A dishwasher that trips the GFCI is usually leaking current to ground through a wet connection, a failing heating element or a worn pump or motor. The point in the cycle where it trips is your best clue, so note it, reset the GFCI once, and leave it off if it trips again.
In this post:
- •Water is reaching a connection
- •The heating element is failing
- •The drain pump or wash motor is leaking current
- •The outlet under the sink is damp
- •Another appliance shares the protection
- •The GFCI itself is worn out
1. Water is reaching a connection
A slow leak from the door, a hose or the pump can drip onto the wiring under the tub. A GFCI is built to cut power the instant current strays through water, so it's doing its job.
How to tell: Trips in the middle of a wash, water or mineral tracks under the kick plate, or a leak code on the display. On many LG models that's AE; see our LG dishwasher error codes guide, and remember codes vary by brand and model.
What to do: Switch off the dishwasher's circuit and close its water supply. Remove the kick plate and look with a flashlight, without touching any wiring. Have the leak found before you run another load.
2. The heating element is failing
As an element ages, its insulation can break down and let a small amount of current leak to the tub or frame.
How to tell: The trip comes when the water starts heating or the dry phase begins, and happens less often with heated dry and high-temperature options turned off.
What to do: Book a technician to test the element. Until then, skip the heated options.
3. The drain pump or wash motor is leaking current
Pump and motor seals wear over time, and moisture that gets inside a motor can cause a ground fault.
How to tell: The trip happens right as the dishwasher starts draining or the wash motor kicks on, sometimes after a hum or grinding sound.
What to do: Leave the dishwasher off and have the pump and motor tested. These are sealed electrical parts, not a DIY job.
4. The outlet under the sink is damp
Many dishwashers plug into an outlet in the sink cabinet, right beside the drain trap, the disposal and the faucet lines.
How to tell: Drips from the trap or supply lines, a damp cabinet floor, or rust and water stains near the outlet.
What to do: Get the plumbing leak fixed first, keep wet sponges and cleaning bottles away from the outlet, and have an electrician check a box that got wet.
5. Another appliance shares the protection
One GFCI can protect more than one outlet, and the dishwasher sometimes shares that protection with the disposal.
How to tell: The GFCI also trips when the disposal runs on its own, or when something on a nearby counter outlet is in use.
What to do: Run each appliance on its own and note which one causes the trip. That tells the technician or electrician where to start.
6. The GFCI itself is worn out
GFCI outlets and breakers wear out, and an aging one can trip on normal loads.
How to tell: It trips with the dishwasher idle, won't reset, or pops the moment you press Reset with nothing running.
What to do: Have an electrician test and replace it. Never swap a GFCI for a standard outlet to stop the trips, because that removes the protection.
When a technician is the better call
Anything inside the dishwasher, from the heating element to the pump, motor and wiring box, should be tested by a pro with the power off. Book a visit with our dishwasher repair team and we'll find where the current is leaking. Outlet and house wiring problems go to a licensed electrician.
Marco's advice: Check the sink cabinet with a flashlight once a month. Most of the GFCI trips I trace back on dishwashers start with a small leak nobody noticed.
GFCI still tripping? Call ProFix LA at (818) 334-4526.