Most front loaders heat their own water using an element inside the tub. Hard borehole water, common in many Harare suburbs, coats the element with scale until it overheats and fails. A failed element often trips the earth leakage too.
Safe checks to try first
Always switch the machine off at the wall before checking anything inside it.
- 1Make sure you selected a warm or hot programme, not cold or eco.
- 2Feel the door glass midway through a 40°C or 60°C wash. It should be warm.
- 3Check whether the earth leakage trips only during hot washes.
Common causes
Failed heating element
The most common cause, often due to scale build-up from hard water.
Faulty temperature sensor
The machine cannot measure water temperature, so it does not heat or reports a fault.
Heater relay on the board
The board may not be switching the heater on.
When to call a technician
- The earth leakage trips during hot washes
- Clothes come out cold from a hot wash
- A heating code such as HE, HC or tE appears
How we fix it
Servicing & Maintenance
A thorough service that removes scale, clears filters, checks hoses and catches small faults before they become breakdowns.Front Loader Repairs
Bearings, door locks, pumps, seals and electronic faults on all front loading automatics, repaired at your home.Washer Dryer Repairs
Combination washer dryers that will not dry, overheat or trip power, repaired by technicians who know both systems.Frequently asked questions
Why does my washing machine trip the electricity?
A heating element that has cracked or scaled up can leak current to earth, tripping the earth leakage. Stop using hot programmes and have it tested.