant, Beko (Veko), the heating element is usually located behind the back lid.

In Hans brand machines, in order to get the heating element, you need to remove the base panel. For this brand and for most machines that have a vertical principle of loading laundry, the heater is located on the side.

In washing machines of the Siemens, Samsung, Bosch, LG brands, in order to replace the heater, you will almost certainly have to remove the front decorative panel.

Before removing the heating element, it is necessary to drain the water from the machine, so you should prepare a rag and a container to collect the liquid in advance.

The algorithm for removing the heater is as follows:

The wires leading to it are disconnected;
The nut located in the middle of the heater is unscrewed;
Threaded stud pushes inside– press it or hit it with a hammer (not too hard).

After this, by picking up the element with a knife or screwdriver, you can remove it. Sometimes this requires rocking it from side to side if the part is stuck.

Ariston, Electrolux, Zanussi, Kandy, Indesit, Atlant, Beko

In washing machines of these brands, the heating element is located at the back and to replace it, you need to remove the back cover of the machine:

Unscrew the fixing screws of the plug on the rear wall;
Remove the plug;
Disconnect the wires leading to the heater, having previously memorized the connection diagram.

In order to avoid mixing up the wire connections when assembling the machine and breaking the washing machine, it is recommended to take a photograph of the wiring connected to the heating element. Typically, phase and zero are located at the edges (usually blue and red). In the middle there is a grounding wire - green and yellow.

On the heater itself, between the power supply and the housing, there is a temperature sensor - a plastic connector with a latch. To remove the heating element, you need to carefully disconnect all the wires.

There is a nut in the center of the heating element. It should be loosened without unscrewing completely. It serves to tension the rubber seal, which seals the connection. After unscrewing the nut, it must be pushed inward along with the bolt, as a result the seal will finally loosen and the heating element can be pulled out of the tank.

This is in theory, although in practice, most often the rubber takes on the configuration of the tank over time and prevents the heater from freely exiting the tank. You will have to pry the heater around to remove it.

When replacing the heater, the temperature sensor removed from the old heating element is replaced with a new one. As a rule, these sensors do not break and there is no point in buying a new one. Sometimes, in some washing machines of the Electrolux brand, the case consists of a pair of monolithic parts, however, in this case, you will have to unscrew the back cover of the case.

Whirlpool

In order to remove the heater from a Whirlpool washing machine, you also need to remove the back panel.

But there are some differences from standard actions:

Important: There is also a latch on each side of the bracket that is inserted into the decorative panel. The bracket just needs to be lifted to remove it.

Siemens, Samsung, Bosch, LG

When disassembling a Samsung washing machine, difficulties may arise, since its heating element is located in the front decorative wall of the tank. However, this design also has its advantages, since in order to remove the heater it is not necessary to remove the machine from the furniture and disconnect it from the water supply and sewerage.

To remove the front wall of a Samsung washing machine you need to:

Important: When dismantling the front panel, the main thing is not to break the electrical wiring, since they are of small cross-section and not reliably soldered. In order not to create unnecessary problems, it is better to tear it off carefully.

The machine panel is now held in place by only two hooks. You should take it by both lower edges and pull it up, carefully remove it and place it next to it. At the same time, there is no need to use too much force, since there are wires from the UBL (hatch blocking device) behind it. It is better not to disconnect them, but to move the wall to the side.

Now the panel can be lowered lower so that when removing the heating element it does not interfere and the wires do not accidentally break. Once the panel is removed, the heater terminals will be exposed. Before changing the element, it is recommended to check it for serviceability, since a new heating element costs a lot and if it is possible to do without replacing it, this will help to save a lot.

Bosch

In a Bosch washing machine, the heating element is located behind the front panel and there are differences when performing work to remove it.

To get the heater you will need:

Operating procedure:

After completing these steps, access to the heating element will open and it can be removed.

Lji

In order to remove the heating element in a Lji brand washing machine, you will have to disassemble the machine, and in particular, remove the top cover. Otherwise, the back cover cannot be removed. Typically the top cover is secured with two or four screws located at the back.

