Maytag Dishwasher: not heating

Professional Repair Guide

What is this symptom?

Is your Maytag dishwasher not heating? If the water inside remains cold or lukewarm during or after the wash cycle, it can lead to poorly cleaned dishes. The internal heater may be malfunctioning, causing ineffective sanitation. This issue can stem from various causes, including a faulty heating element or incorrect incoming water temperature.

Urgency: Medium

Important Tips for Maytag Models

  • Maytag emphasizes ensuring proper incoming water temperature for effective wash performance, which impacts internal heating performance.

Possible Causes

Faulty Heating Element

How to Identify: Water remains cold, no steam at end of cycle, visible damage or break in the heating coil; continuity test with multimeter fails.

Part: Heating Element

Malfunctioning Thermostat / Temperature Sensor

How to Identify: Dishwasher never triggers heating even when water is cold; multimeter tests show incorrect or no change in resistance.

Part: Thermostat / Temperature Sensor

Incorrect Incoming Water Temperature / Supply Issue

How to Identify: Dishwasher not connected to hot water supply or household water heater set too low; incoming line supplies cold water.

Part: Hot Water Supply Line

Control Board or Timer Fault

How to Identify: Dishwasher cycles behave erratically, skip heating phases, or show error codes; visible damage on board.

Part: Control Board/Timer

Clogged Filters or Blocked Spray Arms Affecting Heating Efficiency

How to Identify: Poor water circulation and distribution with cold spots, dirty dishes despite heating attempts.

Part: Filters / Spray Arms

DIY Solutions

Check and Clean Hot Water Supply

Easy 5-15 minutes
Tools Needed: none
  1. Verify the dishwasher is connected to the household hot water line under the sink.
  2. Run hot water at the kitchen sink to ensure the heater is delivering at least ~120°F to dishwasher.
  3. Adjust household water heater if needed.
⚠️ Safety First: Avoid burns from hot water.

Inspect and Test Heating Element

Moderate 30-60 minutes
Tools Needed: Multimeter, Screwdriver
  1. Disconnect power at breaker.
  2. Remove lower access panel and locate heating element.
  3. Visually inspect for breaks and test for continuity with multimeter.
  4. Replace the element if it shows no continuity.
⚠️ Safety First: Turn off power before working inside dishwasher.

Clean Filters and Spray Arms

Easy 10-20 minutes
Tools Needed: Soft brush
  1. Remove bottom rack and take out filters.
  2. Rinse filters under warm water and brush away debris.
  3. Detach and clear spray arm nozzles of blockage.
  4. Reinstall and test dishwasher.

Professional Repairs

Replace Thermostat / Temperature Sensor

Estimated Cost: $50 - $150

Control Board Replacement

Estimated Cost: $150 - $400

When to Call a Professional

If internal electrical components (element, thermostat, control board) need replacing or testing beyond basic multimeter use.
If you observe burning smells, sparks, or electrical shorts when dishwasher operates.

Preventive Maintenance

  • Clean Filters: Improves water flow and reduces heating cycle inefficiency
    Frequency: monthly
  • Check Hot Water Supply: Ensures dishwasher starts with sufficiently hot water
    Frequency: periodically

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Maytag Dishwasher not heating?
Common causes include a faulty heating element, malfunctioning thermostat, or incorrect incoming water temperature.
How do I fix Maytag Dishwasher not heating myself?
Check the hot water supply, inspect the heating element, and clean filters and spray arms for blockages.
How much does it cost to fix not heating?
Professional repairs range from $50 to $400, depending on whether you need to replace the thermostat or control board.
When should I call a technician for not heating?
If DIY solutions don't resolve the issue or if you suspect control board failure, it's time to call a technician.

References & Sources

Community Analytical Insights

Analysis based on real user discussions from appliance repair communities

Can I Fix This Myself?

75%
DIY Success Rate Difficulty: DIY

Common Issues Reported by Users

  • Insufficient hot water supply (1 mentions)
  • Burnt heating element (1 mentions)

User Suggested Solutions

  1. Run the hot water in the sink before starting the dishwasher

    Success rate: 50.0%

  2. Check for burnt heating element and run self-test to diagnose issues

    Success rate: 50.0%
Analysis based on 2 community discussions
View Sources

Data compiled from real discussions on r/appliancerepair and r/Appliances:

  1. Ran my dishwasher without water for one and a half cycles, i...
  2. Does it make sense for dishwashers to be hooked up to the ho...

Community Discussions

takes a long time to get hot water

Run the hot water in the sink before starting the dishwasher to ensure it uses hot water.

Pro needed View on Reddit →

ran without water, burning metal, burning plastic

Check for burnt heating element and run self-test to diagnose issues.

DIY View on Reddit →

Source: Reddit r/appliancerepair

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