Zanussui ZT695: bio50 light flashes/heating element buckled

Hi there,

I was doing a bit of work in my sisters and move her dishwasher out of position temporarily – leaving it connected to services. It worked fine for few days.

When I moved it back and ran a programme I notice smoke eminating from the kitchen units and the kind of smell you get when you turn on an empty kettle. 🙁

Opening the door of the dishwasher I saw that the heating element was buckled where the plastic top of a flask was lying on it. I also noticed that the water level was very low – the element was nearly completely exposed.

The unit doesn’t seem to fill water past a very low level and doesn’t heat either. The bio50 light flashes rapidly part way thorugh the cycle.

I suspect the problem is sourced in the unit not filling, causing the element to overheat and burn out – the plastic top being incidental to the problem.

If this is how it is, how do dishwashers determine water level?

Thanks