After removing the top cover, you need to unscrew the screws holding the back surface and then carefully remove it. After this, it is extremely important not to forget how the wires are connected to the heater. Otherwise, you can easily confuse the connection and damage the machine.

After the connection diagram is securely fixed, you should disconnect the wires leading to them from the heating element and thermistor.

Siemens

In Siemens washing machines, as a rule, heating elements are located behind the front cover.

To remove it you should:

Nowadays, washing machines are present not only in every city home, they are good household helpers in villages and villages. But no matter where such a unit is located, it will sometimes break down. The most common of them is the failure of the heating element. Let's look at how to carry out such repairs and find out what the professionals advise.

Symptoms of a problem

Each breakdown can be identified by certain signs. Knowing what “symptoms” a certain malfunction may have, you can unmistakably understand which spare part is the cause. Based on many years of experience in repairing various washing machines, experts identify 3 main factors indicating a breakdown of the heating element.

The water heating process does not start, but the washing program does not stop. Certain types of washing machines have a program that washes in cold water, so before you call a technician or start disassembling the machine, check what washing mode and temperature are currently set. If you still did not make a mistake with setting the program, and the water still does not heat up, then you can conclude that the heating element is faulty. Some of the older models of washing units, when the heating element fails, begin to spin the drum endlessly, waiting for the necessary water heating. Modern machines can generate an error in the operation of the heating element even before the washing process begins.
Second sign of trouble– this is the operation of a circuit breaker in the power supply network. Most often, this happens some time after turning on the washing machine at the moment when the program should start heating the water. The reason for this “behavior” of the circuit breaker is caused by the closure of the electrical circuit on the spiral of the heating part.
In the third case, the protective shutdown device is triggered, through which the unit is connected to the mains. If this happens when the heating element is turned on, it means that the heating element is leaking current to the housing. The reason for this is damaged insulation.

The listed signs cannot be called absolutely accurate; they are still considered indirect, but 100% confirmation can be obtained only after disassembling the device and ringing the heating element with a multimeter.

How to find a breakdown?

After identifying indirect signs, it is necessary to find the breakdown. To inspect and take measurements, it is necessary to partially disassemble the washing machine, gaining free access to the electrical part of the heater.

Not in every case, the lack of heating of water is evidence of a breakdown of the heating element - the contacts on it could have oxidized, and one of the wires could simply fall off. In this case, it is not necessary to change the heating element, but simply clean the contacts and securely attach the fallen wire.

If a quick inspection does not reveal obvious defects on the electrical part of the heating device, then it is necessary to test it with a special device - a multimeter. In order for the measurements to be correct, it is worth calculating the resistance of a specific heating element. To do this, we will need to know exactly how much power it has. Usually it is written on it itself and in the instructions for use. Further calculation is simple.

Let's say that the power of your heating element is 2000 W. To find out the operating resistance, you will need to square the voltage of 220V (multiply 220 by 220). The result of multiplication is the number 48400, now you need to divide it by the power of a specific heating element - 2000 W. The resulting number will be 24.2 ohms. This will be the resistance of a working heater. Such simple mathematical calculations can be performed on a calculator.

Now is the time to start dialing the heating element. First you need to disconnect all the wiring from it. The next step is to switch the multimeter to the mode that measures resistance and select the optimal range of 200 Ohms. Now we will measure the parameter we need by applying the probes of the device to the connectors of the heating element. The working heating element will show a figure close to the calculated value. If during measurement the device shows zero, this tells us that there is a short circuit on the device being measured, and this element requires replacement. When the multimeter shows 1 during measurement, we can conclude that the component being measured has a break and also needs to be replaced.

How to remove?

Repair work on any household appliance begins with unplugging it from the outlet. Next, you can proceed directly to removing the heating element itself. It is worth considering that there are types of washing machines in which the heating element is located on the back of the tank, and there are also those in which the heater is located in the front (relative to the tank). Let's consider dismantling options for each type of installation.

If it's in front

To remove the heater from a machine with this design, you will need to do the following:

First you need to remove the front panel;
dismantle the washing powder bin;
remove the sealing collar, to do this you need to stretch the fixing clamp and tuck the seal inside;
Now we remove the front panel;
disconnect the terminals on the door lock;
when everything unnecessary is removed, you can begin to dismantle the heating element itself, which will require disconnecting all the wires;
unscrew the fixing nut and press the fastening bolt inward;
Before you pull the part out, you need to rock it a little.

