Electrical appliances

Washing machines, washer dryers and tumble dryers

Please use our washing machine, washer dryer and tumble dryer guide to see what you can try to resolve any problems.

Problem	What you can do
Machine is not responding at all.	Check the electricity to the machine is turned on - it can accidentally get switched off.
Drum won't rotate.	Make sure the machine isn't on "no spin". Uneven loads can stop a spin - avoid washing single items or overloading the drum.
Clothes come out hot after a spin.	Use your machine's user manual to check the position of the hot and cold water pipes - sometimes the cold rinse pipe can be connected to the hot supply, causing any rinses to be done with hot water.
Clothes come out torn.	This is usually caused by a loose zip or strap getting caught in the drum.
Machine is noisy.	Check if there are any loose items making a noise in the drum, such as coins, keys and zips.
Machine isn't drying well.	Check it's not on a low heat setting. Check the filter isn't blocked - your user manual will show you how to do this. A vent hose could be blocked - again, check your user manual. Make sure you're not overloading the dryer.
Machine stops mid-programme.	Make sure the "rinse hold" button hasn't been selected.
Machine won't empty.	Check the filter isn't blocked - your user manual will show you how to do this but take care - it can cause a sizeable flood.
The glass on the machine is hot.	Usually no need to do anything.
Door or seal on the machine is discoloured.	Usually no need to do anything.

Problems you need an engineer for	What you need to do
Burning smell, sparking or electric shocks coming from the machine or switch.	Turn off the appliance immediately, unplug it and don't use it or touch it. Please call us on 0800 294 9650.*
Washing machine or washer dryer fills with water when switched off.	If you can, turn off the hot and cold isolation taps (on modern appliances there may only be a cold water supply) connected to the washing machine. Then please call us on 0800 294 9650.*
Washing machine, washer dryer or tumble dryer keeps blowing a fuse or tripping the circuit breaker.	Fuses blow for a reason, so simply replacing one may aggravate any potential fault. If just this appliance is affected and the appliance is covered on your Kitchen Appliance Cover, call us on 0800 294 9650.* If other appliances are affected, see British Gas advice on electrical wiring.
Problem with a gas tumble dryer.	Using your appliance manual as a guide: Check the gas and electricity to the machine are turned on - they can be accidentally knocked or turned off. Turn any adjustable appliance controls to their highest setting - these are found on the front of the appliance - but don't touch any control panel or cover that needs a tool to remove it. Instead, please call us on 0800 294 9650* if you have Kitchen Appliance Care/Cover and your machine is covered.
Machine is leaking.	Turn off the electricity and then the water at the stopcock (in most houses, the stopcock is under the kitchen sink). Then please call us on 0800 294 9650.* If it's easy to do so, check where the leak is coming from: Soap drawer: it's probably blocked and needs cleaning out. Drain pipe: your drain may be blocked. If you have Plumbing & Drains cover, please call us on 0800 294 9650.* The machine: call 0800 294 9650* if you have Kitchen Appliance Care/Cover and your machine is covered.
No water in the washing machine is visible or Washing machine takes a long time to go through a cycle.	If you have Kitchen Appliance Care/Cover and your machine is covered please call us on 0800 294 9650.*

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