New statistics have revealed that tumble dryers are responsible for almost one fire a day.
According to figures obtained by The Mirror through Freedom of Information, fire services attended 926 fires related to the household appliance between 2011 and 2013 in the UK.
That’s an average of 309 per year and the data also allegedly suggested that some 410 fires between 2011 and 2014 were linked to Hotpoint models.
The newspaper reports that thousands of appliance owners previously received a warning that some Hotpoint, Creda and Indesit-branded machines sold between 2004 and 2015 could pose a fire risk however no models were recalled.
Apparently fires can start when excess fluff touches the heating element which is why there are growing concerns over the safety of certain appliances.
Richard Lloyd, executive producer of consumer organisation Which?, told The Mirror: “More needs to be done to protect consumers from this risk and it is crucial that products known to be dangerous are recalled as quickly as possible.”
Here are some general rules to keep in mind when it comes to tumble dryers:
- Read the manufacturer’s instructions before use.
- Don’t leave the appliance unattended or running overnight.
- Don’t overload the machine and use in a ventilated area.
- Regularly clean the filter and get the machine serviced.
- If you suspect that the machine is faulty, stop using it immediately.
- Make sure fire alarms are working in case of fire.