After successfully dismantling the old faulty heating element, it is necessary to clean its seat from scale and dirt. Only after this is it possible to safely install a new heating element. Its fixation occurs in the reverse order.

If behind

Let's consider the sequence of removing the heating element from a washing machine in which this part is installed on the back of the tank. For this we need:

disconnect the device from all communications;
unscrew the screws on the back panel and remove it;
now we have full access to the heating element and its wires, they need to be disconnected;
unscrew the fixing bolt and press it inward;
The heating element is difficult to pull out, so you will need to pry it off with a flat screwdriver;
after removing the element we need, thoroughly clean its seat;
we install the new heating element in its place, and so that the rubber seal fits easily, you can lubricate it a little with soap or dishwashing detergent;
reconnect all the wiring and assemble the device in the reverse order.

How to replace and install?

Before you begin to repair the washing machine, you need to drain the water from it and disconnect it from the electrical network. Next, to begin the repair work, you need to prepare a set of wrenches, flat-head and Phillips screwdrivers, pliers or pliers.

Before starting disassembly, you need to understand on which side of the washing machine the heating element is located. This depends on the design features of a particular model of household appliance. When all unnecessary attachments are removed, the master will see only the back of the heating element, on which the power wires and the fixing nut will be attached. To dismantle the heater, you must disconnect all wires and unscrew the nut. Next, you need to remove the old heater. To do this you need:

using a screwdriver, push the fixing bolt into the internal cavity of the tank,
then pry off the heating element with a screwdriver and remove it using rocking movements.

It is best to replace the faulty part with a new one. This will allow you to forget about problems with the heating element for a long time, in contrast to its repair.

When installing a new part, it is necessary to ensure that it fits tightly into place without distortions or creases in the rubber seal. If this is not done, water will leak from under the rubber band - there is nothing good about this.

After installation, securely fixing the new heating element and connecting it, do not rush to finally assemble the washing machine, but check whether the new heater works. To do this, start the wash at a temperature of 60 degrees, and after 15-20 minutes. touch the door glass. If it is hot, this means that the heating element is working properly, and the problem has been successfully fixed. Now you can finally assemble the car and put it in its place.

The algorithm for replacing the heating element is the same for almost all modern brands of washing machines and has minor differences. The only difference may be the difficulty of access. This procedure is simple and does not require special skills, so you can do it yourself without calling specialists.

Before starting independent work to replace the heating element of the washing machine It is advisable to consider some useful tips.

Unfortunately, most old apartment buildings and many private houses do not have grounding. This significantly increases the likelihood of receiving an electric shock if the insulation of the heating element is damaged. If such a serious problem is detected, you must disconnect the device from the electrical network, then call a technician or carry out repairs yourself.
After installing the heating element, it is advisable to check the tightness of the sealing gum. To do this, you need to pour hot water into the tank above the heating element level. If water is leaking from under the rubber band, you will need to tighten the nut a little. If this simple procedure does not have an effect, it is necessary to reinstall the heating element. Perhaps there is a crease somewhere in the elastic.
In the internal cavity of the tank, the heating element is fixed with a metal bracket. If the heating element does not hit it, then it will stand unevenly and begin to touch the drum during washing. As a result, the heater will quickly fail.
To determine which side the heater is located in your machine, you can use a flashlight and shine a light inside the drum. This method is often used by craftsmen when repairing cars. Only for such a determination method you need to have good eyesight.
In order not to get confused in the wiring and not to guess during assembly which wire comes out where, it is advisable to mark them with a marker or photograph them. This method will help save a lot of time on reassembly.
Be careful when disconnecting wires when disassembling household appliances of this type. You should not make too sudden movements or pull out the necessary parts with zeal. This can cause serious damage to the device.
Replacing a heating element is not the most difficult task, but you should not resort to it if you know absolutely nothing about the structure of washing machines or are afraid of making serious mistakes. In such a situation, it is better to call professional craftsmen or visit a service center.

