Why Is My Dishwasher Tripping The Electrics?

So much of our modern lives are dependent on a constant, steady flow of electricity to keep our gadgets and gizmos powered on. It’s not something we tend to give much thought – until that constant, steady flow suddenly gets cut off. That toast you were making? Ruined. That unsaved spreadsheet you were working on? Gone. That really hard video game level that you were finally about to beat? Sorry, you’ll need to start over. Very little in your house is unaffected when the electricity trips. Sometimes it can be because of a problem at the main fuse box; but sometimes it can caused by caused by a faulty appliance – such as a dishwasher.

Thankfully, the problem can be solved. We’re here to explain some reasons why your dishwasher might be tripping the electrics, and what can be done to remedy the situation.

Water Leaks or Damp

If the surroundings of your dishwasher get quite cold, then you might be dealing with dampness. This can get into some of the more sensitive components and wreak havoc within your dishwasher – particularly if it gets into the motor or mains suppressor. This can cause the dishwasher to trip – either when it’s sitting on idle, or when it’s mid-wash. A water leakage within the internals of the machine may also be causing such a problem. Irrespective of whether it’s a leak or dampness, water and electrics simply don’t mix.

Fuse or Plug Wiring

Your tripping dishwasher may be caused by a plug problem. While we tend to rush to the fuse, the issue may be within the actual plug top or there may be cables that are damaged (severed or blown). The internal wiring within the plug can also be checked to see if everything looks connected, or to identify if there are some internal wires that look damaged. If that’s all okay, then the issue may be within the wall socket itself. This can be tested by plugging in other appliances or components to the same socket, however smaller appliances may not meet the voltage requirements to bring about a trip. Larger appliances like a dishwasher, such as washing machines and fridges, may trigger it.

Another potential cause could be the terminal block within the dishwasher. This is a sort-of elaborate screw that is used to connect or terminate wires, and is used to connect electrical outlets to the mains. Over time, terminal blocks can become damaged or worn out. Lastly, there may be an issue with interference. As aforementioned, due to us being so electrically dependent, we have so many electrical products on at one time. Everything from a small lamp to a computer can cause interference. Within dishwashers, this is prevented by a mains filter suppressor – stopping the motors from passing interference to other devices, tripping the RCD at your fuse box, or preventing blown fuses in plugs. If this is damaged, then there will be nothing to stop the interference.

Components

The problem may be caused by, quite simply, a faulty component. This can include everything from the motor, to the suppressor, to the heating element, to the main power switch and so on. One way that this can be narrowed down is to observe when the trip happens when the machine is on. Is there a consistency to when it occurs? Does it always happen at a particular point in a cycle? If so, then a particular component may be the cause. This can be checked when the appliance has been disconnected from power and components are tested with a multimeter.

Call an Expert

These are but just a few of the reasons behind why your dishwasher is tripping the electrics. There are others, but your time would be better spent by employing a professional to come and sort out the problem. Dishwasher repair companies, like Repair Aid, have the right tools and expertise to quickly diagnose and rectify the problem.

Additionally, there are so many makes and models of dishwashers. Not only are they all built differently, making it difficult to write a ‘one size fits all’ guide, but some are more susceptible to issues than others. Experienced engineers have the knowledge and ability to quickly identify common issues with particular brands or models.

But if you do decide to take on the job yourself, always remember to disconnect your dishwasher from the power source, be safe and take care when diagnosing the problem.