Broken dishwasher? Heating element repair is fast and easy for adventurous do-it-yourselfers!

When your dishwasher isn’t working right, it can throw a monkey wrench into your whole day. So instead of investing hours hand-washing all of your dishes, your better bet is to invest a few hours in fixing your dishwasher. If the problem is cold water, you may be surprised to learn how fast and easy the solution can be! Your dishwasher repairs may be as simple as installing a new heating element, so keep reading to get on the road to a fully operational dishwasher.

Unlike clothes washing machines that rely on the household’s water heater for hot water, your dishwasher creates its own hot water. This is because your dishwasher requires extremely high water temperatures to thoroughly clean and sanitize dishes. If it doesn’t seem like your dishes are getting all the way clean or your dishes are noticeably cool immediately after a completed cycle, your dishwasher’s heating element may be fried.

To test your dishwasher’s heating element, first disconnect the power (by unplugging the dishwasher or flipping the circuit breaker). Then remove the kickplate from the front of the appliance to access the operational guts of your dishwasher. Locate the heating element terminals (it may be helpful to glance inside the body of the dishwasher to get an approximate location) and gently remove the wires from the terminal by grasping the slip-on connector. Then using a standard multimeter, test the heating element for resistance. The value will vary depending on the model, but it should register somewhere between zero and infinity. If the needle doesn’t move or moves all the way to zero, your heating element is faulty and will need to be replaced.

New dishwasher heating elements can be purchased at most home improvement warehouse stores or from your local appliance repair store. Ensure you have the accurate model number for your dishwasher to confirm that you’re getting the right part or, better yet, take the old heating element along with you to the store. Once you have the required part, simply wire the heating element into the terminals using the slip-on connectors. Then restore power to your dishwasher and run a test load to see if you’re getting hot water. The new heating element should fix the problem, but if your dishwasher’s water still isn’t heating up, it may be time to call in the pros for a more thorough diagnostic.

If you’re still not sure what’s causing your dishwasher’s malfunction, or you’re feeling in over your head, don’t hesitate to contact your local appliance repair company. These professionals will be more than happy to pinpoint the root of the problem, and they will have the tools, parts, and expertise to effectively complete any necessary repair work.