What is actually happening
The machine fills, then holds the cycle while the element brings the water up to the selected temperature. If the element has failed open-circuit the temperature never rises, so the machine either waits indefinitely, jumps to the next stage with cold water, or stops with a heater fault code. Clothes come out looking washed but not clean, and greasy marks stay put.
The Sharp fault codes that point at this
A Sharp washing machine 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:
- E05 — The machine can't read the water temperature properly, or the water isn't heating, so it stops rather than carry on.
- E09 — The machine has decided the electricity reaching it is outside the range it will run on, so it has stopped rather than carry on.
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 washing machine
- A failed heating element — the usual cause, and the cheapest of these to put right
- A failed NTC temperature sensor, so the machine cannot read the water temperature
- Heavy limescale on the element, common in hard-water areas
- A control board fault where the element itself tests fine
What you can safely check yourself
- Run a hot cycle and put a hand flat on the door glass twenty minutes in — it should be noticeably warm
- Note whether the cycle stalls at the same point every time, which points at heating rather than the program
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 washing machine not heating the water?
Cold washes run fine but anything with a temperature either runs cold or stalls partway through. The machine fills, then holds the cycle while the element brings the water up to the selected temperature. If the element has failed open-circuit the temperature never rises, so the machine either waits indefinitely, jumps to the next stage with cold water, or stops with a heater fault code. Clothes come out looking washed but not clean, and greasy marks stay put.
Can I fix a Sharp washing machine not heating the water myself?
Run a hot cycle and put a hand flat on the door glass twenty minutes in — it should be noticeably warm. Note whether the cycle stalls at the same point every time, which points at heating rather than the program. Beyond those checks this one normally needs an engineer.
What Sharp error codes mean not heating the water?
Sharp washing machines report this through their own fault codes. The ones that point at not heating the water are E05, E09. 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 washing machine 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 washing machine faults
- washing machine not draining
- washing machine not spinning
- washing machine leaking water
- washing machine making a loud noise
- washing machine door will not open
- washing machine will not turn on