Appliance interfering with radio, TV or broadband?

Check whether it is safe to isolate the appliance

If there is smoke, a burning smell, sparking, unusual heat or electric shock, stop using the appliance. Do not power it again to demonstrate interference. Disconnect it only if safe, and get qualified help for fixed wiring or an inaccessible supply. Follow our unsafe purchase reporting guide if there is a safety concern.

Where there are no safety concerns, shut down the appliance using its normal controls and unplug it safely. Include its separate power adaptor if supplied. Leave the radio, television or router powered so you can observe the result. Do not open the appliance, alter its plug or remove its earth connection.

Check what changes when the appliance is disconnected

Record whether the radio noise, television picture disturbance or connection failure stops after unplugging. Keep the receiver position, channel and other equipment unchanged. Note observations during normal use rather than repeatedly switching a motor or compressor. Improvement suggests a connection with the appliance, but does not establish the technical cause or prove non-compliance.

For broadband, distinguish loss of the router's internet connection from a problem affecting only wireless devices. If practical, compare with a computer connected directly to the router by cable. Avoid a powerline adaptor for this comparison. Check visible receiver leads without climbing onto a roof or disturbing fixed wiring; leave communal aerial checks to the building manager or installer.

Give the seller evidence they can investigate

Send the order reference, model, serial or batch details, and photographs of the rating plate and supplied adaptor. Describe the affected service, location, appliance operating mode, dates and times, and what changed after unplugging. Include existing recordings or router logs where available. Separate observed facts from your suspicion, and explain whether other nearby equipment was affected.

Ask the seller to investigate the supplied appliance and adaptor together, explain any installation conditions, and propose collection, repair, replacement or refund. Request the test reports for the actual model and production configuration, using our test report verification guide. Keep the product unmodified and agree safe return arrangements before sending it back.

Choose the route for the affected service

For domestic radio or television reception through an aerial, start with BBC reception help and describe suspected electrical interference. The BBC has responsibility for arranging investigation of electromagnetic interference complaints affecting domestic television and radio reception. For communal reception, ask the building manager to check the shared system too.

For broadband or television delivered over the internet, contact your broadband provider's technical support with your observations. Ask it to distinguish a line fault from local wireless interference and advise on further checks. Obtain a fault reference and retain its findings for the appliance seller.

For other radio-spectrum interference, such as disruption to business radio, ask Ofcom for advice through its interference reporting channel. Ofcom provides advice and assistance on interference complaints. In Great Britain, it is also the electromagnetic compatibility market surveillance authority for apparatus in relation to protection and management of the radio spectrum. Explain if the suspected source is your own appliance.

Resolve the cause before releasing business stock

If you bought the appliance for resale, hold the affected stock while the complaint is assessed. Ask the factory to identify changes to the power supply, motor controls, shielding or components since the tested sample. Give a laboratory the complaint evidence and complete supplied configuration; our interference testing brief guide explains how to prepare that work.

Ask for a written diagnosis, corrective action and evidence covering the replacement configuration before releasing stock or reordering. A quieter radio after moving the appliance is an observation, not proof that the product meets its requirements. Use our electrical import rules guide for the wider compliance checks. Cambridge China Bridge's staff in China can gather factory records and coordinate follow-up.