Calcium/Lime Build-up on Dishwasher Heating Element

Sounds like you checked the basics. Do you have hard water? Our element got covered with calcium over time and didn't heat efficiently anymore. I was able to chip some off, then ran the dishwasher with LemiShine a few times. The element worked much better after that.

Hi,
Check your heating element..
A bad heating element causes many problems in dishwashers...

Dishwasher Problems The Heating Element not Working
How to Replace the Dishwasher Heating Element
Dishwasher Maintenance

heatman101

Asker's Testimonial " explanation very clear. will give it a go and seehow simple it was. thanks Ronnie " - ronnieshomes

Hi,
Check your heating element..
A bad heating element causes many problems in dishwashers...

Dishwasher Problems The Heating Element not Working
How to Replace the Dishwasher Heating Element
Dishwasher Maintenance

heatman101

Asker's Testimonial " explanation very clear. will give it a go and seehow simple it was. thanks Ronnie " - ronnieshomes

Hi,
Check your heating element..

A bad heating element causes many problems in dishwashers…

Dishwasher Problems The Heating Element not Working

Dishwasher Maintenance

heatman101

Asker's Testimonial " explanation very clear. will give it a go and see how simple it was. thanks Ronnie " - ronnieshomes

Hi,
Check your heating element..
A bad heating element causes many problems in dishwashers…

Dishwasher Problems The Heating Element not Working
http://www.fixya.com/support/r4589033-dishwasher_problems_heating_element_not

Dishwasher Maintenance
http://www.fixya.com/support/r4319937-dishwasher_maintenance

heatman101

Asker's Testimonial " expanation very clear. will give it a go and see how simple it was. thanks Ronnie " - ronnieshomes

Why not try CLR? It is much more aggressive on scale and lime.

You could just use it during a normal wash cycle so it will clear out all the ick inside the unit.

Hi,
Check your heating element..

Dishwasher Problems The Heating Element not Working
http://www.fixya.com/support/r4589033-dishwasher_problems_heating_element_not

Dishwasher Maintenance
http://www.fixya.com/support/r4319937-dishwasher_maintenance

Hi,
Check your heating element..

Dishwasher Problems The Heating Element not Working
http://www.fixya.com/support/r4589033-dishwasher_problems_heating_element_not

Dishwasher Maintenance
http://www.fixya.com/support/r4319937-dishwasher_maintenance

heatman101

Hello, You should buy some lime away from home depot ot Lowe's. Put 2 cups inside the dishwasher and run a pots and pans cycle. This should clear up the calcium deposit on the heater. You may have to repeat depending on how bad the build up is. Hope this helps. Mike

Limescale is mostly calcium or magnesium carbonate and will dissolve in acid. If you don't want to use the commercial limescale removers you could try soaking the element in vinegar, or lemon juice, or coca-cola and then rubbing at the residue with a plastics pan scourer. (Wrap the element in some cloth and keep basting the cloth with your chosen remedy for a few hours before trying the scourer.) If you can reduce the dishwasher temperature below 55C this will help a lot in the future.Hope this helps a bit!
I'm sure you know how this site works - everyone wants to be a guru and only Fixya! ratings are worth having. If my offering doesn't work for you, just forget the rating :-)
Thanks in advance D.