As you know, modern models of washing machines are connected only to cold water. During the washing process, it is heated to the desired temperature using a built-in heating element. Therefore it is of great importance. If this part fails, the functionality of the entire device is disrupted.

If you have some knowledge, you can carry out repairs yourself. To do this, you need to know how to remove the heating element from the washing machine and replace it correctly.

Common reasons for heating element failure

The heating element for a washing machine is of fundamental importance, so it is important to know why this part most often fails and how you can prevent its breakdown.

Terms of Use. During operation, the heating element constantly heats up and cools down, which over time leads to wear of the internal coils and leads to its failure.
Hard water. The heating element is constantly in contact with water. Its poor quality composition leads to the formation of scale on the tubes. This forces the heating element to spend more energy heating the water to the required temperature. To prevent scale formation, experts recommend installing water filters on the inlet hose and using special products together with washing powder. You can also periodically run a single wash cycle, i.e. without laundry, using citric acid or compositions containing it.

Where it is located?

Since the heating element for a washing machine is the only heating element, for greater efficiency it is located at the bottom of the tank. But on which side of the device - back or front - depends on the company and model. Therefore, replacing the heating element of a washing machine begins with determining its location. This can be done by the appearance of the device. If the back wall of the washing machine is large, then most likely the heating element is located behind it. In any case, the rear protective part is much easier to remove than the front, so it's worth starting there.

How to replace the heating element through the back cover?

This is the easiest option for replacing the heating element. It is much more difficult to do this through the front side. For example, if the washing machine is Samsung, the heating element is replaced through the front cover.

How to replace the heating element through the front cover?

If the question arises about how to remove the heating element from a Samsung or Bosch washing machine, then you can note that the process of removing the device is the same as that described in the instructions above. The only difference is how to get there. To do this you need:

The same as in the first case: disconnect the device from the power supply, drain the remaining water from the tank and free access to both the front and rear of the machine.
Remove the top protective cover. To do this, you will have to unscrew two bolts from the back side and remove it from the front clamps.
Remove the detergent tray.
Unscrew the bolts that hold the control panel and also remove it from the clamps. The work must be carried out with extreme caution so as not to tear off the numerous wires leading to the program unit.
Open the hatch, remove the clamp holding the cuff and the sealing rubber itself.
Unscrew the screws that hold the main front protective cover; it is removed from the clamps (moved slightly towards itself and down).

Now access to the heating element is open. All that remains is to disconnect it in the same way as described in the instructions above, carry out maintenance of the tank (remove scale or foreign small objects) and install a new heating element in place.

Where to buy a new heating element for a washing machine?

If you plan to replace a failed element yourself, then it is best to purchase components for repairing household appliances in specialized stores. There, qualified sellers will help you choose the appropriate device option.

You should not purchase components at reduced prices through various message boards. The quality of such parts cannot be properly verified. In the worst case, they can lead to damage to other elements of the device.

Conclusion

If the washing machine stops heating the water, then most likely the heating element has failed. You can replace it yourself, without the help of a specialist. The main thing is to follow the sequence of actions and choose the right new heating element that will match the model of the washing machine.

Instructions

Replacing the heating element can be done without difficulty in any model of washing machine. The failure of the heating element in modern devices is reported automatically; the malfunction can also be determined by the lack of heating of water during operation if the boiling or high-temperature washing mode is turned on. The main reason for the failure of the heating element is the increased hardness of tap water, due to which a coating of salts and scale forms on the surface of the heating element. This leads to overheating and destruction of the heating coil.

Before starting work, be sure to disconnect the washing machine from the network. For the vast majority of models, the heating element is located in the rear of the tank, next to the engine, so you need to turn the machine around and provide free access to the work site. You will also need to remove the back cover by unscrewing several bolts using a screwdriver or 8 or 10 millimeter wrench.

The heating element is fixed at the bottom of the washing tub, inside a small oval-shaped recess. Three wires are connected to it using quick-release terminals or nuts: brown, blue and yellow-green. Also, a temperature sensor can be installed in the heating element housing, having two outgoing wires connected by a plug connection.

