Where does the burning smell come from in the washing machine, and why does it smoke?

Do you have an unpleasant burning smell and was it caused by your washing machine? Do not despair, because in this situation it is important to take the necessary security measures - turn off the device from the network and seek help from a specialist!

In fact, the smell of burning is not always the cause of serious problems with an electrical appliance. Sometimes this smell is characteristic of new devices where the plastic surfaces are grinding and drying. However, it also happens that the burning smell is a consequence of a factory defect in the device.

Also, a similar unpleasant odor may be the result of powder or soapy substances getting on the heating element, which subsequently “burn” due to high temperatures and emit an unpleasant odor. We have extensive experience in eliminating this type of malfunction and a staff of specialists ready to urgently come to the rescue!

Types of faults and methods for their elimination

If primitive measures are not successful, then the burning smell from the washing machine may be the result of serious malfunctions that are associated with the main components and elements of the unit.

Engine failure

Regardless of the design and age of the device, washing machines are equipped with a motor, which can be a DC motor or an asynchronous motor. The latter were most often equipped with washing machines that were already 10 years old or more.

Experts associate engine failure with a short circuit between the turns of the windings. It is typically caused by water ingress and excessive heating of the conductors, which heats and melts the lacquered insulating coating. A “burnt out” engine must be replaced with a new one. In certain cases, the motor can be repaired by rewinding, which requires special laboratory or factory conditions. Replacing an engine is a repair of medium complexity and cannot be performed by beginners.

Engine failure may be a consequence of certain processes, including:

• Emergency stop of the drum, which is caused by mechanical destruction and, as a consequence, jamming of the bearing;
• External factors in the form of a surge in network voltage;
• The aging of the engine itself is a process during which the value of the rated and starting currents inevitably increases, which in normal mode amount to up to 700% of the operating characteristics.

Failure of elements

Another cause of an unpleasant odor may be a failure of the starting capacitor. Its presence in the circuit is typical for old washing machines that use asynchronous motors. To start them, it is necessary to create a displacement of the current vector from the voltage vector, thereby creating a starting torque and a rotating field. The design of the capacitor allows it to “open” due to swelling, which causes an unpleasant odor due to burning electrolyte.

The heating element or pump burned out

Failure of the heating element - heating element - can also be accompanied by a similar perception by the olfactory organs. If there was a failure in the program and the heating element turned on at a time when there was no water in the tank, it will most likely fail, requiring replacement. In this case, a specially built-in fuse in the heating element burns out, representing a single whole with its design. This process prevents the laundry in the tank from catching fire if there is no water.

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* If repairs are refused or it is impossible to carry them out, a diagnostic fee of 500 rubles is paid**

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Heating element burnout

The heating element can emit a burning smell even in good condition, for example, when lint from clothing or hair gets on it. Also, burning will come from the heater turned on when there is no water in the tank. Due to prolonged use, the contacts of the heating element may oxidize, which is also accompanied by an unpleasant odor; in such cases, it is recommended to clean or resolder them.

A burning smell also occurs when detergent comes into contact with the heater. This is especially true for low quality washing powder. Then, to clean the heater, it is recommended to run the washing machine in the washing mode at the maximum permissible temperature, without laundry and with citric acid added to the water.

The performance of the heating element is checked when starting the wash with a temperature of 0 degrees. If the burning smell does not disappear, then it is not the problem.

To replace the heating element, first remove the back wall of the machine and its electronic control panel.

What to do if smoke appears from the washing machine

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:

1. To inspect the washing machine, the first step is to drain the water using the emergency drain and disconnect the device from the sewer system.
2. 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.
3. 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.

Immediate Action

If smoke comes out of the machine or you smell a burning smell, then the first thing you need to do is turn off the power to the equipment. If you turn off the current supply in time, you can stop the fire and prevent the start of a fire. Therefore, we turn off the corresponding machine on the panel, or better yet, cut off the electricity in all rooms.

It is strictly forbidden to pull out the power plug while it is still live! This is life-threatening! There is a high risk of getting an electric shock!

While the apartment is not de-energized, you must not approach the machine or touch its body. Remember that if there is a problem with the wiring, current leaks to all conductive materials, including metal. It is dangerous to even approach the machine - there may be a puddle of water nearby, dangerous with similar consequences. Therefore, at the slightest suspicion of a fire, we quickly turn off the power supply and only then begin to look for the root cause and assess the scale of the problem.

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:

1. Damage to the heating element. 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.
2. Wiring burnout. Such problems may result in fire or smoke.
3. Oxidation or burnout of control board contacts. In this case, it is necessary to clean or replace the contacts.
4. Worn drive belt. If the rubber belt is deformed or changes in tension during washing, a smell of smoke and severe shaking may occur. This problem can be solved by replacing the belt or changing its tension.
5. 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.

Fault table

If you need spare parts for replacement, contact Samodelkin: wide range, fast delivery throughout Russia, warranty.

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See all drive belts »

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Pump failure

The washing machine smells burnt when washing and when the pump does not stop working even after draining the waste liquid. As a result of this problem, it becomes very hot and breaks. The main signs of this problem are the remains of a large amount of liquid in the tank and the appearance of extraneous sounds during the draining process.

