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Whirlpool/Hotpoint/Indesit tumble dryers should not be used or even plugged in until they have been modified, previously the manufacturer said they were ok to use as long as they weren't left unattended.

http://money.aol.co.uk/2017/02/23/whirlpool-exploding-tumble-dryers-should-unplugged-immediately/

https://safety.hotpoint.eu/index.jsp

I've got an indesit dryer,only use it in winter & never when I'm in bed or go out & I clean the filter.Had a letter about it will put in to get it checked.

Its not just the filter you can access its also where the vent tube comes out the back. Rather a stupid statement by the manufacturers



so they can catch fire as long as you are there to put it out!

Going on the hotpoint link.

It says if you have a green dot on your machine, its OK. Already been modified.

My dryer is about 3 yrs old, and has a green dot on it.

So they must have known there was a problem long ago, not just 12 months ago when the public were first aware.

Have they maybe been waiting for the usual 2yr guarantees to run out ?

I got mine just after Christmas 2012,I have checked the model no & it is seen as one of the faulty ones.

my dryer was down for repair and it is 8years old, the engineer came after waiting 18 months he wanted to do holes etc in wall, i lost my temper and told him to go i have had a dryer for 30years and as long as you clear the fluff after use no problem.

i have never had a vent to outside in 30yrs and never had a problem, when a few go on fire it panic....how many washers and fridges have gone the same way.

I do that sunny,& now & again I pull it out & clean the dust off the back & the dust & fluff that gets underneath.The hose goes out of the window,the fluff tends to fly out of the hose into the outside.Only use the thing in winter prefer to stick the washing out on the line.

The problem is that the fluff in these machines can make their way to the heater element, the fluff should be trapped by the filter and not be able to go anywhere near the heater element.

There was another problem a number of years ago where the safety cut-out thermostat was placed too far from the heater element, if the filters blocked, the reduced airflow let the heater get too hot but the lack of flow meant the heat did not travel to the cut-out. These used to smoke and smell a bit as the heater got very hot and fine dust was burnt off but there wasn't any combustible material to burn.

I'd hate anyone to be injured or killed because of fluff.