Washing machine tripping the electrics? What it means and what to do

A washing machine that trips the power the second it starts, or halfway through a wash, is one we'd ask you not to keep resetting. That trip is the machine's safety and your home's safety doing exactly what they're built to do. Here's what's usually behind it, and why it's a job for an engineer rather than the kitchen table.

Stop and read this first

If your machine trips the RCD or the fuse box, stop using it. Don't keep flicking the switch back and running it again. The trip is protecting you from a fault that's letting electricity go where it shouldn't. Pull the plug out, and if putting the switch back takes the whole board down, leave that circuit off.

What tripping to earth actually means

An RCD cuts the power when it spots electricity leaking to earth instead of running safely round the circuit. Put that in a machine full of water and the usual culprit our engineers find is a heating element that's broken down inside and is now leaking to earth. The heating element is one of the parts we replace on washing machines. A failing motor, a water-damaged pump, a rubbed-through wire or a faulty mains suppressor will all do the same thing.

The one check worth doing

Try the machine on a different socket on a different circuit. If it trips that one too, the fault is in the machine, not the socket. If it only tripped the first socket, get an electrician to look at the socket and the circuit. That's as far as it's safe to go on your own. Past this point you're working on a mains appliance with a live earth fault.

Why this one needs an engineer

Tracking down an earth leak means testing the element, motor, pump and wiring under load with proper meters, then isolating and swapping the faulty part safely. It's not something to prod at with the machine plugged in. Our washing machine repairs run £75 to £210 depending on the fault and parts, quoted before we start, and the engineers carry the common parts so most jobs are done in one visit.

Book a washing machine repair

If your machine is tripping the electrics, book a washing machine repair and we'll test it safely and fix the cause. You can also find your local washing machine engineer to check we cover you.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my washing machine keep tripping the electrics?

Usually a fault letting current leak to earth. Most often it's a failed heating element, but a faulty motor, pump, wiring or suppressor can do it too. The RCD trips to protect you.

Is it safe to keep using it?

No. Stop, and don't keep resetting the trip. The RCD has found a real earth fault, and overriding it again and again takes away the protection it's there to give.

Can I fix this myself?

Only as far as trying it on another circuit to confirm the machine is at fault. Finding and replacing the faulty part is mains work and should be left to an engineer.

How much does it cost?

Our washing machine repairs run £75 to £210 depending on the fault and any parts, with the price confirmed before work begins.