Washing machine not heating: causes and repair
Are the stains still there after the wash, and does the door glass stay cold during a 60°C programme? Then your washing machine is probably no longer heating the water. Below you can read what to test yourself and when you need a technician.
A washing machine that no longer heats only washes with cold water and soap. That is bad for your clothes and for hygiene. The cause is often found quickly: a scaled-up or burnt-out heating element, a faulty temperature sensor or a relay on the circuit board.
We repair washing machines at your home. The diagnosis costs €69. If you decide not to go ahead with the repair, that is all you pay. If you choose the repair, the total is €179 at most, parts extra.
Prices
How much does washing machine repair cost?
Whether your washing machine won't drain, leaks or shows an error code: you pay the same fixed price, whatever the brand.
A technician finds out at your home why your washing machine isn't working properly. If you don't go ahead with the repair, you only pay for the diagnosis.
If the technician can repair your washing machine, you pay €110. No time limit: even if it takes long or a second visit is needed.
Spare parts are not included. The technician tells you in advance if a part is needed and what it costs.
Chrono surcharge for a visit in the evening, at the weekend or just a few hours after your request.
Second appliance during the same visit? The technician can check and repair it too for €80.
Maintenance as well? The technician can also clean and check your appliance thoroughly, for €50 per appliance on top of the diagnosis and repair.
Prefer remote help first? A video repair costs €49. See all our prices →
What can you check yourself first?
Does my washing machine not heat on the Eco programme?
Many people think their machine is broken when they are using the Eco programme. On an Eco 40-60 programme the machine often doesn’t actually heat the water to 60 degrees. It makes up for the lower temperature by washing for much longer. That saves energy.
The test: run a normal cotton programme or a short intensive programme at 60°C or 90°C. After 20 to 30 minutes, carefully feel the door glass. If it is warm, there is nothing wrong with your machine.
Can too little water stop my washing machine from heating?
Yes. A washing machine has a built-in safety feature: the heating element may only switch on when it is fully under water, otherwise it could burn out. Open the tap fully and check that the inlet hose isn’t kinked anywhere. If the water pressure is too low, the machine sometimes refuses to heat.
How can I check myself whether the water gets warm?
Start a programme at 60°C. Wait about 30 minutes, until the machine has finished taking in water, and place your hand flat against the door glass. If it feels cold, the water inside is cold too.
Which parts stop a washing machine from heating?
Is the water still cold, even on a normal programme? Then a part has probably failed. Water and electricity come together here: leave it to a technician.
Has the heating element in my washing machine failed?
That is the most common cause. The heating element looks like the coil in a kettle and sits at the bottom of the tub. It can burn out with age, or become completely encased in a thick layer of limescale. It then no longer passes its heat to the water. In hard-water areas such as Antwerp, Brussels and Ghent we see this often.
Can a faulty temperature sensor block the heating?
Yes. The temperature sensor (NTC) measures how warm the water is and tells the circuit board when the element should switch on or off. If the sensor fails, the machine ‘thinks’ the water is already warm and doesn’t switch the element on.
What if the pressure switch or the circuit board is faulty?
The pressure switch measures how much water is in the tub. If it sends the wrong signal, the machine blocks the heating for safety. Sometimes the relay on the circuit board has burnt out too, so the heating element gets no power at all.
How does the heating in a washing machine work?
At the bottom of the tub, the plastic drum housing in which the steel drum turns, there is a metal heating element. It works like the coil in a kettle. Heating the water accounts for 80 to 90 per cent of the electricity a wash programme uses. That is why washing at 30 degrees is so much cheaper than at 60 or 90 degrees.
Which error code does a washing machine show when it isn't heating?
Is your machine showing an error code? There is a good chance it has already detected that the water isn't reaching temperature.
| Brand | Code | What is going on |
|---|---|---|
| Bosch, Siemens | E19, F19 | The heating time has been exceeded. Usually a faulty heating element or heavy limescale. |
| Bosch, Siemens | E22, E37, F37 | Problem with the temperature sensor (NTC): no value or an illogical one. |
| AEG, Electrolux, Zanussi | E61, E62, E66, E68 | Any code starting with E6 points to a heating problem: the element itself (E68) or the relay on the circuit board (E66). |
| AEG, Electrolux, Zanussi | E71, E74 | Problem with the temperature sensor. |
| Miele | F20 | Problem heating the water. The heating element is probably faulty. |
| Miele | F21 to F24 | Fault in the temperature sensor. |
| Samsung | HE, HC, HC1, tE | The machine stops because the temperature isn't reached or the temperature sensor is failing. |
| Whirlpool, Bauknecht | F08 | Problem in the heating circuit: the element or its wiring. |
| Whirlpool, Bauknecht | F12 | Fault in the heating element or a faulty thermostat. |
These codes concern parts that carry mains voltage. Working on them yourself is dangerous. Give the code when you book, so the technician knows which part to bring.
