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GE Washer Keeps Tripping Breaker/Beeping/Balancing

Is your GE washer constantly tripping the breaker, beeping, or balancing itself? If so, you’ll want to discover why your GE washer is causing these problems and choose the best possible solution for your skill level and budget.

If your GE washer keeps tripping the breaker, it could be due to an electrical overload. This happens when too many appliances are running on the same circuit. To fix this, try plugging your washer into a different circuit or reduce the load on the current circuit by unplugging other appliances while the washer is in use.

Another potential cause is a faulty motor. If the washer’s motor is malfunctioning, it can draw excessive current, leading to the breaker tripping. To address this, the motor will need to be tested with a multimeter to check for continuity. If the motor is defective, replacing it is usually the most effective solution. This repair might require professional assistance, depending on your comfort level with appliance repair.

Handyman fixing washing machine

Moisture in the washer’s electrical components can also lead to short-circuiting, which trips the breaker. Check for any leaks or signs of moisture around the washer. If you find any, dry the affected areas and repair any leaks. Ensuring that the washer and its surroundings are dry can prevent short circuits and avoid tripping the breaker.

If you’ve been experiencing problems with your GE washer, this brief troubleshooting guide can help you figure out what’s causing the issue. Once you know the problem, you can choose the appropriate solution and enjoy a perfectly-working washer once more.

GE Washer Keeps Tripping GFCI

GFCI Rest Outlet

If you have your GE washer plugged into a protected outlet, and it keeps tripping the ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), you’re dealing with an electrical problem. But the source of the problem could be one of three things.

Causes

When a GE washer keeps tripping the GFCI, the problem might be the GFCI or outlet. However, you might also be dealing with melted wiring inside the washing machine’s cable and plug. Additionally, blown fuses and faulty wiring inside the washing machine could cause a GFCI to trip constantly.

Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on March 26, 2021.

Solutions

To figure out what’s causing the problem, you’ll need to try plugging something else into the same GFCI outlet. If the outlet trips again, you’re likely dealing with a GFCI problem. Replacing it with a new model is the best solution in this case.

However, if the GFCI is functioning correctly, you might be experiencing issues with the washing machine. If you’re not an electrician, you’ll likely need to hire a technician to help you find a safe and reliable solution.

If you have experience with wiring and electronic appliances, you can replace any blown fuses or faulty wires contributing to the trips.

GE Washer Keeps Tripping Breaker

Circuit breaker

Is your GE washer tripping the breaker again and again? If so, you might be experiencing motor problems, wiring failures, or clogged drains. To stop this problem from recurring, you’ll need to examine your washing machine’s heating element, door latch, motor, and wiring.

Causes

Figuring out why your GE washer keeps tripping the breaker can be a lengthy investigation because there are several suspects. Generally, you’ll want to check your washer’s:

  • Door latch and locking mechanism
  • Motor
  • Heating element
  • Wiring
  • Drains and drain pump
  • Water connections

Issues with any one of these components can cause the washer to trip your home’s circuit breaker. However, troubleshooting to discover the precise cause doesn’t have to take hours. By testing the easiest-to-reach parts first, you could shorten the process and reach a solution more quickly.

Solutions

A faulty door latch can cause your washer to overload your breaker, leading to a trip. Always check that your washer lid or door properly latches and locks before examining the wiring, drains, or heating element.

If your washer is leaking, the water could be causing your appliance and electrical system to short circuit. The second thing you’ll need to determine is if there’s a leak, and if so, where it’s coming from.

Because washing machines aren’t the lightest items, you might want to hire a technician to help you troubleshoot this problem. Additionally, water and electricity are hazardous when mixed.

If your GE washer is tripping your breaker and you’re not sure why it might be safer to contact a professional for help. Doing so significantly reduces your risk of accidental electrocution.

GE Washer Keeps Beeping

Woman pressing buttons on a washing machine

There are quite a few reasons why your GE washer might beep. Short-term beeps are often indicative of pressed buttons, or cycle starts and stops. Some beeps might be warnings that your washer lid is ajar. But constant beeping, even when not in use, is indicative of an electrical glitch.

