Some 650,000 potentially dangerous tumble dryers have been recalled in a national safety campaign launched by Whirlpool.
The company first launched a full recall in June and said thousands of tumble dryers have been reported since then. It is thought up to 800,000 were still in use when the full recall began.
Whirlpool extended its safety programme to offer free replacements in July – four years after the issue first emerged.
MPs have said faulty machines were to blame for at least 750 fires over an 11-year period.
Whirlpool vice president Jeff Noel, said: “We’re hugely grateful to everyone who has come forward so far, but, if there are still people out there with affected dryers, please contact us immediately.
“Nothing matters more to us than people’s safety, so it’s absolutely vital that we can identify where these affected dryers are and resolve the issue.
“We can assure consumers that we are doing everything we can, and that we can quickly provide a remedy as soon as they get in touch.”
Why are the machines dangerous?
Faulty tumble dryers experience overheating and as a result, can sometimes catch on fire.
The fault is apparently caused by excess fluff coming into contact with the heating element.
After the issue was flagged in 2015, Whirlpool launched a “modification” scheme in an effort to fix at-risk machines.
So far, it has modified 1.7 million machines out of the 5.3 million units manufactured between April 2004 and September 2015.
Which dryers are at risk?
Whirlpool said it has identified a potential risk with two types of tumble dryers manufactured between April 2004 and September 2015.
Potentially faulty machines are sold under the brand names of Creda, Hotpoint, Indesit, Proline and Swan.
Whirlpool has released a full list of affected models on its website.
Consumers can check the model number of their machine on the tag found either on the back of the dryer door or in the recess of the dryer door. The serial number should be on the same tag.
You can then use Whirlpool’s online tool to check if your machine is affected.
What should I do if I think my machine is at risk?
Anyone who thinks they own a potentially dangerous dryer should contact the company on 0800 151 0905.
If the machine is on the recall list, you should stop using it and unplug it immediately.
Consumers affected will then have the option to choose:
- A free replacement dryer with no extra charges for collection or disposal of old machine
- A free, one-hour modification of the old machine
- A discounted upgrade to a higher specification model than the free replacement
- A partial refund of up to £150, with owners of older machines getting less than those with newer ones
Whirlpool said it took a week on average for customers to receive a new dryer, modification or refund from the point they make their choice. The company said 73% of customers had requested a replacement.
