Washing Machine Blowing Fuses
If your washing machine has tripped the electrics during any stage of the wash cycle, it could be very frustrating for you - your garments will take far longer to wash, or maybe not wash at all.
Your electrics blowing or tripping is a safety feature. The fuse could blow or trip at various stages during your wash cycle, and here we have identified the most common causes which may lead to your appliance suddenly shutting off.
Heating Element
A common fault which can lead to a defective washing machine is the heating element - this can cause a washer to blow a fuse or cause it to trip the RCD (Residual Current Device).
To identify the fault is caused by the element, the wash cycle will reach the heating stage where the element will be engaged - if faulty or damaged the electrics will trip, or blow the fuse switching off the appliance to prevent any further damage.
Safety First! Please make sure that you have disconnected the appliance from the mains before beginning any repair.
- Check the heater element using a multimeter. (See here for instruction on how to use a multimeter)
- Or if there is any resistance between the element connections and the earth connection it can cause the RCD to trip. This may not show if not tested with an insulation tester (Megger)
- And simply check the element for visible signs of burning or damage
The average reading is between 20 and 30 ohms - If there is zero reading or it tests excessively high then the element will be faulty and require replacing.
If you require a replacement heating element for your washing machine, browse our extensive range of washing machine spares on the eSpares website.
Not only that, we also show to replace a faulty or damaged element, just see our easy to follow guide below - and you could soon be back to a fully working washing machine again in no time!
Mains Filter
A common cause which may lead to your washer tripping the electrics could be down to a faulty mains filter (also known as the interference suppressor). This is a device fitted in most washing machines and is designed to stop interference from the appliance’s circuit affecting other electrical items.
If your washing machine blows the fuses or trips the RCD as it is connected to the power source then the fault could lie with the mains filter.
Safety First! Please make sure that you have disconnected the appliance from the mains before beginning any repair.
To check the mains filter for faults, you can follow the procedure below:
- Look for bulges, burn marks or liquid at the bottom of the mains filter.
- Test the mains filter for faults by using a multimeter - see our guide on using a multimeter here.
If you require a replacement mains filter, you can browse our online catalogue of washing machine filters so you can get the correct one for your appliance.
Once you have the right mains filter for your model, you can see our video guide on how to replace a faulty mains filter - you'll soon be on your way to a fully working washing machine in no time!