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Hi
Hope I am not asking too stupid a question, but I don’t know the answer.
So, what can cause the water heater in a washing machine to go open circuit? In two years, I have had this happen in two separate machines; the first was a 4 month old Daewoo, the second is a TOL Bosch which, although just under two years old, already had a new element less than a year ago as part of a major repair when the heater bracket sheared off.
I have owned many washing washing machines in my lifetime, but never did the water heaters go. For the last 2 1/2 years I’ve been living in an area with harder water than my previous address, but it’s not rock hard. Any ideas? Thanks.
Re: Water heater faliure
Limescale is the major offender. Add to that the amount of washing you do in that time period and by the looks if it quite a lot I would think. Higher temperature washes too increase the length of time the element is energised. Finally, the trade in general actively encourages users to carry out regular 60 – 90 degree ‘service washes’ to their machines. The purpose being to reduce bacteria build-up within the tub and drum by adding a bleach based detergent. Good news for the drum but puts a greater strain on the heating element if it spends its days meanwhile only heating to sub 40 degree washes all the time.
A ‘darned if you do, dangled if you don’t’ scenario and no mistake. 👿
Re: Water heater faliure
Hello Martin
Thank you for this. I took the element out and yes, there is scale on it. As for your other comments…well…
I only use the full-cycle cotton wash. I do about 10 loads a week at 60’C.
I also do at least 2 more loads at 90’C. I don’t need to tell you that the machine looks all shiny and new inside the door seal and soap drawer then 😀 Certianly keeps it free of any mould.
I figured I overwork my washing machines…as you say damned if you do…but TBH I buy appliances to use them, not to look at them, so yeah, they get a good work-out. Just seems odd that they aren’t up to doing the work they allow the user to do. I have long wondered if they are built only to withstand the bulk of the laundry being done on quick wash???
Thanks for reply. Bosch can come out Wednesday, but I can have the part to fit myself by tomorrow. I only have about 6 weeks warranty left…Am now wondering if I should insure the machine? It’s not so much the money as it is being without the washer when it goes wrong…as you can tell from the number of loads I said I do, I am reliant on a washing machine 😥
Re: Water heater faliure
Don’t waste your money on any extended warranty, they are far too costly and your money far more secure kept in your bank account. Instead look around for a local independent repairer when your machine is out of guarantee. They offer a better, faster, cheaper service than the manufacturers. If ever your machine fails then look to them to fix it and revel in the money you’ve saved in the meanwhile! 😀
Re: Water heater faliure
Hi Martin
I can do basic repairs myself, like the brushes, but you see I bought this model as the motor is brushless…last two Bosch machines I had I ruined the motors by not realizing the brushes were worn out. Not like other makes when one just pops a new set in & away it goes, these motors wouldn’t ‘take’ the brushes.
However, I am fast wondering if -with the amount of washing I do- and the price of new machines, whether I shouldn’t just buy cheap and keep buying a new machine every 18-months or so…no, I don’t run a laundrette or guest house, but yes, the use it gets is on the brink of commercial usage. Thanks.
Re: Water heater faliure
yea, good idea… go to argos and buy a bush… sounds like bosch doesnt it…. does it not bother you about the environment / natural wasteage etc, go buy one, and see the difference in just about every possible way
Re: Water heater faliure
helo_75 wrote:yea, good idea… go to argos and buy a bush… sounds like bosch doesnt it…. does it not bother you about the environment / natural wasteage etc, go buy one, and see the difference in just about every possible way
No, it doesn’t bother me in the slightest. I make efforts to save the planet in other ways (you should see my car, it’s a tiny old 1.2L), we all have to consume something sometime.
It is not my fault that things are being made so it’s not worth the expense of a repair. I mean everyone I know who’s had new brushes in a Bosch motor has had to replace the whole machine within 6 months as the brushes won’t take. Other washing machines don’t have this bother…put a new set in & off it goes…who’s fault is that? I’d love to see a time when we had major appliances mended like we did when I was a lad, by a bloke who ran a local vac & washer shop…*sigh* those were the days. Unfortunately my life has to go on and I can’t wait for that day to come again. Anyway, the appalling quality of washing machines means we’re probably only scrapping half as much a machine as we did years ago.
As for ISE and Meile, yes, thanks, I’ve been studying those 😀Re: Water heater faliure
Unfortunatley on forums like this and the internet in general you will only here of broken machines, i own a bosch myself and 4 years in to its life i fitted brushes and its still going strong 3 years later and trust me it gets used a lot, at least a dozen washes a week!
No matter what any one says the fact is that statistically a premium machine will last longer than a cheep one, and wash better.
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http://www.kitchenkitsw.comRe: Water heater faliure
Hi Drdrill.
Ah well you see, it is the washing performance which leads me to Bosch. They do wash so well. I once had a Whirlpool and I never thought the wash was good. My comments about Bosch washing machine brushes weren’t internet based though – they are from my own experiences; I know people who’ve had this trouble & in 2004 I had a Bosch ‘written off’ by domestic and general, because the engineer said that Bosch motors never like new brushes when the old ones have been run right down.
In 2010 I had to scrap a 5-and-a-bit year old Bosch because the same thing had happened…In light of my earlier experiences, I did change the brushes on the strike of three years old, but the second time they went, they went after less than three years use & caught me unaware. I was disappointed about that as the washing machine was fantastic – despite being one of the cheapest models available at the time I bought it.
Re: Water heater faliure
What i forgot to mention though is yhat i bedded the new brushes in with a comm stick,
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http://www.kitchenkitsw.comRe: Water heater faliure
Not many do these days and that is one reason why new brushes in any motor dont last very long
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http://www.kitchenkitsw.comRe: Water heater faliure
Yes…many years ago -when I left school- I worked in a vacuum & washer repair shop (that’s how I know how to do the very basics) and they had comm sticks. I could never touch them, th feel of them used to make my blood run cold!!!
For several years now I have been on the ‘other’ side of appliances, running a domestic cleaning service – which is why I end up battering my washing machines…I have to wash work clothes which are changed at least once a day, plus mops & cloths from cleaning…and all manner of other regular laundry we get through in a week.
I have just put new carbon brushes in my mums old Zanussi Aquacycle…it’s been in my garage for a few weeks since she bought a new one. Anyway, it’s running like new and I’ll use that now until I get the Bosch sorted out. It’s very noisy though 🙁
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