I have a laundry machine and I always try to wash things at the appropriate temperature, but when the machine is done the clothes/sheets etc. never feel warmer than room temperature. How do I find out if the heating element of the laundry machine is broken?
At the end of the cycle it always rinses with cold water, so it’s completly normal that the clothes are cold
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That’s either totally wrong or depends on where you live (and the model you have). Where I’m from, that’s not a thing. Washers are connected to a cold water supply and heat the water themselves.
Probably varies by area then. Around here, every washer I’ve ever owned (or used at an apartment complex) had two water lines going into it.
I don’t think I’ve seen that anywhere in Europe at least
Interesting. I actually wonder why we don’t have that here (Israel), since the majority of homes have sun-heated water. In the summer, the hot tap can reach scalding steaming temperatures (I’m not joking). It’s a shame to let all that free energy go to waste.
Though to be fair, I’ve lived in apartments where the cold tap is scalding hot in the summer too, because the pipe is exposed to the sun. In that case, the washer gets a free ride, whether it needs it or not!
I live in austria an we also have washing machines with internal heating and you usually connect them to the cold water tap, but usually you can also just connect them to the hot water tap if you have cheap or free hot water - there are thermostat sensors inside the machine and if the water is already hot it will not heat it any more.
But what if it’s too hot, as can be the case here?
🤷♂️
I’m fairly certain that Japanese apartments (at least micro ones) only have a cold water hookup for washing machines.
It only uses one source of water, so I do think this one ues a heating element.
But thanks I will try to feel the machine when it’s not rinsing yet.
every single washing mashine I ever owned has internal heating - maybe that’s different in the US, don’t know about that, but here in europe that’s completly normal.
I haven’t seen a separate hot water inlet in a machine in decades…
The rinse cycle uses cold water
Is there something wrong with the things you’re washing? Don’t create a problem, if things are getting washed, not shrinking, not falling apart, and everything is just fine, just consider that the machine is working as intended, which seems to be the case.
Your washing machine has gone zen. Inner warmth only.
- Touch the window in the hatch during the first half of the cycle; is it warm?
- Measure the power consumption.
You might check to make sure the hoses are connected to the right taps.
Some washers also only mix hot and cold water for the “hot” cycle to save energy
Washer, dryer or a combo thing?
Only washer.
Do you have a multimeter? Would you consider yourself handy? If you’re comfortable trying, you can find the model (usually on the inside of the door or on the back). Look up “taking apart X washer machine” there’ll be videos on disassembling. Multimeter can be used to test if individual components, like the heater, are working.
While that would work, it’s massively overkill for the original question about whether the water is getting hot. There are much simpler and definitive ways to get the answer.
Now, if it’s broken and they want to fix it, multimeter all the way
I’m a big “take it apart and see what’s what” kinda guy. Probably overkill but it could also be a good learning experience. If OP wouldn’t consider themselves handy, definitely don’t open a can of worms.
You could watch the power draw with a smart plug.
https://www.athom.tech/blank-1/no-relay-consumption-monitoring-eu-plug-for-esphome
