How long does it take to heat up the water in the washing machine?
It does not take much time to heat the water in the washing machine tank. This is primarily due to the high power of tubular electric heaters (or heating elements) in modern devices. In addition, the machines take up much less liquid than older models. Let's figure out how much water heats up, for what reasons over time it happens much slower than immediately after purchase, and how to fix this problem.
How quickly does it heat up?
A normally functioning heating element with an average power rating in the new technology allows you to bring the water temperature to 90 degrees in an average of 15 minutes. If the heater is particularly powerful, this happens much faster, in 5-7 minutes. However, the device will consume more electricity.
Some users note that even for a quick wash at 40 degrees, the water heats up too slowly. Why this happens is quite simple to explain. Electric heaters are fragile and susceptible to external influences. Flint sticks to the heating element, burns, and limescale appears. The thicker the layer of deposits, the less heat transfer from the heating part.
Important! A heating element coated with scale works 2 times slower, and over time it stops functioning altogether, and the owner has to change the element.
For correct and uninterrupted operation, certain measures must be taken. Firstly, it is important to use special filtration systems to soften the water. This is both safer and cheaper than special chemical compounds sold in hardware stores.Secondly, many experts recommend periodically cleaning the “insides” of the washing machine with a concentrated solution of citric acid.
You need to be very careful with acidic compounds. When exposed to a heating element overgrown with a centimeter layer of lime, large pieces of hardened plaque fall off, which can get stuck between the drum and the heating element. As a result, the machine will jam, and the heater will crack, break, and the device will stop working.
In order to avoid such problems, it is recommended to remove the heating element before cleaning. It is cleaned of plaque and then installed back. Even after proper cleaning, you need to take preventive measures (use filters, clean the drum with citric acid).
Finding the heating element
If the heater appears to be malfunctioning, it needs to be accessed. To do this, you need to look at the instructions for the household appliance. Some washing machines have it on the front, while others have it on the back. If upon visual inspection it turns out that there is a large removable part on the back of the housing, occupying almost the entire wall area, the electric heater is most likely located there.
It also happens that the rear removable part is too small. In this case, it is unlikely that the heating element is located at the back.
Depending on which side the heating element is located on, either the rear or front wall of the machine is dismantled.
If you are in doubt about the location of the heater, it is best to remove the removable element from the rear first. The fact is that it is much easier to get it than the front one. That is why experts advise first of all to open the back cover and carefully examine the “insides”.
An alternative method will also work. There is a list of washing machine models in which the heating element is located at the back: Zanussi, Candy, Electrolux, Ariston, Indesit, Ardo, etc. In Hansa brand devices, the part can be accessed through the base panel. If the machine is vertical loading, the heating element can most often be accessed through the side body part.
Part replacement
First, you should drain all the liquid that remains in the tank. To do this, you can place the drain hose at floor level or twist the drain pump filter. It is important to place a large rag or a basin in advance so as not to flood the neighbors below.
Then the wires that are attached to the heating element are disconnected. The nut located in the middle is partially twisted, and the threaded rod is driven inside. For this purpose, you can use a hammer by gently tapping the surface. The electric heater is caught with a sharp object (knife or screwdriver) and carefully removed from the tank. You should be very careful not to cause mechanical damage to the seal.
After dismantling, the correct operation of the heating element is checked. In case of malfunction, you need to purchase a new part. It is inserted into a special hole, and the user carefully controls its position. It should be exactly the same as that of the previous heater that failed. The appearance of tilts and the presence of gaps is excluded. Further procedure:
holding the heating element with your hand, tighten the nut;
do not tighten too tightly, otherwise you may squeeze the heater out of its place;
secure the wiring.
When all manipulations have been completed, you need to run the wash dry. For example, you can set the program at a temperature of 60 degrees.If everything is in order (the water heats up in the washing machine), the dismantled body part is returned to its place. The device is ready for active use again!
It does not take much time to heat the water in the washing machine tank. This is primarily due to the high power of tubular electric heaters (or heating elements) in modern devices. In addition, the machines take up much less liquid than older models. Let's figure out how much water heats up, for what reasons over time it happens much slower than immediately after purchase, and how to fix this problem.
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