What is actually happening
Dishwashers heat their own water, so a cold cycle usually means the element or its control has failed. It shows up as two complaints at once — dishes still greasy and dishes still wet — because both depend on the same heat. On many machines the cycle will still run to the end, which is why it can go unnoticed for weeks.
The Sharp fault codes that point at this
A Sharp dishwasher will usually tell you what it thinks is wrong before anyone opens it up. These are the codes we hold for this make that relate to not heating the water:
- F06 — The dishwasher can no longer read the temperature of the water it is heating, so it has stopped the programme rather than carry on blind.
- F07 — The dishwasher has measured a water temperature higher than it should ever reach and has shut the cycle down to protect itself.
- F08 — The dishwasher has decided the water heating isn't working as it should, so it has stopped the programme rather than carry on washing cold.
If yours is showing one of those, that is a much shorter conversation than a general fault — tell us the code when you book and the engineer can often carry the part.
The usual causes on a Sharp dishwasher
- A failed heating element or flow-through heater
- A failed thermostat or NTC sensor
- A control board fault where the element itself is sound
- Limescale on the element in a hard-water area
What you can safely check yourself
- Open the door partway through a hot cycle — the steam and warmth should be obvious
- Note whether dishes are also coming out wet, which points the same way
Still not heating the water?
Most of these need an engineer once the checks above are done. £66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.
Our engineers work on Sharp machines week in, week out, so they arrive knowing the machine rather than reading the back of it. Local engineers across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.
Call 0115 648 0929 Book online — postcode and number is all we need
Common questions
Why is my Sharp dishwasher not heating the water?
The cycle runs but the water stays cold, so grease stays put and nothing dries. Dishwashers heat their own water, so a cold cycle usually means the element or its control has failed. It shows up as two complaints at once — dishes still greasy and dishes still wet — because both depend on the same heat. On many machines the cycle will still run to the end, which is why it can go unnoticed for weeks.
Can I fix a Sharp dishwasher not heating the water myself?
Open the door partway through a hot cycle — the steam and warmth should be obvious. Note whether dishes are also coming out wet, which points the same way. Beyond those checks this one normally needs an engineer.
What Sharp error codes mean not heating the water?
Sharp dishwashers report this through their own fault codes. The ones that point at not heating the water are F06, F07, F08. If your machine is showing one of those, that narrows it down considerably — each has its own guide on this site.
How much does a Sharp dishwasher repair cost?
£66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.
Other Sharp dishwasher faults
- dishwasher not draining
- dishwasher will not switch on
- dishwasher not cleaning the dishes
- dishwasher not drying the dishes
- dishwasher leaking
- dishwasher lights flashing