Just moved to a hard water location and the dishwasher heating element is caked with a hard gray crust. The dishes have white powdery deposit that can be wiped off. Is there a way to remove the deposit or do I need a new elememt?

I would clean the element. Then, and about twice a month with no dishes in the dishwasher, add about a half-cup of vinegar, and let the unit run a full cycle.

If that doesn't do it, buy some descaler/delimer and once a month run a full cycle with the delimer in it, but after you add it, run another full cycle with nothing. You've got to make sure that most or all the delimer is "ejected" from the dishwasher. Let me know if these options help. I live in a hard water town.

XenoSapien