Which Whirlpool tumble dryers have been catching fire, why weren’t they recalled and how to know if your machine is affected

WHIRLPOOL tumble dryers have been linked to hundreds of fires in homes across the UK in the last twelve years.

The company is in the process of replacing and repairing 4.3million faulty machines - under the brand names of Hotpoint, Credit and Proline - after finding a safety defect in October last year.

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Over a million machines have been fixed or replaced since the modification programme began, meaning more than three million households are still at risk.

Some customers have been waiting a year for a repair or a replacement, according to an investigation by Which?.

Why have Whirlpool tumble dryers been catching fires?

The machines can be dangerous because excess fluff can catch in the heating element and cause a fire.

It advises that customers check the lint filter after every cycle.

Why weren’t the machines recalled?

Whirlpool says it’s OK for customers to keep using the machines as long as they are not left unattended while running.

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However, this isn’t the case in Australia where customers who have machines with exactly the same fault as those in the UK were told to ‘cease using the product immediately’.

MP Andy Slaughter, the London Fire Brigade and Electrical Safety First have called on Whirlpool to change its advice and recall faulty machines immediately.

How do you find out if your machine is on the faulty list?

If you bought a Hotpoint, Proline, Creda, or Indesit dryer between April 2004 and October 2005 then you need to check if it's faulty.

You can do this by locating the serial code and model number (found on the back of the dryer) into the online checkers at or safety.indesit.eu.

Non-affected machines will have a green sticker on the inside of the dryer door or reverse of the machine.

Affected customers can also call 0800 151 0905 for the UK or 1800 804320 for Ireland.

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