A MAJOR safety alert has been issued after more than 85,000 tumble dryers in homes across the UK were found to pose a serious fire risk.
The has warned that thousands of integrated heat-pump tumble dryers made by Haier and a string of well-known brands could burst into flames due to a dangerous electrical fault.
A major safety alert has been issued after more than 85,000 tumble dryers in UK homesCredit: Getty
Households have been told the machines must not be used until they are repaired.
The warning covers appliances manufactured by Baumatic, Candy, Caple, Haier, Hoover, Lamona, Iberna and Montpellier.
Officials are urging owners to check their model and serial numbers immediately to see if their dryer is affected.
Anyone with one of the listed machines has been told to avoid using it altogether.
If the plug can be reached, the advice is to switch it off at the wall and disconnect it until a repair has been carried out.
The fire risk stems from a fault that can cause a short circuit during normal use, which may lead to the machine catching fire.
Safety regulators say the danger is serious enough that the dryers should not be used under any circumstances.
Haier began a repair programme earlier this year, covering around 103,000 machines, but for Product Safety and Standards halted the scheme after concerns the first fix was still unsafe.
A new modification has since been approved and the company has resumed contacting owners to arrange repairs.
Some dryers that previously received the earlier fix were called back for a second repair, but despite this, 85,000 appliances remain at risk and urgently need to be updated.
The government has stressed the importance of checking the affected as quickly as possible, warning that the machines could ignite without warning if used in their current condition.
Haier and the other brands involved are continuing to reach out to customers, but officials say many households may still be unaware their tumble dryer is one of the dangerous .
Full list of affected products
Baumatic integrated heat pump tumble dryers
Candy integrated heat pump tumble dryers
Caple integrated heat pump tumble dryers
Haier integrated heat pump tumble dryers, including models such as:
- Haier 31900550 HDB4 H7A2TBERX80
- Haier 31900541 HDBI H7A2TBEX-80
- Hoover integrated heat pump tumble dryers, including models listed under catalogue numbers: 9072905, 7666258, 8175528, 8732552
- Iberna integrated heat pump tumble dryers
- Lamona integrated heat pump tumble dryers
- Montpellier integrated heat pump tumble dryers
This list covers the brands and product types currently flagged by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) as needing urgent checks.
Owners should consult the official GOV.UK product safety alert and safety checker, and the dedicated product safety pages on the websites of Baumatic, Candy, Caple, Haier, Hoover, Iberna, Lamona and Montpellier.
Until a repair is completed, households with one of these dryers are advised not to use the machine, and if the plug is accessible, to disconnect it from the mains to eliminate the risk of a short circuit leading to ignition.
The government has stressed the importance of checking the affected models as quickly as possibleCredit: Getty
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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