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Washer Heating element and temperature sensor: What It Does and Signs It's Failing

Many front-load washers heat their own water with an element in the bottom of the tub, reached through the back access panel. The water temperature sensor (a thermistor) usually sits in that heater assembly. On some machines the sensor is built into the inlet valve instead, where it helps balance the hot and cold coming in.

How it works

The control turns the element on and watches the sensor until the water reaches the setting. The sensor's resistance drops as the water warms; on one Whirlpool front-loader it reads about 14.8K ohms at 68°F (20°C) and 9.8K ohms at 86°F (30°C). A dead element or an out-of-range sensor makes the heat step stall or time out.

Signs it is failing

• Water stays cold on hot or sanitize cycles
• Wash pauses partway and won't carry on
• Heater or temperature sensor code
• Water heating when the cycle shouldn't be heating

Heater, heater-control and temperature sensor codes all point here. Heating at the wrong time can also come from the heater relay on the control board.

Can you replace it yourself?

Unplug the washer and take off the back access panel to reach the heater assembly. On the Whirlpool front-loader in AppliancePartsPros' guide, the sensor comes out after you loosen a 10 mm nut on the assembly, and it's sold apart from the element. If the breaker trips when the wash starts heating, stop using the washer and have a technician check it.

Buying the right part

Elements differ in wattage and size between models, and the sensor is usually sold on its own.

Error codes linked to the heating element and temperature sensor

• E19 / F19Water is taking too long to heatBosch
• E20 / F20Unexpected heatingBosch
• E60Heating problemElectrolux
• E68Water heater faultFrigidaire
• F03Temperature sensor fault: not heatingHotpoint (UK)
• F07Heating circuit or board faultHotpoint (UK)
• F08Heater faultHotpoint (UK)
• F15Heater control faultHotpoint (UK)
• tETemperature sensor errorLG
• HCWater heater problemSamsung
• tCWater temperature sensor errorSamsung

Last reviewed 2026-10-19.