Dishwasher tripping the RCD - is it fixable?

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We've had a problem with the dishwasher tripping the circuit breaker on the kitchen sockets (we know it's the dishwasher, because we ran an extension lead into the living room, and it tripped the circuit there).

Is it worth calling the manufacturer and getting a man in? Or is it toast?

It's only three years old. And it's a (supposedly reliable) Bosch!

if it trips after 15 minutes, it's probably the heating element again.

I don't know the timings of your cycle, but they usually fill with cold water and do a rinse, then after a while (maybe a pump out and refill) they begin a hot wash, and turn the heater on. That would explain the delay. RCD trip is most likely to be heating element, though (as seen before) it might be a leak.

The heating element will come on at (lets say) 15 minutes into every cycle, whereas a leak might vary in time .

If you get BSH to mend it, see if they offer a 1-year contract for not much more than the price of a single repair. If they do, take it.

OOI, there are a great many BSH machines around; I don't believe they're unreliable brands. With millions installed there are bound to be a number that go wrong

it seems to be a current or recent model. Has the guarantee run out?

Our Bosch dishwasher started tripping the power. It was relatively old, but insured. The explanation they gave was that there must be a small hole in the floor of the dishwasher - probably caused by accidentally dropping a knife or something. It was declared unrepairable and we have a discount code to use against a new one.

For the price of dishwashers, I never bother now getting them replaced if they fail. Just order a new one. Not very environmentally friendly but avoids the repeated faults and laying out more in repairs than cost of new one

@PigletJohn, thanks for your advice. The Dishwasher was within its guarantee period, so I called BSH and they fixed it free of charge. The engineer told me it was the heater/pump that was causing the RCD to trip. We are in a hard water area and I had not put enough salt into it to stop the limescale from building up in the heater. I shall check it more carefully in future.

good to hear, thanks

This happened to our Bosch dishwasher last night. It’s coming up to five years old, do people think it’s worth fixing at this stage, given previous posters experiences, or should I just get a new one?

how long after starting the wash cycle did it trip?

Does it trip on cold-pre-rinse?

It’s about 15/20 minutes into the cycle

probably the heater element then

does it trip on the cold pre-rinse?

I don't know the repair cost. Never had one fail on my or family Bosch or Siemens, and we are big users.

You can get a new Best Buy Bosch for around £450 upward, or last year's model for £370. Freestanding are better value than integrated, and much easier to install/remove.

if you get BSH to repair it, they may offer a year's repair contract for not more than the cost of one repair, a good buy, IMO.

A local repairperson will usually be cheaper, but you need a personal recommendation (not a disguised advertising website).

If you are hard up, you can get a used dwr from somebody remodelling their kitchen for £20 or less, but you need two burly women to lift it into the back of a hatchback and into your kitchen.

Thanks, I feel like I’ve achieved a Mumsnet rite of passage, advice from PigletJohn!

I think it’s managing the cold rinse as all the stuff I’ve just taken out was fairly clean despite only being in there for about 20 minutes.

I see from Facebook that the chap who unblocked the washing machine drain for me recently is still working so I’ll drop him a line.

I agree with Bosch usually being very reliable, our previous washer/dryer survived 13 years, three kids and four house moves before giving up!

Thanks again

My Bosch dishwasher is tripping my electrics on the heating cycle

We have had a few problems face with not draining but solved that by tilting it 45 degrees and loads of other stuff.

I am thinking, it's time for a new one.

ffs

I know this is an old thread but I have the exact same problem. After reading this, I ran a rinse cycle which was fine, but assume it will trip again if I try another wash cycle.

The machine is 10 years old. Should I just bin or get someone to replace the heating element? Sorry to invoke you, @PigletJohn, but just in case you're around, any advice would be great!

It's most likely the heating element, with a crack or erosion in the sheathing allowing water in.

You can tell because on cold "rinse and hold" it runs OK, but if you put it on hot wash, it trips once the heating cycle starts (might be 5 or 10 minutes in, and sometimes you hear it pump out and fill again before the heating starts.)

I don't know what it would cost to repair in your area. maybe £75?

If the machine is 10 years old I'd say you've had your money's worth out of it.

Many thanks, @PigletJohn. I did get an engineer out who quoted £200 odd pounds in southern Scotland so I think we will just get a new one. Engineer said he doesn't bother with anything over 3 years old which I found quite surprising! Thanks again for your help.