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Thread: Washing Machine warning light - "water level is below heater" warning

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    Gold Member Marcos's Avatar
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    Question Washing Machine warning light - "water level is below heater" warning

    This isn't a follow up to the "can Washing Machines handle duvets?" thread





    I've been getting these warning lights, but nothing dramatic is happening. trying to gauge if I should even try to tackle this myself or swallow the fees of a repairman


    EDIT: I read the lights wrong, I have a broken heater element or sensor
    Last edited by Marcos; 26-08-2013 at 10:35 PM.

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    Formerly known as Andehh Andeh13's Avatar
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    Re: Washing Machine warning light - "water level is below heater" warning

    Standard stuff & then I run out of ideas .....(some engineer I am! ). Checked filters, dust traps and hoses for clogs or anything that may reveal blockage - excess gunk etc?

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    Re: Washing Machine warning light - "water level is below heater" warning

    I had similar on a Bosch dishwasher, the price of replacement heater parts alone was almost the price of a new dishwasher, so I bought a replacement dishwasher.

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    Re: Washing Machine warning light - "water level is below heater" warning

    Quote Originally Posted by Andehh View Post
    Standard stuff & then I run out of ideas .....(some engineer I am! ). Checked filters, dust traps and hoses for clogs or anything that may reveal blockage - excess gunk etc?
    I think judging by the error it needs new stat or heater element? Rather than a clean

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    Gold Member Marcos's Avatar
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    Re: Washing Machine warning light - "water level is below heater" warning

    So I'm ready to try this repair myself, have seen the youtube video and it doesn't look tough:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zgfi80jTuWw

    Here's the right part:

    http://www.spares4appliances.co.uk/h...element-p71207


    The only problem is, it looks like I have to carry over the sensor, how do I determine if it's the sensor that is broken first? Before ordering a £40 part.

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    Re: Washing Machine warning light - "water level is below heater" warning

    Do a continuity check on the heater element. If it is open circuit it has failed and needs replacing. If it shows a low resistance, it is probably OK, so it will be the sensor that needs replacing. (The resistance will be around 15 to 25 ohms)
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    Re: Washing Machine warning light - "water level is below heater" warning

    Quote Originally Posted by peterb View Post
    Do a continuity check on the heater element. If it is open circuit it has failed and needs replacing. If it shows a low resistance, it is probably OK, so it will be the sensor that needs replacing. (The resistance will be around 15 to 25 ohms)
    Hey thanks for this, first test had no beep from multimeter, but neither did the sensor, I should have tried different settings. So I'm going to repeat the test at all the different resistances.

    PS, your sig is a formatting nightmare :-p

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    Re: Washing Machine warning light - "water level is below heater" warning

    Quote Originally Posted by Marcos View Post
    Hey thanks for this, first test had no beep from multimeter, but neither did the sensor, I should have tried different settings. So I'm going to repeat the test at all the different resistances.
    Should have made it clear, it is the heater element that should be between 15 and 25 ohms. As for the sensor, it depends on the type. Some water level sensors are just prtessure operated micro-switches (which are reliable and easy to test. If it is a solid state sensor, or it is a solid state temperature sensor, they are less easy to test reliably.

    Quote Originally Posted by Marcos View Post
    PS, your sig is a formatting nightmare :-p
    Thank you - I have just tweaked it a little!
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    Re: Washing Machine warning light - "water level is below heater" warning

    Quote Originally Posted by peterb View Post
    Should have made it clear, it is the heater element that should be between 15 and 25 ohms. As for the sensor, it depends on the type. Some water level sensors are just prtessure operated micro-switches (which are reliable and easy to test. If it is a solid state sensor, or it is a solid state temperature sensor, they are less easy to test reliably.



    Thank you - I have just tweaked it a little!
    Ok I ordered this:

    http://www.partmaster.co.uk/heating-...&query=awg5122

    Because it turns out that the replacement parts come together, so I have given up on trying to work out which of the parts is broken. I'll replace the assembly.

    Will report back!

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    Re: Washing Machine warning light - "water level is below heater" warning

    So far so good, replaced the part, did a test wash, it leaked at first. It was because I didn't do the bolt tight enough on the element, the bolt that squeezes the rubber gasket to seal. Fixed that, now no leaking.

    As long as it doesn't blow up in the next week, this could be mission accomplished.

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    peterb (06-11-2013)

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    Re: Washing Machine warning light - "water level is below heater" warning

    Excellent! Glad you have fixed it - and at a lower cost than getting someone in!
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    Re: Washing Machine warning light - "water level is below heater" warning

    2 complete full washes on 60deg, no problems.

    Mission Accomplished until the next thing that goes bust. Now I need to learn about how to prevent limescale build-up in the first place. Here's the part I took out next to the new part:


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    Re: Washing Machine warning light - "water level is below heater" warning

    Some washing powders/liquids have softening agents in them, which cope with moderate hardness. You can add softening tablets (like Calgon, or supermarket own brands) or fit a water softener to treat the water when it comes into the house. They are expensive though.

    Washing at lower temperatures will also help prevent limescale build up, the heater is on for a shorter time and the temperatures are lower anyway. Most of my routine washing is at 30 or 40C
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    Re: Washing Machine warning light - "water level is below heater" warning

    I think I'll just run the Calgon tablets every few weeks. Up until this failure, we exclusively did quick washes at 30deg, so the limescale build-up you see above is just 4 years of the water around here.

    Lets see how it goes!

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