To install a new pump pump, use these instructions:

1. Remove the front cover of the machine.
2. Remove the filter from inside.
3. Unscrew the wires from the pump and the drain tube from the volute.
4. Loosen all clamps.
5. Remove the drum pipe, unscrew the fastening screw connecting the washer to the snail, and remove it with light rotational movements. If the snail is attached to the pump with screws, they are unscrewed, if with latches, they are bent with a screwdriver or a knife with a thin blade.
6. Wipe the pump area, install a new pump and perform all steps in reverse order.

Non-hazardous reasons

A common cause of a burning smell in a washing machine is the use of unsuitable detergents - washing gel, powder or soap shavings, which are often added to wash children's clothes. These products stick to the heater coil and “burn” with each cycle. To get rid of the unpleasant aroma, you just need to run the washing machine at high temperature - hot water will wash away all the buildup from the heating element. In addition, completely new household appliances can smell like burnt plastic. This often happens in the first days of use, when the elements and parts of the washing machine heat up during washing.

Door lock malfunction

If there is a burning smell coming from the washing machine, the problem may be the “tablet”, the thermal element of the door lock, which is present in all modern models. Most often, its breakdown is caused by voltage surges that regularly appear in the network. Changing the lock is easy:

1. Remove the wire clamp from the laundry hatch.
2. Remove the rubber cuff.
3. Unscrew the screws and remove the lock itself.
4. Assess its serviceability using a voltmeter - if the voltage when working with the contacts reaches 220 V, then the “tablet” has burned out. Install a new lock and reassemble everything in reverse order. To prevent this situation from happening again in the future, buy a good stabilizer for your washing machine.

Price

The exact cost of repairing a washing machine is determined taking into account its model, type, and cause of the malfunction. In the “Price” section you will find approximate financial terms of cooperation, the specialist will name the exact ones after checking. Diagnostics does not oblige you to order services from us, but in this case it will be paid.

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« Washing machine leaks from below during washing | The drum of the washing machine beats when rotating »

Prevention measures:

1. Ventilate the washing machine well after washing. Leave the door ajar for at least a couple of hours.
2. Do not put dirty laundry in the washing machine. Use special baskets for this purpose.
3. After washing, wipe the rubber cuff, as water and sometimes small debris always remain in its folds.
4. Use a quality detergent when washing and use the correct dosage.
5. Make sure that there is no water left in the machine, which will begin to “go out” during inactivity, especially if the device is tightly closed.
6. Keep the drain hose clean. Debris and powder residues can stick to its walls, which can rot and emit an unpleasant odor. Clean the silted hose by running the machine without laundry at maximum temperature. If the hose still causes the stench, you should replace the drain hose with a new one.
7. Clean the heating element from scale. One of the best means of fighting scale is citric acid.
8. Eliminate problems with public communications in a timely manner.

Water leaks

If the water supply hose is broken, a situation may arise when water penetrates inside the washing machine body and gets on the wiring and motor. This can lead to a short circuit, accompanied not only by the smell of burning tires, but also by the appearance of smoke.

Leaks are also possible due to other damage to the inlet hose, so it is necessary to carefully check it along its entire length, as well as the connections and threads of the fasteners. You may need to replace the hose fasteners or even the accessory itself.

If the wires and motor burn out, a complete replacement of these spare parts is also required.

Belt damage

If the washing machine smells burnt, check the belt tension - due to wear on the bearing and misalignment of the pulley, it may fray or begin to jam. During the spinning process, a failed belt emits a characteristic aroma, accompanied by the appearance of dark smoke. The optimal solution to this problem is to replace the drive belt and bearings. To do this you need to do the following:

1. Remove the back wall of the washer.
2. Remove the old belt.
3. Copy or photograph the markings to buy the same model.
4. Inspect the engine pulley and remove any foreign objects from it.
5. Install a new spare part. This is done like this: first throw the belt on the engine pulley, and then on the drum pulley. In most washing machines, this is done only 1/3 freely, then the belt will have to be secured by hand or with special ties. They can be cut off while the drum is gradually scrolling. Finally, be sure to align the belt so that it is centered.

As for installing new bearings, it is better to entrust this task to a technician who repairs washing machines - this requires experience and various tools.

How to call a specialist

A technician will come out for diagnostics and repairs upon prior request. You can make a call by phone or through the form on the website. Provide the service manager with the following information:

1. Make and model of the washing machine (see the instructions on the body).
2. What happened, when, after what, the main symptoms of the breakdown (needed to select tools and components before leaving).
3. Optimal time for repairs.
4. Contact details.

The technician will tell you why the malfunction occurred and what to do only after visiting and inspecting the washing machine. Most breakdowns are fixed within 1-2 hours; removal of equipment to our service is not required. Immediately after the repair is completed, the washing machine will be ready for use. In rare cases, repairs may require more time and a return visit from the technician. We are ready to order any components and perform complex software repairs, but this often increases the work time.

Pump faulty

Non-stop operation of the pump can also lead to a burning smell and unit failure. To replace the pump in Electrolux and Zanussi washing machines, it is necessary to dismantle the rear wall. Siemens, Bosch, AEG models provide for disassembling the front panel. And in SMA “Samsung”, “Whirlpool”, “Beko”, “Kandy” access is through the bottom.

Next we do this:

- We are preparing dry rags. – Loosen the clamps, remove the drain hose and pipe from their places. – Unscrew the bolts or turn the pump counterclockwise. – If the electronic part of the pump is broken, then you need to install a new spare part.