I have a Hotpoint Wt960 which is about 5 years old. The cycles are taking about 20 minutes longer (1hr quickwash is taking about 1hr 20 mins) the digital timer counts down correctly to about 43 mins and then goes back to 55 mins. Please help - can't afford a new machine! Have checked all pipes and there are no blockages - thanks

Jemma, March 2013

Thanks Tim. Do you think limescale on the element could be causing a problem? Have no idea what is causing these extra long cycles and its really bugging me!!

jemma, March 2013

your element works as you put it on a 95deg cycle and the glass got hot.elements work or they don't. very rarely intermittent unless bad connection to them

Tim, March 2013

That's a good idea I will try that. How would I tell if my element is breaking? Is this something I could do myself? Do U supply elements for my model of machine? If so how much are they? Thanks again.

jemma, March 2013

heating time will effect program time but will not make one bit of difference to the amount of water used during the wash cycle.I would suggest reading your meter when no one is in and then use non for the day and see if the meter increases which would indicate a possible underground leak!!

Tim, March 2013

Thanks for your reply Tony - I did wonder this and put the machine on a 95 degree hot wash and could feel that the glass door got very hot during the cycle - as hot as it has always got when on that cycle - would this rule that problem out?

jemma, March 2013

It probably isn't down to the machine then - probably just using too much water and the prices rising (usual story!) I have no idea then :-( as I said before I have checked the pipe for blockages and have made sure the hose isn't far down the pipe - dont know what it could be and it is really bugging me! It is 5 years old and I do on average seven loads per week - dont know whether it is just slowly packing up as it gets older? Thanks again for replying to me!

jemma, March 2013

Erratic timing often indicates a heater element breaking down which can affect timing, even in the rinses when it is not even heating. Tony www.emwelec.co.uk

www.emwelec.co.uk, March 2013

if its electronic it would throw an error straight away for water filling issues which brings me back to seriously wondering if your water usage is down to the machine??

Tim, March 2013

Thanks for your help Tim - I have already made sure that the hose isn't too far down the waste pipe as I had read about syphoning. Am now wondering if it is a problem with the timer? It has a digital display so I would have thought it would have shown an error message?

jemma, March 2013

Find it hard to believe that the machine is using twice the amount of water as I would hope you would notice this?.One thing that springs to mind is syphoning.If you push the waste hose to far down the waste pipe it can cause the machine to loose water during the wash which it then tops back up.to test switch machine on and let it fill and start to wash then turn it OFF and look where the water level is in the drum.now leave machine for 15mins and go back.if level has dropped suspect syphoning.pull hose back up out of waste pipe and allow only 30cm to enter the waste pipe.Hope this makes sense and helps

Tim, March 2013

True but we are on a water meter and have just had our bill which has doubled so im guessing it is down to the machine using more water than usual. Would be good to know what is actually causing this problem and fix it.

jemma, March 2013

Don't worry about time adjust.If it works forget about 20 min difference

Tim, March 2013