Machines sold over last 11 years affected by fault

Product liability experts have warned consumers to check their tumble dryers after Indesit, Hotpoint and Creda issued a safety warning that their appliances may pose a fire risk.

Two types of tumble dryers, condenser and vented dryers, manufactured by Indesit, were sold by the three brands in the UK amongst other countries over the last 11 years.

The firm is in the process of contacting affected customers, who have been advised not to leave their appliances unattended and to clean fluff from the filter after each use.

The manufacture explained that in “rare” cases, a buildup of lint can come into contact with the dryer’s heating element, which could pose a fire risk.

Customers can check if their appliance is among those affected by searching  the model and serial number on the Indesit website.

A safety warning on the Indesit and Hotpoint websites said: “In some rare cases, excess fluff can come into contact with the heating element and present a risk of fire.”

An Indesit spokesman told media: “We estimate that a significant number of units will be affected, but at this stage, we cannot speculate regarding the specific figure.

“These products were marketed in the UK and a number of other countries over the past 11 years, so we would expect a fairly large number of them to be affected.”

The warning followed an investigation by Whirlpool, who acquired the Italian firm last year, into dryers sold by Hotpoint and Indesit between April 2004 and September 2015.

Esther Wilkinson, a specialist product liability lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, urged customers to exercise caution over appliances bought within the last 11 years.

If you or a loved one has suffered due to a defective product, our expert personal injury solicitors could help you claim compensation. View our Defective Product Claims page for more information.