The flow-through dishwasher heater breaks down quite often. This is due to the low quality of tap water in many regions of the country. On modern machines, the heating element works properly for about 2-3 years, after which it requires replacement or repair. Is it possible to repair the heating element of a dishwasher yourself? Or is it easier to buy and install a new heating element? Let's look into the nuances.
Is it expensive to buy a new part?
If your dishwasher heater breaks down, there are three possible options. The first is to purchase and install a new element. The second is to pay a technician who will repair the failed part. The third is to repair the heating element with your own hands.
The most expensive, and at the same time the simplest option is to buy a new flow-through heater or an entire circulation pump. Spare parts for budget cars, for example, Indesit, cost around $30. In principle, this price is acceptable, so you can “not bother” with repairs, but simply replace the heating element.
If the heating element on more expensive machines, for example, Bosch, breaks down, then the circulation pump with a heater will cost more. On average, $60-70. In this case, it is better to first try to repair the element.
The second option is suitable for those who want to save money, but do not want to figure out how to fix the problem themselves. On ad sites you can find contacts of dishwasher repair specialists. Specialists charge about $20-30 for the work, which is cheaper than buying a new flow-through heater.
The third option is to repair the dishwasher heating element yourself. I would like to warn you that this is not an easy task.However, if you spend time and figure it out, it’s quite possible to repair a flow-through heater with your own hands.
If funds allow, it is better to buy and install a new flow-through heater in the dishwasher.
No one can guarantee how long the dishwasher will work after repairing the heating element. This could be a couple of days or several years. Therefore, it is worth immediately assessing all the risks.
How to repair a dishwasher heating element
What is the difficulty of repairing a dishwasher heating element? On many models, a film flow-through heater is built into the circulation pump. To get to the element, you will have to disassemble the pump. This situation is observed, for example, on Bosch machines.
Dishwasher heaters usually fail due to:
accumulation of scale on the surface, which leads to burnout of the element;
current leakage, in other words – breakdown;
broken heating filament, etc.
It is very easy to understand that the heater is broken. Dishwashers equipped with a display will display the corresponding error code on the screen. In addition, the dishes will not be washed well, since the water will remain cold.
To repair a film heater, you must:
turn off the power to the dishwasher;
dismantle the circulation pump;
remove the heating element from the pump;
inspect the film heater for damage and find a defect;
remove the protective layer from the affected area with a file;
dilute a small amount of copper sulfate in warm water;
dripping a solution of copper sulfate, cover the affected area on the heating element path;
tin the resulting copper jumper;
Cover the soldering area with epoxy resin (recommended).
In the place “eaten” by corrosion, you can solder a metal wire, which must first be tinned.
This way it will be possible to restore the functionality of the film heater. After repair, you should check the heating element with a multimeter - it should show normal resistance. Next, you need to reassemble the circulation pump. Afterwards, the machine connects to the network and starts in test mode.
Any problem is easier to prevent. Therefore, to extend the life of the instantaneous heater, do not forget to periodically clean the dishwasher using special anti-scale products. You can run the dishwasher with regular citric acid at least once a month.
The flow-through dishwasher heater breaks down quite often. This is due to the low quality of tap water in many regions of the country. On modern machines, the heating element works properly for about 2-3 years, after which it requires replacement or repair. Is it possible to repair the heating element of a dishwasher yourself? Or is it easier to buy and install a new heating element? Let's look into the nuances.
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