Washing machine not heating water: causes and safe checks
Quick answer
To check whether a washing machine is heating, run a hot wash and feel the door after 30 to 60 minutes. It should be warm. If it isn’t, and the inlet hose is on the cold supply as it should be, the heater or its controls have probably failed. That’s an engineer repair, not a DIY job.
Also covers: washing machine washing cold · washing machine water not hot.
Likely causes
- Faulty heating element
- Temperature sensor or control fault
- Inlet hose connected to the wrong supply (Samsung lists this for some codes)
Why this can need an engineer
The heater and temperature sensor are mains-powered parts inside the cabinet. Once you’ve confirmed the hose is on the cold supply and the machine still isn’t heating, every remaining cause needs panel removal and electrical testing. That’s an engineer job.
What you can safely check yourself
- It still doesn’t heat after the checks. Heating faults need an engineer.
- You smell burning, see smoke or scorch marks, or the appliance trips your electrics. Stop using it, and switch it off at the wall only if it is safe to reach. Otherwise switch off at the consumer unit.
- The next step would mean removing a cover or panel, or working on the pump, valves, heater, motor, door lock or wiring. That is a job for a qualified engineer.
- The appliance is still under warranty. Contact the manufacturer first, because DIY work can affect your cover.
Work through these in order. Stop as soon as one of the signs above applies.
Check whether the machine is heating
- Run a hot wash programme.
- After about 30 to 60 minutes, briefly touch the outside of the door glass with the back of your hand. On a hot wash it should feel warm. It can be hot, so don’t hold your hand on it.
- If it stays cold, the machine may not be heating. Check the display for a code, then book an engineer.
Check the inlet hose is on the cold supply
- Follow the inlet hose back to the tap it connects to.
- Check it is the cold tap. Cold is usually the blue tap, and most UK machines are fed from cold only.
- If it is on the hot supply, have it reconnected to the cold supply.
Showing an error code?
These codes are related to this problem. Codes differ by brand, so pick yours:
- E60AEG The machine has detected a problem heating the water.
- F08Hotpoint Hotpoint’s UK service page describes F08 as a heater fault.
- F08Indesit Indesit’s UK service page describes F08 as a heater fault.
- HCSamsung Samsung’s UK code table describes HC, HE and H1 as a water temperature problem, such as the machine being fed from the hot supply.
Related problems
- Washing machine smellsA smelly washing machine is usually caused by detergent residue, damp, mould in the door…
- Washing machine stops mid-cycleA washing machine that stops part-way through is often trying to deal with an unbalanced…
Brand guides: AEG, Hotpoint, Indesit, Samsung. More washing machine problems and codes, or use the fault finder.
Sources
- AEG UK: Washing machine emits unpleasant smell Manufacturer UK · checked 11 October 2026
- AEG UK: Washing machine displays error message E60 Manufacturer UK · checked 11 October 2026
- Hotpoint UK: Washing machine error codes troubleshooting guide Manufacturer UK · checked 11 October 2026
- Samsung UK: What do the codes on my washing machine mean? Manufacturer UK · checked 11 October 2026
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We write every page in our own words from manufacturer guidance and check it against the sources above. If your manual says something different, follow your manual. How we check.