Dishwashers, Washing Machines and Tumble Dryers

Nearly 6000 accidental fires in the home, where people have been injured, are caused by household appliances other than cooking appliances.

There’s been a lot in the news in recent years about household appliances that have been recalled because they may be a fire risk.

Click the button below to make sure your appliance is not one of these.

Tumble Dryers

One tumble dryer bursts into flames nearly every day in the UK!

Don’t use your dryer when you are out of the house or asleep in bed.
Don’t overload your tumble dryer – as well as your clothes taking much longer to dry and costing you more money, overloading can cause a fire risk; the element at the back of the tumble dryer can cause the clothing to overheat and combust.
If you have clothing that has been contaminated with substances such as solvents, grease, oils or fats dry them naturally; don’t dry them in your tumble dryer as these substances can all ignite when in contact with extreme heat.
Keep your tumble dryer well-maintained – clean it each time you use it by cleaning and clearing the filters from lint and fluff.
Ensure the machine is well ventilated, that there are no kinks in the ventilation pipe and that any external vent flap is able to open when the dryer is on.
Don’t use the dryer if it develops scorch marks or you notice any damaged or loose wires.

Remember, always follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Avoid using your dishwasher or washing machine at night when you are asleep or when you are not at home.
Regularly clean all filters in the machine and inspect detergent drawers for signs of cracks – cracks could enable water to enter the machine parts and increase the risk of electrical fire.