First you need to disconnect the temperature sensor and power wires. If quick release terminals are used, additional multi-purpose grease may be required. Removal should be done using pliers, without applying significant effort. The heating element is fixed in the mounting hole using a pressure plate. To loosen the fixation, you should loosen the middle nut and twist it to the very end of the stud, then you need to push them inward with a screwdriver or pliers. After this, the rubber seal must be removed along with the heating element, carefully loosening it from side to side. It may be necessary to pry up one side of the gasket with a thin flathead screwdriver, but this should not damage the edges of the mounting hole.

When the heating element is removed from the washing machine, you need to look into the hole and check for debris, powder residues, dirt or scale at the bottom of the tank. If there are any, it is better to remove the contamination immediately by sweeping away the debris with a thin rod towards the neck of the drain hole, after first removing the clamp and disconnecting the drainage corrugation. It is also important to check the presence of guides for the heating element, which can be placed on the sides or in the center of the installed spiral.

Before installing the heater in the washing machine, you need to screw the nut onto the pin of the clamping bar, then effortlessly insert the heating element into the installation hole. The rubber seal usually has a groove that secures the gasket in the wall of the washing tub. When the heating element is installed, it is necessary to tighten the clamping nut, controlling the rigidity of the heater fastening. After fixing, the power and temperature sensor wires are connected to it, then you can assemble the case and level the washing machine.

If you notice problems with the automatic machine - it does not heat the water - the heater has probably broken down. Failure of the heating element can be caused by several factors, which we will consider in this article.

You will also learn how to replace the heating element in a washing machine with your own hands.

How can you understand that the cause of the breakdown is in the heater? You can assume a breakdown based on external signs:

There is no water heating.
Some SMA models stop working mid-wash.
The laundry does not wash well and there is a musty smell.
An error code is displayed on the SM display.

Before removing the heating element from the washing machine, check the following:

Is there really no water heating? After all, depending on the selected mode, washing can take place in cold water. So, when you start the “Delicate Wash” program, the water temperature is only 30 degrees.
If you are sure that the temperature is set to high, then 15 minutes after the start of the program, place your palm on the hatch. If it is warm, the water is heated.
Is the washing machine connected correctly? It happens that if the hoses are connected incorrectly, the water, without having time to collect, is immediately drained. As a result, the heater simply does not have time to heat up.

For what reasons may it be necessary to replace the heating element coil in a washing machine:

A short circuit has occurred. As a result of the short circuit, the contacts of the element burn out, so it loses contact with the control unit. You will need to replace the wiring or remove and install a new heating element.
The reason is scale. This is enemy number one for all elements of the washing machine. Why is scale dangerous? Collecting in large quantities on the heater, it prevents the element from giving off heat, which leads to overheating and breakdown. The temperature sensor that measures the heating temperature of the water may also fail.
To verify the presence of scale, you need to know how to pull out and remove the heating element from the machine.

Where is the heater located

To understand where the heating element is located in your washing machine, you need to inspect it. Usually, if the back cover is quite large, then the heating element is located there.

Keep in mind that for brands such as Indesit, Ariston, Electrolux, Kandy, the heating element is located at the back. For washing machines from BOSH, Samsung and LG, the heater is located behind the front cover.

If you are unsure of the location of a part, remove the back panel first, as this is the easiest to unscrew. Now proceed to dismantling the heating element of the washing machine.

After disconnecting the washing machine from power and communications, you need to move it away from the wall. Then do this:

Before replacing the heater, you need to check it. This can be done without removing the element from its place. You will need the tester set up in Ohmmeter mode. Do this:

Disconnect all wiring connectors from the heating element.
Connect the tester probes to the heater contacts.

Measure the resistance: values of 20-30 ohms are considered normal.

To remove the heater from the machine, loosen the nut on the center bolt and push it into the tank. Pry the edges with a screwdriver and pull out the element.

Now about how to insert and connect the heating element in the washing machine: take a new heater, insert it into the socket, tighten the nut and connect the wiring.

All that remains is to assemble the car and run it for testing.

Knowing how to replace and install a heating element in a washing machine, you can easily handle the repair yourself. Video will help you