What A61 Means
A61 is the sharper-edged version of the DW60 heating alert. The manual describes it as the temperature failing to climb even one degree Celsius across a three-minute heating phase - so this is not slow heating, it is no heating at all, measured against a deliberately small threshold.
Common Causes of A61
- An open-circuit heating element
- A wash pump problem leaving water sitting away from the heater
- A harness or mainboard problem in the heater switching circuit
🔧 One Safe Check You Can Try
Leave the diagnosis alone, but note how far into a cycle the alert appears. A machine that alerts early every time behaves differently from one that only fails on the longer, hotter programs, and that detail narrows the search.
⚠ Why You Shouldn't Go Further Than That
- Switch off at the breaker before any part of the heating circuit is inspected, as the element sits submerged in the sump and its terminals stay live until the supply is cut.
- F&P's own list puts the wash pump alongside the element here, because water that is not circulating never reaches the heater to be measured.
- An element that measures open at the terminals can still be fine, with the break in the thermal fuse ahead of it, so the test order matters.
- Replacing a mainboard on the strength of a heating alert is a costly way to discover the element was the problem.
Opening a panel to inspect or repair something yourself doesn't automatically cancel your manufacturer's warranty — but it can risk accidental damage, and some manufacturers do have specific service conditions. Check your product's warranty terms, or ask us, before deciding.