ESSEX County Fire And Rescue Service has re-issued a tumble dryer safety warning following the recent period of unseasonably damp weather has led to more people using their tumble dryers.

The Service initially issued the warning last year following the safety reviews on Hotpoint, Indesit, Creda, Swan and Proline tumble dryers. The review, which is thought to affect over 5 million appliances, found that in some cases excess fluff has come into contact with the heating element and created a fire risk.

Station Officer Andre Turner said:

“With the unseasonably cold and damp weather we have had recently, more people are using their tumble dryers to dry their clothes than usual. So it is important that all tumble dryer owners check their machine and follow our safety advice.

“We urge owners of appliances to check with the manufacturer to see whether theirs is affected. If you have an affected appliance they should not be used until confirmed safe to do so by the manufacturer or qualified repair technician.“

The Service recommends the following tumble dryer safety advice for unaffected appliances:

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions
Don’t use tumble dryers at night or while unattended
Clean the filters after each use to ensure they do not become blocked with fluff
Items should be removed from the dryer immediately after the cycle and shaken loose to assist cooling
Ensure that the appliance has its own plug socket. Do not overload extension leads. Ensure that no more than 13 amps are in any one plug socket.
Dryers that were highlighted in the review were manufactured between April 2004 and September 2015 and sold in the UK. For more information about which appliances are affected, visit: http://safety.indesit.eu, http://safety.hotpoint.eu, http://safety-swan.eu. Creda and Proline customers should visit: http://safety.hotpoint.eu

You can also register all of your domestic appliances for FREE at www.registermyappliance.org.uk who will contact you in case of any safety repairs or product recalls on your appliances.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service provide home fire safety visits completely free of charge. A fire service technician will come to your home, carry out a full home fire safety inspection and fit smoke alarms where they are needed.

To arrange a free home fire safety visit, call 0300 303 0088, go to our website or email [email protected]