Why does the socket heat up when the washing machine is running?

The socket from the washing machine gets hot quite often. Fortunately, correcting such a misunderstanding is usually simple; an experienced electrician will complete the job in literally 5 minutes. Even a person who is far from Ohm’s Law can fix the problem on his own, the main thing is to follow the safety rules. Let's figure out how to set up an outlet.

Let's inspect the power cord plug

Before starting work, be sure to turn off the power to the outlet. If you do not follow safety precautions, you may be seriously injured by electric shock. Therefore, it is so important to turn off the electricity supply either throughout the apartment or in the room where the washing machine is installed. Sometimes the plastic cover gets “hot” because the plug in the socket heats up when the machine is running. That is, the issue is not a breakdown of the “electrical point” itself, but a malfunction of the “plug”.

If the contacts inside the plug are broken, it heats up, transferring heat to the body of the socket.

It's easy to check the plug - connect the washing machine to another outlet (you can even use an extension cord) and start the cycle. Wait 10 minutes and touch the body. If the new “electrical point” also becomes hot, then the cause of the problem has been identified. The second way to check a “suspicious” outlet is to power another electrical appliance with high power consumption from it. For example, a heater. If the plastic case becomes hot, then the problem is in the “point” itself, since the “plug” is working by default.

Overloaded socket

Before disassembling the heating case, be sure to think about whether you have “overloaded” the outlet.Manufacturers always prescribe at what load current the device will operate normally (for example, at a current of up to 16 Amps this is about 3 kW). Therefore, if an automatic machine has more power, it is logical that the outlet will heat up. The same effect is ensured when connecting a tee to the point and powering several electrical appliances from it at once, with a total consumption of more than 3 kW (for our example).

When the outlet does not fit the power of the machine, you must create a new point to power the washing machine.

It is ideal to allocate a separate outlet for washing equipment and equip the line with a residual current device and a stabilizer. Then there will be no problems with heating the body of the “point”.

Circuit of sockets

What should I do if the problem is not the plug and the maximum permissible power consumption is violated? Another possible cause of heating is a nearby outlet connected to the “problematic” cable. Sometimes, the wires from the junction box go into the first outlet, come out of it and power the second, third and the next on the list. Thus, current passes through the contacts of all points in the circuit.

If an automatic machine, for example, is connected to socket No. 3, and at point No. 1 the contacts are loose, then the device we are interested in will begin to heat up or stop working altogether. To solve the problem, you will have to repair the adjacent outlet.

Poor contact connections

This is the most common cause of heating. If all the previously described problems are excluded, you will have to disassemble the device body and check the contacts. Be sure to check whether the screws securing the wiring are securely clamped.

When the design of the socket does not provide for the presence of springs, the plug is not tightly “clasped” by the contacts. If you don’t have time to set a new point now, you can try to press the “clicks” of the device closer to each other. However, they will soon weaken again and the problem will recur. Therefore, it is better to immediately find the time and, instead of the old one, install a socket with springs. Then, when you turn on the machine, the device body will not heat up.

Nagar created a conductive surface

Heating can occur if the power point housing is made of low-quality plastic. Then carbon deposits form inside, the plastic parts of the device “get hot,” and the socket begins to knock out the machine.

In general, plastic is not considered a conductive material. But, under the influence of high temperatures, it can begin to pass current. When you turn on the washing machine, the socket body will be very hot, which is unsafe. After disassembling the case and noticing traces of burning inside, change the socket as quickly as possible. It is too dangerous to power the washing machine; it may cause a fire.

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