Smoke came out of the washing machine: we find and solve the problem

At operation of the washing machine owners may encounter various technical problems. If during washing or spinning there is smoke from the washing machine or there is a fire, you must immediately turn off the equipment and call a technician. It is not recommended to find out the cause on your own and take any measures, because... such a problem may be electrical, and incompetent intervention is very dangerous.

What to do if smoke appears from the washing machine

If the washing machine starts smoking or you hear a burning smell, you need to turn off the power to the device by turning off the corresponding circuit breaker on the panel. While the equipment is not de-energized, you cannot touch it, because... Problems with electrical wiring can cause current leakage onto metal and other conductive surfaces and parts of the machine. It is advisable not to approach the machine at all, because... the current also passes through water (if a puddle has formed near the equipment, this is dangerous).

A few minutes after turning off the power, unplug the washing machine and unplug the cord from the outlet. After turning off, inspect the cord and plug - most often, the cause of the malfunction is their damage or burnout. If there are no signs of melting, burning or the smell of a burnt insulating layer on the wire and plug, then the cause of the smoke or fire is another technical problem.

To detect the cause of smoke or fire, you must perform the following steps:

To inspect the washing machine, the first thing you need to do is drain the water using the emergency drain and disconnect the device from the sewerage system.
Open the hatch door and see if smoke comes out of the drum. If there is a smell of burning or there is smoke in the drum, there is a possibility of chafing of the drive belt. Such a malfunction is most often caused by wear of certain elements, during which they shift and affect the belt tension. With strong friction, this part overheats, which is accompanied by the smell of burnt rubber. In this case, the drive belt will need to be replaced.
Smoke or fire during operation of the automatic washing machine may occur due to a malfunction of the heating element. During prolonged use of the washing machine, the heating element may become covered with scale, which over time leads to a decrease in operating efficiency and failure of the equipment. Due to strong scale, the thermal output of the heating element is greatly reduced, the metal surfaces of the heating element can be deformed, forming cracks, and the contacts are damaged. Because of this, the machine may “beat” with electric current, and smoke and fire may occur. If the heating element is covered with a large layer of scale, it can be cleaned, but in some cases it is necessary to completely change the heating device.

Upon examination washing machine parts and devices it is necessary to inspect all wiring, because Any wire break may cause a short circuit, fire or smoke.

Important! Without appropriate experience and knowledge, it is not recommended to disassemble the washing unit so as not to damage expensive parts and devices.

The main causes of smoke or fire in a washing machine

The reasons why the machine started smoking during washing could be the following faults:

Heating element failure. If the contacts of the heating element are oxidized or contaminated, fire, smoke or a burning smell may appear both during washing and after the equipment has finished operating. Scale on the heating element is formed due to too hard water in the water supply system, so it is recommended to use special softening agents and periodically call a professional to clean the heating element.
Wiring burnout. Such problems may result in fire or smoke.
Oxidation or burnout of control board contacts. In this case, it is necessary to clean or replace the contacts.
Drive belt wear. If the belt rubber is deformed or the tension changes during washing, a smell of smoke and severe shaking may occur. This problem can be solved by replacing the belt or changing its tension.
Foreign objects getting into the drum or heating element. If feathers, hairballs, or lint get into the drum or heating element, it may cause noise, smoke, or a burning odor. To clean the heating element, you can run the washing machine without laundry, turning on the maximum heating temperature. If the blockage is severe, you will need to disassemble the equipment and clean the parts from foreign objects and contaminants.

A slight burning smell can also be heard when using new washing equipment for the first time. If the smell is still noticeable after several washes, you need to call a service center specialist to inspect the machine. The technician will find out what the problem is, determine the cause of its occurrence and fix the problem.