How to remove the heating element from an LG washing machine
One of the most common problems in modern washing machines is the failure of the water heating element, or simply heating element. It is very simple to determine the breakdown - you run a high-temperature program to wash clothes in hot water, but the machine does not heat the water at all and performs all manipulations at low temperatures.
In this case, you should not ignore the malfunction and continue washing in cold water, because a faulty part can seriously damage the washer. It is better to remove the heating element from the LG washing machine as quickly as possible and install a new one. To carry out diagnostics and subsequent replacement, strictly follow our instructions.
What is needed to remove the heating element?
It is not difficult to remove a damaged heating element with your own hands, so any owner of an LG washing machine can cope with this task. It is also important that for dismantling you do not need to purchase additional tools to the basic set that is kept in every home just in case. We will need:
ratchet with 8 head;
2 screwdrivers: Phillips and slotted;
multimeter;
technical lubricant.
Do not buy a new heating element in advance, as you may mistakenly choose an unsuitable model with a different manufacturer’s marking.
Of course, it would be more convenient to purchase the part in advance in order to install it immediately after dismantling the old one, but the chance of error is so high, because the water heating element must be ideally suited specifically for your LG equipment. In washing machines, the manufacturer installs different models of heating elements, both in terms of power and size. Therefore, it would be much better to first remove the damaged part, inspect it, rewrite the markings, and even take it with you to the hardware store so that you have a sample at hand.
You can also order the item on the Internet, where the price for the part is around $5. The main thing is to correctly determine the power of the heating element, which in LG machines usually reaches 1850 W. But you shouldn’t focus solely on this figure, since all machines are individual, which means the power can be even higher.
Where to look for the heating element?
LG's home assistant hides the heating element in a standard place for automatic washing machines - right at the bottom of the tank. Finding an electric heater is easy: you just need to turn off the machine from the power supply, turn off the water supply, turn the body 180 degrees and remove the back panel. Pay attention to the bottom of the drum - it is under it that there is a metal part connected to many different wires. You will never confuse it with the engine or other components, because the heating element is always located in the tank, surrounded by wiring.
But while searching for, dismantling and installing a new water heater is not difficult, diagnosing and understanding the causes of the breakdown can be much more difficult. The heater can become unusable due to a number of problems, which is why it is so important to accurately determine the cause of the problem in order to eliminate it and prevent the breakdown of the new heating element. Most often, a part fails for fairly mundane reasons.
Sudden power surges.
Incorrect operation of the heater temperature sensor.
Overheating of the part due to a large layer of scale.
Scale caused by too hard or dirty water can be avoided by using water softeners such as Calgon.
Banal carelessness of the user during operation.
Moisture on the contacts of the part.
Manufacturing defects.
Most often, replacing a damaged part can eliminate the malfunction and return the device to normal operation. But it is much worse if the reason is hidden in the control board, the replacement of which costs users much more. If the electronic control module is damaged, for example, the contacts have come loose and the tracks are damaged, then it will have to be repaired or replaced. And it is not recommended to carry out this procedure yourself, since it is too complicated for people without professional technical education. In this case, it is better to call a service center technician to your home.
Diagnostics and removal of the heater
Do not rush to disconnect the part; first you need to check that it is really out of order. Follow the instructions for diagnosis.
Look for a potentially faulty heater in the washer tank.
Disconnect the wiring from the “chip”.
Using a multimeter in the “Resistance” mode, check the heating element. To do this, you need to attach the tester probes to the contacts of the element being tested.
If the multimeter showed numbers in the range of 20-30 Ohms, then everything is in order with the part. If the number displayed is different, then the heating element needs to be changed. You need to do this as follows:
first of all, disconnect all the wires and loosen the central fastening nut located between the heater contacts;
then, with a little force, press the stud with the screwed nut inside the tank. The part will fall inward by about 1 centimeter;
Then a common problem may arise - the gasket of the water heater could dry out and become deformed, which will make it difficult to remove it from its mounting hole. In this case, we advise you to use flat screwdrivers to pry up the elastic on both sides and carefully pull it out;
Finally, all that remains is to remove the faulty heating element itself and clean the mounting hole, so that later it will be easier to install a new part.
Install the heater according to the instructions in reverse order, and then be sure to check the operation of the washing machine. Only a test wash will show whether the water has started to heat up well again.
One of the most common problems in modern washing machines is the failure of the water heating element, or simply heating element. It is very simple to determine the breakdown - you run a high-temperature program to wash clothes in hot water, but the machine does not heat the water at all and performs all manipulations at low temperatures.
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