GRcade

Somebody might know the solution to this:

Recently my dishwasher filter was black with mould. I cleaned out the entire filter system and let it sit in some vinegar for a day or 2 to make sure it was gone. It was visibly clean when I put it back in.

Yesterday the mould had come back but much worse than I expected. I have noticed that there is a complete lack of any hot water during the cleaning cycle and which I think might be the overall culprit (ie the water is too cold to kill bacteria or properly dissolve cleaning tablets)

One thing to note is I have had my boiler switched off for the last few months to save gas during the warmer summer months, only occasionally turned back on to make sure it’s all still working.

Is the boiler being off causing the lack of hot water or will the ultimate culprit be a faulty heating element in the dishwasher? I’be never been aware of the boiler coming on during the wash cycle like it does when the hot tap is ran or the central heating is on but it seems like too much of a coincidence to dismiss outright.

Any thoughts?

I think dishwashers are usually cold fill only (at least the 3 I've had have always been). Check round the back to see if that's the case. If so then maybe the heating element has packed up.

As rex says. I've only ever come across cold fill dishwashers. So if it's not heating up then it sounds like the heating element is faulty. How do you know it's not heating up?

It could be a limescale issue.

rinks wrote:It could be a limescale issue.

I was thinking this as well. There used to be a regular poster who was good with this sort of thing - can't remember the name.

Dual wrote:

rinks wrote:It could be a limescale issue.

I was thinking this as well. There used to be a regular poster who was good with this sort of thing - can't remember the name.

My washing machine has never been better though

Return_of_the_STAR wrote:As rex says. I've only ever come across cold fill dishwashers. So if it's not heating up then it sounds like the heating element is faulty. How do you know it's not heating up?

When it’s running there is no steam coming out when I open it mid-cycle. Also the tablets aren’t dissolving properly and leaving powder on the pots.

Carlos wrote:

Return_of_the_STAR wrote:As rex says. I've only ever come across cold fill dishwashers. So if it's not heating up then it sounds like the heating element is faulty. How do you know it's not heating up?

When it’s running there is no steam coming out when I open it mid-cycle. Also the tablets aren’t dissolving properly and leaving powder on the pots.

Yeah sounds right then. As a couple of others have said the heating element could be covered in limescale preventing it from heating up.

My first point of call would be putting a cleaner through it, obviously might do sod all but you never know?

Heating element is probably knackered in the dishwasher.

Robbo-92 wrote:My first point of call would be putting a cleaner through it, obviously might do sod all but you never know?

I'd try this, but I think Darkside is right. Sounds like the heater element. If that's the case, it's pretty much beyond repair.

It wouldn't be your boiler, I don't think they make dishwashers that have a hot water intake.

captain red dog wrote:

Robbo-92 wrote:My first point of call would be putting a cleaner through it, obviously might do sod all but you never know?

I'd try this, but I think Darkside is right. Sounds like the heater element. If that's the case, it's pretty much beyond repair.

It wouldn't be your boiler, I don't think they make dishwashers that have a hot water intake.

Yeah it does sound like there’s a bigger problem with it but for a few quid I’d at least try it first.

So, we have a dishwasher break down just at the same time the Queen gets ill?

I'm not saying this is attempted regicide but I'm also not saying it isn't.

Two options would be to run the dishwasher and see if you can stop it part way through and open the door to see if the dishwasher is hot. If not check the drain pipe as that will be hot if the element is working.

Heating elements can be replaced if you can get one that fits your model, the difficulty will vary depending on what dishwasher you have of course.

I've had to do it in the past and it wasn't too tricky