The washing machine heats up the rinse water

When you start the rinse mode in a properly working washing machine, the heating element turns off, since the laundry must be in cold water after the completion of the main wash cycle. If the washing machine heats the water when rinsing, it has a breakdown. In case of this kind of failure, the tubular electric heater does not turn off even when spinning the laundry, which creates a danger, since the part is heated “dry”. Why is this happening?

What should the owner do?

If, after completing a full wash cycle, the wrung-out laundry is warm to the touch, you cannot start the washing machine again because the heating system is faulty. Failure may occur due to damage to the heating element. This means that there is a high probability of current leakage onto the device body.

In this case, the owner must immediately, carefully, without touching the machine, disconnect it from the power supply. Then you should call a specialist. If this is impossible to do for some reason, the work of checking the electric heater and temperature sensor can be entrusted to a man.

Thermistor test

Sometimes washing machines heat the water during rinsing if the thermistors are faulty. They fail less often than heating elements, but they are worth testing from time to time. In addition, removing the temperature sensor from the housing is easier and faster than the heating element, and it is more logical to carry out repair work from simple to complex. The thermostat is located inside the heating element, which in most models is installed in the lower part of the housing. To test the washing machine thermistor, you need to do the following:

• Disconnect the device from the power supply.
• Remove the rear panel of the machine.
• Find the wires that go from the temperature sensor to the external temperature controller. Separate them.
• The screw that holds the tubular electric heater must be loosened.
• Remove the sensor from the heating element.

You can handle this work yourself. To check the thermistor, you will need a multimeter. Use it to check resistance. They do it like this:

• Set up the measuring device to determine resistance,
• Attach the probes to the thermistor contacts and check the readings,
• Then the sensor is immersed in heated water and the resistance reading is observed as the temperature changes. It should get lower.

If the temperature is +50 0 C, then the resistance value in a working thermistor is approximately 1350 Ohms. If a breakdown occurs, the sensor must be replaced. Installing a new part and assembling the washing machine is carried out in the reverse order. The device is connected to the mains last.

Let's take care of the heating element

If the machine heats up water when rinsing or spinning, damage to the heating element may be suspected. Many craftsmen begin checking with this detail. To do this you need to perform several actions.

 

• Disconnect equipment from the network,
• Turn the washing machine around so that you have free access to the rear panel. Unscrew the screws holding it. Remove the panel,
• Remove the drive belt from the pulley,
• Find the contacts of the heating element at the rear wall of the tank, the thermostat, and the connected wiring,
• The nodes are photographed,
• For diagnostics, disconnect the wiring, take a multimeter and set it to measure resistance, setting the value to 200 Ohms,
• Attach the probes to the terminals of the electric heater and check the indicators.

If the heating element is working normally, the resistance value should vary between 26–28 ohms. If the value “1” appears on the device, the electric heater is damaged, there is a winding break in it, and the indicator “0” indicates a short circuit.

The next diagnostic stage is checking the machine body for breakdown. To do this, the tester's operation is switched to buzzer mode, and probes are applied. The appearance of a characteristic sound signal when touched means a current leak and the need to replace the electric heater. Dismantle the old element like this:

• loosen the central nut and disconnect the thermostat to remove the faulty heating element,
• if deformation of the rubber gasket is detected, which “blocks” the heating element, lubricate the cuff with WD-40,
• after 20 minutes, having removed any remaining lubricant, the heating element is rocked and removed from its seat.

Instead of a faulty part, it is important to choose the right new one. You should focus on the markings located on the heating element body and the serial number of the washing machine. If in doubt, you can take the old heater to the store and consult with the seller. The new heating element is installed according to the instructions given, but the steps are performed in the reverse order. The seat is pre-cleaned of dirt and scale.