How can you tell your washing machine is secretly washing cold?
Why are there white streaks on my dark clothes?
Washing powder and detergent dissolve poorly in cold water. If white, grainy streaks are left on dark T-shirts, the water probably isn’t getting warm.
Why does my washing machine or my laundry smell?
Cold water doesn’t kill bacteria or break down grease. A grey, greasy sludge then forms in the edges of the machine, which gives your ‘clean’ laundry a strong sewer or sweat smell.
Why won’t stains come out any more?
Sweat, grease and oil stains need heat to come out of the fabric. Does the laundry come out as dirty as it went in? Check the temperature. More about cleaning and maintenance is on our washing machine cleaning page.
How do you stop the heating element from failing?
Why is limescale so bad for the heating element?
Limescale is the biggest enemy of hot water. The more limescale on the element, the harder it has to work to push its heat through that layer. Eventually it overheats and burns out. Descale your machine regularly, especially if you live in a hard-water area.
Can too much detergent upset the temperature sensor?
Yes. Soap residue can form a greasy layer around the temperature sensor. Under that layer the sensor no longer measures the temperature correctly.
Does a hot wash help to maintain the machine?
Yes. Once a month, run the empty machine at 90°C, or use the special drum-cleaning programme. That kills the bacteria behind bad smells and rinses away soap residue that clings to the element.
Would you rather have a technician service the machine thoroughly? Maintenance costs €50 extra per appliance, on top of the diagnosis and repair.
Is it worth repairing a washing machine that isn't heating?
Almost always. Many people immediately think of a new machine, but a heating element or temperature sensor is surprisingly affordable. The part costs a fraction of a new washing machine, and our technicians usually replace it within the hour, at your home.
Unless your machine is already fifteen years old and has other faults, repairing the heating circuit is the logical and ecological choice. Is your washing machine still under the manufacturer's warranty? Then contact the manufacturer or the shop: we don't repair appliances under manufacturer's warranty.
Where do we repair washing machines at home?
Our technicians work in Antwerp, the Brussels-Capital Region, East Flanders, West Flanders, Flemish Brabant, Limburg, Liège, Namur, Hainaut and Walloon Brabant.
Do your technicians have to travel from Vilvoorde every morning?
No. Our technicians live all over Belgium and set off every morning from their own municipality. The parts they need are delivered straight to their homes. That way we get to you quickly, without long drives and often as soon as the next working day.
Another problem with your washing machine or dishwasher?
Our washing machine repair page covers all symptoms, error codes and brands. Is your dishwasher not heating up? Read dishwasher not heating. Got another broken appliance? We repair it during the same visit for €80 extra.
Frequently asked questions about a washing machine that isn't heating
Technically yes: the machine usually just finishes its programme with cold water. We still advise against it. Your laundry won’t be hygienically clean and bacteria build up in the drum.
If the technician has the right part with them, the repair is usually done within 45 to 60 minutes. The machine doesn’t need to go to a workshop: we do it at your home.
The diagnosis at your home costs €69. If you choose the repair, you pay €179 in total at most, however long the technician needs. Parts, such as a new heating element, are charged separately. The technician tells you the price in advance.
That is normal. On an Eco 40-60 programme the machine often doesn’t reach 60 degrees, but washes for longer to get the same result. So test with a normal programme at 60°C or 90°C.
No. If your washing machine is still under the manufacturer’s warranty, contact the manufacturer or the shop where you bought it. A repair by us could void that warranty.
We give a 3-month warranty on every repair. If the same fault comes back within that period, we return at no extra cost.
Use the button on this page to choose a day and a time slot yourself. You can also call 02 615 45 20. Give the brand, the model number and, if there is one, the error code.