Maintain Appliances and Recalls
Maintenance
Electrical appliances, especially ones that run at high speeds and contain motors, like washing machines, should be serviced once a year by a qualified electrician.
Check your appliances are not subject to a product recall by checking the Office for Product Safety and Standards (external website) for any alerts or recalls
Register your appliance with the Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances (external website) for a safer home.
'Register my appliance' leaflet (PDF, 187KB)
Tumble dryer and washing machine
Tumble dryers have been around for a long time, and used safely they can be a useful addition to your household.
However, if fluff is allowed to accumulate in the filter, near blocked vents, and at the rear of your dryer you increase the risk of this fluff catching fire from the heat created by the dryer.
To stay safe we recommend you follow the below points:
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Lint is removed after every load of clothes is dried.
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You do not cover the vent or any other opening.
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You sweep or vacuum the areas around the dryer regularly to prevent fluff build up.
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Do not use tumble dryers while sleeping or away from home.
Safety warnings and recalls
Check your tumble dryer as urgent safety warning issued – May 2025
People with a heat pump tumble dryer are being urged to check them, following a safety warning from the Office for Product Safety and Standards affecting eight brands: Baumatic, Candy, Caple, Haier, Hoover, Iberna, Lamona and Montpellier.
Check the list of affected models and manufacturers (external website)
You are advised to stop using affected models immediately.
Whirlpool washing machine recall - April 29, 2020
'Whirlpool: New warning over fire-prone Hotpoint washing machines' (external website)
Tumble dryer recall - July 2019
There has recently been two types of tumble dryers manufactured by Hotpoint, Indesit and Creda between April 2004 and September 2015, that have been recalled due to fears that excess fluff may come into contact with the heating element and catch fire.