A washing machine with improved longterm reliability and safety

The invention relates to a heating unit (8) for a washing machine (1) comprising a casing (22), a pump (20) for pumping a washing liquid through the casing (22), a fuse (36), a thermally conductive element (30) for transferring heat to the washing liquid in the casing (22) and a temperature regulator (34) capable of supplying energy in the form of heat to the thermally conductive element (30), if a washing liquid target temperature in the casing (22) is below a first temperature limit. The fuse (36) and the temperature regulator (34) are arranged thermally conductive with the thermally conductive element (30), the fuse (36) being electrically connected to the temperature regulator (34) and configured to trigger and stop the energy supply to the temperature regulator (34), if a trigger temperature of the fuse (36) is reached by the washing liquid in the casing (22). The heating unit (8) comprises a electronic temperature sensing device (38) being electrically connected to the fuse (36) and the temperature regulator (34), said electronic temperature sensing device (38) being arranged thermally conductive with the thermally conductive element (30) and to detect and record the temperature of the washing liquid that passes through the casing (22) over time in order to provide information about the operating condition of the washing machine.