When a household fire occurs, it is important for the fire department to investigate and find out what caused it. This way, it can be prevented in the future. Quite unfortunately, an alarming number of fires were found out to be caused by clothes dryers. The lint builds up in the dryer or the dryer vent which then keeps heat from flowing out, thus, resulting to a fire. Some dryer models have been tested by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and proven to have a high risk of causing a fire.
Frigidaire Clothes Washers and Dryers
Frigidaire, a distributor of different washer and dryer brands, announced a voluntary recall of some of their products. Although no incident of fire or any injury has been reported, it was found that the washer’s drain pump may cause heat to build up. Consumers were advised to unplug the unit and to bring it to where it was purchased for a free repair. Brands included in this recall were :
- Frigidaire
- Crosley
- Kelvinator
- Kenmore
- Wascomat
- White-Westinghouse
Whirlpool Combination Washer and Gas Dryers
Whirlpool voluntarily recalled 17,000 units of combined washer and gas dryer appliances. Two consumers have reported that it overheats. Consumers were advised to stop usage and to unplug the unit. They should, however, refrain from shutting off the gas supply. Whirlpool provided a toll-free number that consumers should call for an in-home repair service. Brands included in this recall were:
- Whirlpool
- Kenmore
- General Electric
Samsung Front Loading Washing Machines
Around 20,000 units of Samsung Front Loading Washing Machines were voluntarily recalled because there was one fire hazard report. According to the report, water was leaking into the electrical connections, causing an ignition in the circuit board. No incident of fire or injury were reported.
General Electric Top and Front Loading Washers
GE, in coordination with the CPSC, voluntarily recalled about 222,000 top loading and about 181,000 front loading washers because of fire and shock hazards. The top loading washer was reported by 71 consumers due to some components inside that burned or caught fire. The front loading washer, on the other hand, is a fire and shock hazard due to a wire making contact with a metal part inside the washer. The company offered free repair services to verified consumers.
There are many other brands whose washers and dryers got recalled due to fire, burn, or shock hazards. The company cooperated well enough to make the announcement, have the purchased units repaired, and to ensure that they manufacture better units. It goes to show that cleaning dryer vent is such an important task you need to include in your daily routine. If you want a more thorough cleaning, hire an expert to help you out.
