I have a proline dishwasher, recently a cup of coffee got spilled and leaked onto the front of it and now when I switch the dishwasher on, it short circuits the house electricity supply

Helen, March 2009

The RCD safety device is tripping - the electrics in the dishwasher are either badly boken and need diagnosis and repair or (let's hope so) gummed up with damp or dried coffee residue and just need cleaning. The RCD will be tripping because it senses different currents between Live and Neutral - it only takes a tiny bit of difference.

Peccavi, March 2009