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A dishwasher that flashes HE has a heating problem. The entry applies to Kenmore dishwashers whose model numbers begin 722.146, and it covers two opposite situations.
Two ways the code is triggered
- The water in the tub is not being heated.
- The thermistor, the temperature sensor on the heating element, reports water hotter than 194 degrees.
Which one you have decides where the trouble lies, so start by judging the water in the tub.
Water that is far too hot
Take a reading with an accurate thermometer. Water close to 190 degrees suggests a heater relay on the electronic control board has stuck closed and is holding the element on. Replacing the board is the answer, and the dishwasher has to be unplugged first.
Water that is not hot
Here the heating element most likely stopped heating. With the plug pulled, look at the wire harness connections on both the heating element and the pressure switch. The pressure switch senses water flow to the heater and cuts the heater off when flow is too low. A loose connection can stop current from reaching the element, so reseat any wire that has worked free.
Readings a technician takes
- The heating element should measure about 12 ohms; an infinite reading means the element is replaced.
- The thermistor on the element should read 11,320 ohms at 75 F; if it is off by more than a tenth, the element is replaced.
- When both are good, live voltage checks separate a faulty pressure switch from a faulty control board.
Related codes
- C6: water temperature too low
- C7: the water temperature sensor is defective
- F4E2: a potential heating system cause
- Clean light blinks 7 times: heater circuit failure, where no expected temperature rise was detected
Kenmore dishwasher repair in San Francisco
When HE keeps returning on a dishwasher in San Francisco or elsewhere around the Bay Area, book through Kenmore dishwasher repair or call (415) 825-6393. Have the 722.146 model number ready, along with the water temperature you measured and whether the harness connections were tight.
Model compatibility: Kenmore reuses codes across series and model years, so HE may mean something different on another appliance or generation. Confirm this against your model’s documentation and record your full model number before acting.
