Posted: Friday 2nd February 2018
Faulty white goods, such as tumble dryers and dishwashers are causing an average of one fire every week across the county, according to figures published by Hertfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service.
Tumble dryers are the number one culprit, causing 25 fires in the last two years. Following closely behind are washing machines (24 fires) and dishwashers (20 fires).
In response Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service are asking residents to be safer in seconds by taking the simple step of registering their fridges, freezers and washing machines on the new streamlined version of www.registermyappliance.org.uk
Developed by the Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances (AMDEA), the portal now optimised for smartphone makes registration of over 60 leading brands of old and new appliances faster and easier via mobile, tablet or PC.
Terry Hone, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, said: “White goods are one of the biggest causes of house fires, but fewer than half of us register for important safety warnings and we know that recalled models are still in use as a result. We’re asking residents to register their appliances with this government-backed scheme and take a few simple steps to reduce the risk of fire.
“It might be convenient to put the dishwasher on overnight or to put a load in the tumble dryer when you go out, but if you’re asleep or not in you won’t spot the signs that something’s going wrong and you could end up dealing with a serious fire as a result.”
Top tips for avoiding white goods fires
• Don’t leave appliances running overnight or when you’re out of the house unless they’re designed to be left on all the time (such as fridges)
• Register your appliance at www.registermyappliance.org.uk so that the manufacturer can notify you about any recalls or safety concerns
• Look after your appliance – build ups of dust, fluff or grease increase the likelihood of fire
• Don’t use damaged appliances – if they start to make odd noises or aren’t working properly stop using them and get them checked
• Check if an appliance you’ve bought, or are intending to buy second hand, has been recalled at http://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/product-recalls/ where you can get further advice