Washing machine won't turn on? Causes and what to check

No lights, no beep, nothing when you press the button. A dead washing machine looks like a big bill, but it's often something simple you can rule out in a couple of minutes. Won't power on is around 15% of the recent washing machine repairs our engineers get called to, and plenty of those start with a check anyone can do.

Rule out the easy stuff first

Start at the wall. Plug a lamp or a phone charger into the same socket to check it actually has power. Look at the plug fuse, and make sure the machine's own switch hasn't been knocked off.

Then check the fuse box for a tripped breaker or RCD. If something's tripped, that's a different problem, and our guide on a washing machine tripping the electrics covers it. Don't just keep resetting it.

Push the door firmly until it clicks. A lot of machines won't power the cycle until the door confirms it's locked. And have a quick look in the manual for a child-lock combination or a standby mode, both of which can make a working machine look dead.

The two faults we see most

Power at the socket and still no response usually comes down to one of two things. The door interlock, the switch that confirms the door is shut, often fails in a way that stops the machine powering the programme at all. It's a part we replace regularly. The other is the main control board, where a failed component or a poor connection leaves the machine dead or unresponsive.

Telling them apart takes testing, and error codes help, though they read differently on every brand. A Bosch won't report it the same way a Hotpoint does.

What it costs

The usual band for this fault is £75 to £140, with any parts quoted separately and the price confirmed before we start. The engineers carry the common parts, so about 95% of repairs are done on the first visit.

Book a washing machine repair

If the power's fine and the door's shut and it's still dead, book a washing machine repair or find your local washing machine engineer.

Frequently asked questions

Why won't my washing machine turn on?

Once the socket, plug fuse and a tripped breaker are ruled out, it's usually a failed door interlock, so the machine won't start until the door confirms locked, or a fault on the main control board.

It has no power at all. What do I check first?

Confirm the socket works with another appliance, check the plug fuse and the machine's switch, look for a tripped breaker, and make sure the door is properly latched.

Could it just be the door?

Yes. A door that isn't quite latched, or a failed interlock, is a common reason a machine seems dead. If it clicks shut and still won't start, the interlock may have gone.

How much does it cost?

The usual band is £75 to £140, with parts quoted separately and the price confirmed first.