Isolate the circuit and do not use the appliance again
Switch the circuit off at the consumer unit rather than pulling the plug, because reaching behind the cabinet to unplug something means touching it again. Then call an electrician. Do not test the sensation a second time to confirm it, and do not carry on using the appliance while a visit is arranged.
What you find
- A tingle or buzz when touching the cabinet — The finding this page exists for, and it is always a fault.
- The sensation is stronger with wet hands or bare feet — Consistent with current through the body, and it means the path is better.
- A protective device that trips when the appliance runs — The device doing its job, which is what should happen.
- Other appliances in the room behaving oddly — Possibly a wider earthing problem rather than one appliance.
- An extension lead or adapter in use behind the cabinet — A condition that makes earthing problems more likely and is worth correcting anyway.
- NEAR MISS: a static shock in dry weather from clothing — A different phenomenon, and it happens away from the appliance too.
Ranked for a cabinet that gives a tingle
- A broken or missing earth connection — First. The earth path exists to carry a fault safely away; when it is absent, the fault finds a person instead.
- Moisture reaching a wiring connection — Second. Water inside the door or at the base of a cabinet creates the leakage path that the earth is supposed to handle.
- A degraded component leaking to the cabinet — Third. A motor or heater whose insulation has failed puts current onto the metal.
- A wiring fault in the building — Last, and it is why an electrician rather than an appliance technician is the right call.
Isolate first, investigate never
- Switch the circuit off at the consumer unit — It is the first and most important action.
- Do not repeat the test to confirm the sensation — There is nothing more to learn and a real risk in the repetition.
- Note whether other appliances behave oddly too — It distinguishes an appliance fault from a wiring problem.
- Call an electrician rather than an appliance technician — Earthing is the electrician's subject and this is an earthing symptom.
Owner steps
- Switch off the circuit at the consumer unit, not at the plug — Reaching behind the cabinet to unplug it means touching the cabinet again.
About 5 min
- Move perishable food to a cooler or another appliance — A refrigerator holds food safely at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below, and the appliance is now off.
Tools: coolerAbout 30 min
- Note who felt it, where on the cabinet, and in what conditions — Wet hands, bare feet and a tiled floor all make the path better and the sensation stronger.
Tools: notepadAbout 5 min
- Check whether any other appliance in the room does the same — If more than one does, the problem is the installation rather than the appliance.
About 10 min
- STOP before any panel, plug or socket is opened — This is an earthing fault, and earthing is an electrician's subject.
Why there is no threshold here
Safety
Unplug the appliance or switch off its breaker before removing any panel, and prefer the breaker in this case so you do not have to touch the cabinet. Never touch an appliance that has given a tingle with wet hands. Never reset a tripping protective device repeatedly: it is detecting exactly this kind of fault. Do not use the appliance again until an electrician has inspected it.
When to call
Call an electrician, not an appliance technician, and call promptly rather than at the next convenient time. Say that somebody felt a tingle from the cabinet and describe the conditions. If more than one appliance does it, or if the protective device trips, say that too: it points at the installation rather than at any one machine.
Nearest pages of this class
Scope of this page
This is the earthing and shock view of the Samsung refrigerator class; supply, sockets and starting surges are on the companion page linked above. Earthing arrangements belong to the building, and a qualified electrician is the authority on them.
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
