LG F1479FDS5 not heating...or is it?

[pedro]

Hi Guys,

I've had my LG washer for 4 years now. Overall i'm pretty pleased with it but i've noticed an issue with it heating water...or rather it's not heating water.

In the past i'm aware that if i tried to open the washer to add a forgotten item, or just to see what was going on inside, and the water was over a certain temperature then the door wouldn't unlock.

Over the last few months i've tried to open the washer when it should be at 60c or more and i've been able to and the water has been pretty much cold, i just assumed i'd opened it too soon or that the water had cooled down.

I've got the washer running a 95c wash with some cleaner in there at the moment. I've noticed the insides have started to really gunk up and i'm wondering if that is a symptom of it not heating up either. The washer had been on for 45 minutes, so it was well in to the wash cycle and when i paused it, the door unlocked. The water was cold although the drum was warm as it had just run the steam portion of the cycle but the water was in no way heated...45 minutes in to a wash cycle, i would expect the water to be at least warm.

I would have thought that there would be some kind of error code if the heater had failed but there has been nothing, do you guys have any experience of this kind if problem and how easy is it to fix?

 

[dyson2drums]

Hi

I have the same model and mine's 5 years old now. I've not had any trouble with heating. I know if you select a standard wash or a time save wash it will heat to 5 degrees less give or take a few degrees. If you select intensive it heats to temperature or there abouts.

Also I would recommend that you use the Tub clean cycle by holding in the temp and rinse button in together until the display states tub clean. I usually add a finish dishwasher tablet in the drum or add washing machine cleaner and set it going. It spins at higher rpm so the cleaner can get to areas normal tumbling can't reach. We get through 1 or 2 loads daily and have no issues with mould what so ever. I'd advise you leave the door open when not in use and also leave the detergent draw open when not in use to let it air out.

See how it goes and message me if you have any questions

 

[pedro]

Hi dyson2drums,

Thanks for your response. When i checked the temp of the water it was cold, stone cold, not even heated a little bit so i knew it wasn't an issue with the wash temp being 5c or so below the stated. I also run the tub clean cycle at least once a month and always leave the door and drawer open when the machine isn't in use to minimise mould and smell...despite doing this i noticed the smell increasing, I've not had any issue with mould though, luckily.

I had an engineer come out and look at the machine yesterday and the heating element had blown completely, i have no idea how long that has been the case but it would account for the drop in wash results and the increasing gunk inside the machine so i am assuming it has been a few months at least.

He didn't have the correct element available but has ordered it and it should be fitted tomorrow. I'm a little annoyed that something as basic as the washer not heating up water didn't result in an error code being displayed. I asked the engineer about this and his response was "Sometimes these machines will flash up with an error code and sometimes they don't" which isn't the response i was looking for. The entire point of a washing machine is to wash and a fundamental part of that is heating water to the correct wash temperature so for a washing machine to just continue on its way with a blown element is disappointing.

At least with the old mechanical timers you'd know the element was blown because it would stick on the wash phase eternally.

 

[dyson2drums]

Stone cold... oh dear! At least the engineer has found out what the problem is and will be sorted soon.

Run a tub clean with a few tablets or with washing machine cleaner to clean it out once the repair has been carried out.