Washing Machine Keeps Tripping the Breaker? Causes and Safe Fixes

A washing machine trips the breaker when the circuit is overloaded, the motor is stalling or failing, a heating element or connection is faulty, or moisture has reached electrical parts. Check what else shares the circuit, note when it trips, inspect the cord and outlet, and run the washer alone. If it still trips, stop resetting it and call an electrician or appliance technician.

The washer fills, starts to spin, and the laundry room goes dark. Or it trips after half an hour. A washer that trips the breaker is telling you something, and resetting it again and again is not the answer.

This guide helps you narrow down the cause by when and how it trips. It draws on an electrician's guide, an appliance blog and a repair forum thread. Washers vary by brand, so check your manual, and keep in mind that US and UK machines differ in features like built-in heaters.

Safety first

• Do not keep resetting the breaker. Repeated trips mean something is wrong.
• Unplug the washer before you inspect the cord, back panel or hoses.
• If you smell burning, see sparks or find the outlet warm to the touch, stop using the washer and call a professional.
• Do not use an extension cord or a power strip for a washing machine.

What the pattern tells you

Cause 1: A shared or overloaded circuit

Washers draw a lot of current during wash and spin. If the circuit also feeds a dryer's controls, lights, a freezer or other devices, the total can pass the breaker's limit.

1. Look at the panel label and see what else is on the washer's circuit.
2. Unplug other devices on the same circuit.
3. Run the washer alone through a short cycle.

If it works alone, you have a load problem. An electrician can check the circuit and add a dedicated one if needed. A source suggests checking the panel to see what else shares the circuit.

Cause 2: The motor

A stalled motor draws high current, much like a short circuit, and can trip a breaker quickly. A weak start capacitor can cause the same problem. Signs are a hum at startup that does not turn into rotation, a burning smell, or a drum that is hard to turn by hand with the washer unplugged.

Motor and capacitor repairs usually need a technician. Compare the repair quote with the price of a new washer, especially for an older machine.

Cause 3: A heating element

Some washers have an internal heater for hot or sanitize cycles. One forum post described a washer that tripped on the warm-water setting and not on cold. That pattern points to the heating element. The poster replaced it and the problem persisted, so it may not be the whole answer.

If your washer only trips on hot cycles, avoid those cycles until it is checked and tell the technician about the pattern.

Cause 4: Loose, damaged or wet connections

Other causes include a failing outlet or cord connection and moisture in electrical parts.

• Unplug the washer and look at the plug for scorching, bent prongs or discoloration.
• Check the outlet for looseness, heat marks or a melted face.
• Look at the cord for cuts or crushing.
• If water has leaked inside the washer or onto the outlet, dry the area and have it inspected.

A loose or corroded connection can overheat and trip the breaker. A loose outlet should be replaced by an electrician.

Cause 5: A GFCI or arc-fault device

If the washer is on a GFCI outlet or breaker, small leaks from moisture can trip it. Laundry rooms in basements and garages are often protected this way. If the GFCI trips only with the washer, the washer may have a leak. If it trips with other devices as well, the outlet or wiring may be at fault. See telling a breaker fault from a GFCI fault for how to tell these apart.

A quick isolation test

1. Unplug the washer and reset the breaker. If it trips with nothing plugged in, the breaker or wiring has a fault. Call an electrician.
2. Plug in a lamp or small device. If that trips it too, the circuit is the problem.
3. If the circuit is fine, plug the washer in and run only a drain or rinse cycle.
4. If it trips only on specific cycles or at a specific point, note that.

When to call a professional

Call an electrician if:

• The breaker trips with the washer unplugged, or other devices trip it too.
• The outlet is hot, loose or scorched.
• You want a dedicated circuit.

Call an appliance technician if:

• The washer trips by itself on a clear circuit.
• You suspect a motor, capacitor, heater or control fault.
• There is a burning smell or visible damage inside.

Tell them the make and model, when it trips and what you tested.

Repair or replace?

If the washer also does not drain or smells bad, see why a washing machine will not drain and a smelly washer drum.

What not to do

• Do not keep resetting a breaker that trips again.
• Do not use an extension cord.
• Do not swap in a larger breaker.
• Do not open the electrical parts with the washer plugged in.
• Do not ignore a warm outlet or a burning smell.

Which fix fits your situation?

• Trips only with other appliances on: an overloaded shared circuit.
• Trips at startup or spin: motor or capacitor.
• Trips only on warm or hot cycles: heating element.
• Trips after several minutes: overheating or moisture.
• Outlet is hot: stop and call an electrician.

Bottom line

Work out when the washer trips, check what shares the circuit and inspect the cord and outlet. Run the washer alone before you blame the machine. If it still trips, stop resetting it and have an electrician or appliance technician find the cause.