The heater in the washing machine is responsible for heating the water for a high-quality and efficient washing. Unfortunately, it most often fails. There are two main causes of failure: short circuit and scale. As a result of the short circuit, the heaters or their contacts burn, when the scale is over, the element overheats and fails.
After reading the article, you will learn how to clean the heating elements of the washing machine from scale.
Why does a raid appear
Scale on the heating parts is due to hard water. When the content of insoluble calcium and magnesium biocarbonate is exceeded in water, it leaves a precipitate. He sticks to the heater and other parts of the washing machine.
Is it worth it to be afraid of scale
If you do not remove the scale in time, then over time the heater will overgrow it so much that it ceases to function normally. Besides:
- For effective washing in hard water, more detergents are required. It is known that in soft water linen is washed better.
- When a plaque forms on the heater, it makes it difficult to give the proper amount of heat. Therefore, much more energy is spent to heat the water.
- A burned heater can cause malfunction of electronics, control board elements, wiring. Such repairs will cost much more than timely cleaning of the element.
Moreover, flown pieces of scale during washing fall into the drum, drain pipe, which can lead to serious damage. Therefore, it is important to know how and how to clear the heater in the washing machine from scale.
Known Cleaning Products
In stores and markets you can find a large number of cleaning products from various manufacturers. The most popular and advertised is Calgon, which supposedly prevents the appearance of scale in the AGR.
Research has proven that Calgon has minimal impact on water quality. Therefore, the raid will still settle on the details, only a little slower.
Each manufacturer that advertises its product, and knows how to remove scale from the heater, uses marketing moves. Simply put: in the composition of each expensive remedy, there is ordinary citric acid. So what prevents us from using it at home?
Descaling at home
Take citric acid to clean Ten in the initial stages of contamination or for prevention in new washing machines.
- Add 150-200 g of citric acid to the dispenser, in the powder compartment.
- Now choose the longest wash cycle without spin, with a water temperature of 60 degrees.
Note! Purification with citric acid is carried out in an empty washer. Therefore, clear the laundry tub in advance.
- Before descaling, wait until the cycle ends. Now open the loading door.
- Bending the rubber cuff, remove pieces of scale, debris from the cracks.
- Wipe the drum thoroughly with a microfiber cloth, which absorbs water well.
It is important to carry out such cleaning regularly, as a single application will not protect the elements from further plaque damage. It is recommended to use citric acid once every three to four months.
We use chemistry
Chemicals for descaling TENA are as effective as they are dangerous if used improperly.
How to do it right:
- Add the product according to the instructions to the CM drum.
- Set the temperature to 60-90 degrees, start the wash without laundry.
- Clean no more than once a month.
The danger of chemicals is that overdosing can lead to damage to the rubber elements of the washing machine. For example, cuffs, hoses. Chemistry will corrode rubber, which will lead to loss of tightness and leakage.
Another danger of chemistry: if the heater is severely affected by plaque, its pieces during such cleaning can suspend the operation of the AGR or clog the drainage channel.
In this case, it is better to get the heater from the car, and then do it cleaning.
How to get a heater
For front-loading washers, the item can be located both front and back.
Try to visually determine where the heater is located by inspecting the front and rear panels. Usually it is hidden behind a wider lid.
To remove an item, remove the CMA panel.
Front Panel:
- Remove the top cover by unscrewing the two screws on the back.
- Pull out the dispensing tray by pressing the latch.
- Loosen the screws of the control panel, lift it up.
- Remove the bottom cover, unscrew the screws there.
- Open the hatch door, bending the cuff, remove the metal clamp.
- Disconnect the electronic lock wires (UBL).
- Remove the front panel.
The heater in this case is located under the tank. You need to squeeze all the connectors leading to it, loosen the central nut and push it inward.
Get the heater.
To remove the back cover you only need to unscrew the mounting screws to get to the item.
How to wash scale? To do this, remove the temperature sensor from the heater, rinse it under running hot water. Remove pieces of stone that are removed by hand. It is impossible to scrape the scale by force, otherwise the case may be damaged.
- Take a two liter plastic bottle.
- Cut off the neck, fill the container with hot water.
- Dissolve three to four tablespoons of citric acid in water.
- Place the heater there.
- Leave for a day.
Acid breaks down the components of water stone. Then you will need to remove the plaque - and you will get a clean part.
Next, install it in place and do not forget about prevention.
How to avoid scale formation
As you understand, water softeners are not always effective. It is much more profitable to install a magnetic softener. This device allows high-quality splitting of salts, which form a precipitate in water. Consequently, plaque will not settle on the parts of the washing machine.
It is located on the inlet hose or water pipe.
Remember that softened water requires less detergent than hard water. Therefore, be careful not to cause increased foaming in SM.
It is recommended that after each wash cycle, wipe the inside of the washer, cuff. Leave the door open to allow the machine to dry.
Now you know how to clean the heating element in the washing machine. The main thing is not to delay, conduct timely prevention of scale. You may not be able to use other water, but you can very well use our tips to improve its quality.
A video on the topic will help you: