Why the washing machine may not turn on and what to do in such a situation
The average life of a washing machine, regardless of the manufacturer's brand and operating conditions, is 5-15 years. However, even during this period, failures occur inside the equipment. There are several reasons why washing machines won't turn on. Some of these problems can be solved by hand. To fix other problems, you will need to contact a specialized service.
Causes
The reasons for the breakdown of the washing machine can be divided into 2 groups: external and internal. The former include the following:
- lack of electricity;
- power failure (cut off the machine and the like);
- broken outlet or extension cord;
- electrical cable breakage.
Internal failures are more difficult to detect. To troubleshoot such faults, specialized services are often required. At the same time, despite what was said earlier, it is quite simple to determine that breakdowns have occurred inside.
Usually, if the washing machine does not turn on, but the lamps are on, this indicates a malfunction of the built-in parts.
The washing machine shows no signs of life
If the household equipment does not turn on at all, this indicates a lack of power.In such cases, you need to visually assess the condition of external elements (wires, sockets, extension cord). If necessary, you can check the equipment with a special tester, which will indicate the presence or absence of voltage.
Electricity in the apartment
All washing machines, including popular brands "Hotpoint Ariston", "Samsung" and others, work only with a constant supply of electricity. Therefore, if the equipment stops turning on, you need to check the power supply. To do this, it is enough to turn on the light in the room.
traffic jams
If the machine (LG, Samsung and other brands) stops turning on, it is recommended to check the shield. Often, due to a power surge, the machine turns off or cuts sockets. This feature of the electrical system ensures the protection of household equipment. By screwing in the sockets or turning on the machine, you can restore the power supply.
Moreover, in a number of cases, similar consequences occur due to network congestion. If too many devices are connected to a machine, it will constantly shut down. It could also indicate a malfunction inside the washing machine.
Failure of the socket to which the washing machine is connected
The lack of current in the socket is often due to the fact that the connected wires are disconnected from each other. In the event that such a malfunction is accompanied by an electric arc, it is recommended to immediately turn off the machine. This should be done even in cases where the equipment provides built-in overvoltage protection (especially found in some Ariston Hotpoint models). Then the socket must be repaired.
Triggering the RCD device
If the current in the network exceeds the set values, the RCD is triggered, cutting off the power supply. This device is also installed to protect household appliances, therefore, if the washing machine does not work, you need to check the condition of the RCD.
In cases where this happens all the time, it is necessary to test the equipment. Regular disconnection of the RCD indicates current leakage through the body of the machine. This malfunction will later lead to the failure of an expensive control module.
Extension
When unplugging a Beko washing machine and other brands, it is recommended to check the operation of the extension cord. This may require a multimeter, as several types of failures occur in the specified device:
- bending or breaking of the cable;
- circuit failure caused by power surges in the power grid or washing machine;
- mechanical damage to internal parts.
Using a multimeter, you can identify the exact location of the fault that caused the extension cord to break.
Power cable
Another part of the washing machine that needs to be checked for integrity is the power cord. And in this case, you have to look inside the equipment. In some models of Samsung and LG devices, the wires are stretched unreservedly. Therefore, the cables are under constant tension. This leads to thread breakage over time.
Internal nodes
These malfunctions are not serious and are eliminated with a minimum of time and money. But if all of the above reasons are excluded, and the washing machine does not turn on, then you need to look for faults inside. Most often, the following circumstances lead to such defects:
- sudden power surges;
- water flow inside and contact with integrated electronics;
- use of substandard (unsuitable) household chemicals;
- mechanical damage.
Malfunctions caused by the indicated reasons do not always lead to a complete shutdown of the washing machine. In some cases, lamps located on the front of the equipment light up, the indication of which may indicate where the fault is.
Mains noise filter failure
Most washing machine manufacturers, including Indesit and Samsung, have a noise filter built into their equipment. This device protects the equipment from radio waves emitted by the engine, control unit and other parts.
You will need a multimeter to test the functionality of this device. The latter should ring the wires at the input and output, as well as the filter. This part is not repairable. In the event of a fault, the line noise filter must be replaced with a new one.
Distribution of the "Start" button
The "Start" button of some models of washing machines is of poor quality. Due to this, the part often breaks, which makes it impossible to start the equipment. To check the functionality of the "Start" button, you need to test 2 connected wires with a multimeter. This part is also not repairable and, in the event of a breakdown, is replaced with a new one.
Control Module Problems
If, after checking all the specified details, the malfunction was not detected, the control module should be tested with a multimeter. Malfunctions of this type usually occur due to flooding of the electrical circuit. This part is considered the most expensive of all components of a washing machine. In some cases, it makes sense not to replace the electrical circuit, but to purchase new equipment, since the difference in price will be minimal.
When turned on, an indicator is on
If the washing machine does not start, but the light is on, you need to refer to the instructions for the equipment. In this case, such a glow indicates a specific error. Moreover, the type of the latter directly depends on the brand and model of the household appliance.
In particular, for Hotpoint Ariston and Samsung machines, the glow of an indicator can indicate different errors.
The reasons for this malfunction are different. It is not uncommon for a single LED to indicate an internal failure. In this case, to restore the equipment to work, you need to restart the system. The procedure for performing this procedure also depends on the type of model and the brand of the manufacturer. In some devices, to restore work, it is enough to hold down the "Start" button for 3-5 seconds, and then start washing.
A burning indicator may indicate a current leak to the case. In such situations, you need to check all parts of the equipment with a tester, paying attention to the heating element and the electric motor.
After pressing the "Start" button, all indicators flash
The chaotic flashing of the indicators indicates a malfunction of the control board, caused by a voltage drop or water ingress on the microcircuit. This problem is typical for inexpensive models of the Atlant brand and others. The flashing of the lamps is due to the early abrasion of the putty, which is applied to the area near the panel. To eliminate the malfunction, you will also need to change the microcircuit.
Checking the FPS with a multimeter
As noted earlier, malfunctions of a washing machine often occur due to power surges. And at first the noise filter fails because of this.Therefore, excluding external causes of equipment shutdown, it is necessary to test the FPS immediately.
Answers to questions
Washing machines, despite being similar in design, differ from each other in details, on which both the cause of the breakdown of equipment and the methods of restoring a household appliance directly depend. In particular, in "LJI" models with direct drive, the cables located inside are often cut. Beko cars are characterized by frequent breakdowns associated with flooding of internal electrical circuits.
If the appliance does not turn on but the lights on the panel light up, it is recommended to refer to the user manual. All error codes are listed there, thanks to which you can determine the cause of the malfunction and how to fix the problem.