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Author Topic: Whirlpool WDT780SAM2 - Plastic Item Melted to Heating Unit  (Read 275 times)

Offline JumpinJackFlash

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  • Member Since: Feb 2009
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Whirlpool WDT780SAM2 - Plastic Item Melted to Heating Unit
« on: July 27, 2020, 08:50:59 PM »

A friend mentioned that she had a plastic item fall during the wash cycle and it ended up on the heating element below.....melted, and made a mess; see picture.
I'm sure this is a fairly common occurrence, but I'm wondering what might be the best approach to correct this issue.  Can the melted plastic be removed or is this a situation where the heating element needs to be replaced....?
TIA!

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Offline manden

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  • Member Since: Oct 2011
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Re: Whirlpool WDT780SAM2 - Plastic Item Melted to Heating Unit
« Reply #1 on: July 28, 2020, 08:26:14 AM »
You should not have to replace the element.

You have to be somewhat gentle with it.

I would heat it up with a hair dryer to soften it and then cut off as much as you can with side cutters

Then gently scrape/wipe off the rest.

I do not have a tech sheet for this unit so do not know if you can force the heater on.
The tech sheet may be behind the kick plate.
If it can be forced on then after it is as clean as you can get it do that and then wipe off more of it once most of it is off by the method above.
Use a rag and be careful not to burn yourself.
Do not let it get too hot.
Also it will stink.




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Offline JumpinJackFlash

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Re: Whirlpool WDT780SAM2 - Plastic Item Melted to Heating Unit
« Reply #2 on: July 28, 2020, 04:49:34 PM »
Thank you for your reply and suggestions!   I'll pass this information on.
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Offline ApplianceUser

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  • I am an Appliances Lover. They make life simpler!
Re: Whirlpool WDT780SAM2 - Plastic Item Melted to Heating Unit
« Reply #3 on: August 12, 2020, 09:27:13 AM »
Quote from: manden on July 28, 2020, 08:26:14 AM
You should not have to replace the element.

You have to be somewhat gentle with it.

I would heat it up with a hair dryer to soften it and then cut off as much as you can with side cutters

Then gently scrape/wipe off the rest.

I do not have a tech sheet for this unit so do not know if you can force the heater on.
The tech sheet may be behind the kick plate.
If it can be forced on then after it is as clean as you can get it do that and then wipe off more of it once most of it is off by the method above.
Use a rag and be careful not to burn yourself.
Do not let it get too hot.
Also it will stink.



I tried this out but wiping the rest of the thing didn't happen properly. Some plastic is still stuck in. So haven't used the device since 2 days. Do you think I can use the device now? Or should call someone to clean it completely? Or can I try wiping it out using some hot water?
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