How to Use a Multimeter to Test the Flow Through Heater on Your Dishwasher

If your dishwasher isn't heating up properly during cycles, there's a high chance the heater inside your dishwasher is faulty and needs to be replaced. However, it's always a good idea to identify a fault for certain before replacing any parts. Fortunately, multimeters are handy electrical tools that can be used to test electrical appliance parts to determine whether or not they're working properly. That's why, in this article, we're going to show you how to use a multimeter to test the flow through heater in your dishwasher and check if it needs to be replaced.

Please note that we're using a Bush slimline dishwasher for this guide. The process may differ slightly on other makes and models of dishwashers, but it should generally be the same.

• Phillips screwdriver
• Multimeter

Let's get started! To learn how to test the flow through heater in your dishwasher with a multimeter, either watch our video tutorial below or follow our written step-by-step guide beneath.

Remember, safety first! Always make sure your appliance is switched off and unplugged from the mains before carrying out any work. For this process, you will need to turn off your mains water supply too. Also, if the water feed hose connected to your dishwasher isn't long enough for you to pull the machine out and work on it safely, you'll need to disconnect the hose. Put a towel down when you do this to catch any excess water.

To get to the flow through heater for testing, you'll need to carefully turn the machine upside down and access the heater from underneath. With the machine upside down, you'll also need to remove the bottom panel. First, unscrew and remove the two feet on the bottom of the dishwasher at the back.

Then, using your Phillips screwdriver, unscrew the four screws that hold the panel in place.

With the feet and the screws removed, go ahead and lift the bottom panel off the dishwasher and place it aside.

With the bottom of the appliance removed, you will be able to see the heater as indicated in the picture below.

Before testing the heater, you will need to remove the two electrical connections that connect to the bottom of the heater.

Now it's time to test the heater! To do this, you will first need to set up your multimeter. With the multimeter switched on, turn the dial to 200 ohms and make sure the red and black prongs are plugged into the multimeter.

Then, with your multimeter set up, touch the opposite ends of the two prongs onto the multimeter on the same places from which you removed the electrical connections.

For a working heater, you should get a reading of anywhere between 15 to 30 ohms. If the reading is lower than this, or if there's no reading at all, it means the heater is faulty and needs to be replaced. Fortunately, we have a guide showing you how to replace a dishwasher's flow through heater step-by-step right here.

Once you've replaced the heater, or if the heater is working fine and doesn't need to be replaced, you can go ahead and reassemble your appliance. Put the bottom panel back into place and screw the two feet back in.

Then also return the four screws that you removed earlier with your Phillips screwdriver.

Finally, once you've turned your dishwasher the right way up, you can reconnect the water supply hose, turn your mains water supply back on and plug your dishwasher back in.

There you have it! All there is to testing a dishwasher flow through heater with a multimeter. Now that your appliance is working again, why not make sure you're getting the best possible results from it for the lowest cost? Our dishwasher energy-saving tips will help you make the most out of your appliance in a cost-effective, energy-efficient and time-saving manner!

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