Causes

Why is your GE washer beeping? Well, there are quite a few reasons why it might be beeping. After all, most modern GE washing machines are technological wonders that use sound and light to help users keep an eye on their laundry.

Your machine might beep:

  • When a cycle starts or ends
  • To let you know that the lid isn’t closed
  • To confirm your laundry selection

But constant, ceaseless beeping isn’t usual. In most cases, this type of beeping results from a minor technical glitch or processing error. Fortunately, the solution is relatively straightforward.

Solutions

To stop your GE washer’s unending beeping, unplug it. Wait for at least thirty seconds before plugging it back in. If you can afford to wait for longer, it may be better to do so. When you unplug your washing machine and keep it shut down for several minutes before reconnecting it, you force it to perform a factory restart.

This is almost always enough to cause the beeping to stop. When a restart doesn’t get rid of the perpetual beeping, the culprit is probably a melted or damaged internal component. In this case, you’ll likely need to contact an appliance repair technician for assistance.

GE Washer Keeps Saying Balancing

Laundry spilling out of washing machine

The large drum inside of your washing machine sits inside of the much larger washing machine box. It rotates at high speeds to help your clothes wash and dry more quickly. If this drum becomes dislodged or falls off-balance, you might see a constant ‘balancing’ status.

Causes

The most common cause of an off-balance washer is clothing. Small bits of clothes, especially socks, underwear, and loose bras, can get stuck between the washer drum and frame. If you cannot spot and remove these bits of fabric, they can lodge themselves below or beside the drum.

When this happens, your GE washer’s sensors will inform its system that there’s a balance problem. Loose pocket items are also a common culprit.

Loose change, pens, and paper notes can quickly get stuck near the drum. If you have small children, keep an eye out for rocks, crayons, and other small items that may cause balance issues.

Solutions

If you can see and remove any stuck debris, you can solve this problem within a few minutes. However, more than likely, any debris causing your washer’s drum to register as off-balance is deeply stuck. You have two essential options.

Firstly, you could disassemble your GE washer (at least partially) to access the drum or lift it out of the washer frame. You’ll need to unplug your washing machine and gather your tools before starting this fix.

It’s also crucial to keep track of any screws you loosen and reference your model’s assembly diagram. Of course, if you’d rather let someone else repair your off-balance washer drum, you can always contact an appliance repair technician.

GE Washer Keeps Going Off Balance

Woman reaching in washing machine

When your washer’s drum keeps going off balance, the issue is likely mechanical. Unlike the perpetual ‘balancing’ message, an off-balance washer drum probably isn’t caused by an errant piece of clothing.

Causes

The darndest things can cause your GE washer to go off balance. In addition to random bits of lost clothing, items like coins, pens, and globs of paper can cause your washer’s drum to fall off balance.

However, broken internal components can also cause balance problems. If a small screw or piece of metal breaks off between the drum and washer frame, it can lodge inside and cause the drum to register as off-balance.

Solutions

If the problem is a stray sock or a bit of underwear and you can see the clothing, you can try retrieving it and seeing if that fixes the problem. Still, some articles of clothing might get trapped near the bottom of the drum.

To get these problematic clothes out, you’ll need to either unplug and partially disassemble your GE washer or contact a professional appliance technician. If your off-balance washer drum is the result of a broken component, you’ll need to follow through with the same potential solutions.

For example, you could order the replacement part you need after disassembling your washer, then install it yourself. Or you could hire someone to do the hard work for you. If you’re not familiar with basic mechanical engineering and electronics, it’s better to hire outside help than attempt it alone.

Final Thoughts

If your GE washer keeps tripping the breaker, you might be dealing with a serious wiring problem. A beeping GE washer can be particularly annoying, but usually, the solution is as simple as unplugging it, letting it rest, and plugging it back into an outlet.

An off-balance washer drum can be a bit more challenging to diagnose and fix, as the culprit could be escaped clothing, random bits of debris, or a broken internal part. You may need to hire a professional appliance repair technician or electrician to help you solve these GE washer problems.

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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on March 26, 2021.

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