A recent report from the London Fire Service stated that nearly one fire a day in London involves white goods. White goods are those essential household appliances that a household can’t do without – tumble dryers, washing machines, fridges and freezers. Most fires are caused by faults beyond the user’s control.
London Fire Brigade are running a campaign to make it easier for people to protect themselves from potentially lethal faulty appliances. The campaign involves educating people on how to protect themselves from a fire occurring and lobbying manufacturers to change how they operate.
avoid electrical fire
Here are some simple recommended steps that users can take to avoid an electrical fire occurring in their home appliances.
- Before plugging the appliances in for use, check flexible cables for damage, wear and tear, and that the plug is fastened securely to the cable. Don’t use the appliance unless it and its cable are in good condition.
- Check the sockets regularly – if a user spots burn marks or they feel hot, get a registered electrician to check if they need repairing or replacing.
- If an appliance makes a strange noise don’t just ignore it – unplug it and contact the manufacturer or a qualified repair technician.
- Check that the appliances haven’t been recalled. Currently Hotpoint, Indesit, Creda, Swan and Proline tumble dryers manufactured between April 2004 and September 2015 are subject to a product recall. To find out if the appliance is subject to product recall, the users can check the Government’s product recall site , the manufacturer’s site or the Electrical Safety First Register.
- Keep the white goods in a safe place out the way from harm – for instance don’t put a freezer in the hallway.
- Fit smoke and heat alarms in every room and test them regularly.
- Register every new appliance as then the user will be informed if the manufacturer finds any issues with the model that they have bought.
- Don’t leave washing machines, tumble dryers or dishwashers running overnight or when a user is out.
- Don’t overload washing machines or tumble dryers – take bulky items like duvets to the dry cleaners.
And finally look into fitting an automatic fire suppression system to the appliance. Firetrace supply easy to fit fire suppression systems for tumble dryers which minimizes the risk of a fire occurring as it works quickly to put a fire out as soon as it is detected.