Cut the power to the appliance before you investigate, and look and smell first, touch last. A loud pop followed by an appliance going dead often means an electrical part failed, and the first question is whether anything is still heating or burning. If you see smoke, flames or sparks, leave the room and call 911.
Do this first
- Switch off the appliance's breaker. If the plug is easy to reach and the outlet looks normal, unplugging works too. Don't touch a plug or outlet that's smoking, melted or hot.
- Use your senses from a distance. Smoke, a sharp electrical or plastic smell, or a scorch mark are signs of an electrical fault. The Electrical Safety Foundation says a burning smell or warm outlets could be signs of a serious wiring problem (ESFi).
- For a gas appliance, think about gas. A "whump" when a gas oven or dryer lights can mean delayed ignition. Turn the appliance off and don't relight it. If you smell gas, leave the house and call 911 and Atmos Energy from outside.
- Check the panel. Note whether the appliance's breaker tripped, or a GFCI outlet nearby popped. Don't reset it yet.
In the next few hours
- Inspect the cord and plug once power is off and everything is cool. Darkened prongs, melted plastic or a stiff, cracked cord mean the appliance shouldn't be plugged back in. The U.S. Fire Administration says an appliance with a cracked, damaged or loose cord should be replaced (USFA), so have a technician decide whether the cord or the whole unit needs replacing.
- Decide whether to reset the breaker. If there was no smoke, smell or visible damage, you can reset it once with the appliance unplugged. If it trips again with nothing plugged in, the problem is in the circuit, so call an electrician. If it holds, leave the appliance unplugged until it's checked.
- Rule out a normal noise. Some loud sounds are routine. GE lists a loud noise when ice cubes drop into the bucket, and, on some models, cracking or popping as the evaporator coils cool after a defrost cycle, as normal refrigerator sounds (GE Appliances). Those don't come with the fridge shutting down.
- Protect what's inside. For a refrigerator or freezer, keep the doors closed and start tracking the time.
Before the technician arrives
Note:
- The model and serial number. Fridges: inside on a wall or ceiling. Washers and dryers: around the door opening or on the back. Ranges and ovens: on the frame behind the oven door or drawer. Dishwashers: on the door edge.
- Exactly when it happened: at startup, mid-cycle, during a storm or power flicker, or when someone opened a door.
- What you saw and smelled, and whether a breaker or GFCI tripped.
- Anything else on the same circuit that also lost power.
- Photos of the plug, outlet and any marks.
What not to do:
- Don't plug it back in "to see what happens" after a pop with a smell or scorch.
- Don't open the cabinet to look for the burned part. Some parts, especially in microwaves, can hold a dangerous charge after unplugging.
- Don't move the appliance to an extension cord or a different outlet as a test.
- Don't relight a gas appliance after a hard ignition.
How to keep it from happening again
- Plug major appliances directly into wall outlets. The USFA says never to use an extension cord with a major appliance.
- Replace worn cords and loose outlets before they fail.
- Watch for early warnings. Flickering displays, buzzing at the outlet, or a breaker that trips occasionally often come before a louder failure.
- Keep the area behind appliances clean and dry. Dust and moisture around plugs make problems more likely.
If the outlet itself is scorched, follow what to do when the outlet behind an appliance is scorched. For appliance diagnosis in Plano and nearby cities, see our Plano service area page.
Sources
- Electrical Safety Foundation International: Home Safety
- U.S. Fire Administration: Appliance and Electrical Fire Safety
- GE Appliances: Refrigerator normal sounds and noises
Keep in mind: A single loud pop with no smell, smoke or tripped breaker is often a normal noise; a pop that ends with a dead appliance is not.
Call ProFix Dallas at (469) 886-1122 to have the appliance diagnosed safely.