What this error means
Heating timeout — water is not reaching the target temperature in time
The E19 error means the water in the drum has failed to reach the required temperature within the allowed time. This is most commonly caused by a failing heating element, a faulty NTC thermistor temperature sensor, or heavy limescale build-up coating the element and reducing its efficiency.
What you'll need first
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Step-by-step
Symptoms to look for
- Programmes run significantly over the estimated time shown on the display
- Door glass feels cold or only barely warm during a 60 or 90-degree wash
- Laundry comes out at room temperature after a hot programme
- E19 displayed part-way through a wash programme
Diagnostic steps
Unplug the machine for 5 minutes to fully reset the control board. Plug back in and run a 60-degree cotton programme with just 2 to 3 items. After 15 minutes, place your hand flat on the door glass — it should feel noticeably warm to hot. If the glass remains completely cold, the element is not heating at all.
Open the machine and reduce the load until the drum is no more than three-quarters full. A correct load allows you to fit your open hand flat across the top of the laundry with room to spare. Restart the programme. An overpacked drum restricts water circulation and can cause the machine to run significantly over the expected time, triggering the heating timeout.
If you live in a hard water area, add a washing machine descaler to the empty drum and run a 90-degree maintenance cycle. Limescale acts as an insulating layer on the element surface — a heavily scaled element can consume full electrical power and yet transfer very little useful heat to the water.
With the machine fully unplugged, remove the rear panel by undoing the screws around its edges and lifting it away. The heating element is a U-shaped metal bar mounted at the lower rear of the drum casing. It has two electrical spade terminals and a small NTC thermistor sensor clipped to or near it.
Set a multimeter to resistance (ohms). Disconnect the wiring from both element terminals. Touch one probe to each terminal. A healthy element reads between 20 and 50 ohms. A reading of zero (short circuit) or OL (open circuit) both indicate the element has failed and must be replaced.
The thermistor is the small cylindrical sensor mounted on or near the element, connected by two thin wires. Disconnect the wires from the control harness and test across the two thermistor terminals with a multimeter set to resistance. At room temperature a working thermistor typically reads between 10,000 and 50,000 ohms. A reading of zero or OL means the thermistor is faulty.
When to call an engineer
- Heating element resistance is outside 20 to 50 ohms or shows a reading to earth
- NTC thermistor reads zero or open circuit on a multimeter
- Element tests within normal range but machine still does not heat — control board may not be supplying power to the element
- Burning smell from the rear of the machine when the machine attempts to heat
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a slow wash and E19?
Can limescale alone cause E19?
Is it safe to keep using the machine after E19?
Can I test the element and thermistor myself?
🎯 What is likely causing this fault?
⚠️ Estimates based on common faults — not a guaranteed diagnosis. Always verify before ordering parts.
Parts you may need
Enter your model number to filter results to your exact machine
Usually found on a label inside the door frame or on the back panel of the machine.
| Part | Approx. UK Cost | Find it |
|---|---|---|
| Heating Element | £15 - £30 | 🏷️ eBay UK → |
| Heating Element | £15 - £25 | 🛒 Amazon UK → |
ℹ️ Prices are approximate. Always check the part number matches your model before ordering. Not sure of your model number? Find out how to locate it here.