Heat Pump Tumble dryer urgent fire risk safety notices
Haier, Hoover, Candy and five more brands of built-in heat pump tumble dryer are under a stop-use safety notice. Check your serial number and rating plate.
Safety guidance compiled by Whitegoods Help from the OPSS product safety reports, the OPSS Requirement to Warn notice and Haier’s own safety pages. Published October 2026. Figures are the latest published by OPSS and are dated in the text.
The safety notice remains live and the stop-use advice still applies to every affected dryer that does not carry the J7 mark. The last figure OPSS published, in December 2025, was that around 85,000 of the 103,000 machines still needed the correct modification. No newer figure has been released. If you had a dryer modified before 1 August 2025, it needs modifying again.
This notice is separate from the October 2026 coroner’s report on Hoover and Candy condenser dryers, which has no recall or stop-use advice attached. Our explainer on the Hoover and Candy condenser tumble dryer coroner’s report covers that separately.
01Which heat pump tumble dryers are affected by the Haier safety notice?
The notice covers built-in (integrated) heat pump tumble dryers manufactured by Haier between 2019 and 2024 and sold in the UK up to 2025. Haier owns the Hoover and Candy brands and also supplied the same dryer to kitchen retailers under their own labels, which is why eight brand names appear on one notice.
Freestanding dryers are not included. Neither are Hoover or Candy condenser or vented dryers, which are a different product and the subject of a different story.
| Brand | Affected model numbers |
|---|---|
| Hoover | HTDBWH7A1TCE-80, HBTDWH7A1TCE-80, BHTD H7A1TCE-80, BHTDH7A1TCEB-80, BATDH7A1TCEB-80, BATD H7A1TCE-80, BATD H7A1TCER-80 |
| Candy | CBTD H7A1TE-80, CTDB H7A1TBE-80, BCTD H7A1TBE-80, BCTD H7A1TE-80, BCTDH7A1TCEB-80, BKTDH7A1TCEB-80 |
| Haier | HDBI H7A2TBEX-80, HDB4 H7A2TBERX80 |
| Baumatic | BBTD H7A1TE-80, BBTDH7A1TE-80 |
| Iberna | BITD H7A1TE-80, BITDH7A1TE-80 |
| Caple | TDi4000, TDi4001 |
| Montpellier | MIHP70, MIHP75 |
| Lamona (Howdens) | LAM8875, LAM8876, LAM8877, LAM8878, LAM8879 |
Model numbers are taken from the OPSS product safety reports and the Requirement to Warn notice. Your model number alone does not tell you whether your particular machine is affected, because the fault depends on production batch. The serial number check below is the only way to be sure.
02What is the fault with these heat pump dryers?
OPSS describes the hazard as an internal short circuit that can occur during normal use and cause the dryer to ignite. Haier’s own notice refers to “manufacturing variations” that can result in the product catching fire.
The OPSS delivery report for 2025 to 2026 goes further and identifies the root cause as deterioration of wiring in contact with the compressor pipework. Heat pump dryers use a sealed refrigerant circuit like a fridge, and that pipework carries flammable refrigerant gas. A wire chafing through against it is a short circuit next to a fuel source, which explains why the regulator treated this as a national incident.
OPSS also states that the affected products do not meet the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016, which is the legal basis for the enforcement action against Haier.
Heat pump dryers run at much lower temperatures than condenser or vented dryers and have no exposed heating element, which is why they are normally the lowest fire risk of the three. This notice is about a specific manufacturing problem on specific built-in models, not a problem with heat pump technology. Our guide to heat pump, vented and condenser tumble dryers explains the differences.
03How did the Haier modification programme go wrong?
This notice has had an unusual history, and it matters because around 17,000 owners were told their dryer was fixed when it was not. If your dryer was modified in the first half of 2025, read this section carefully.
Early 2025
Haier begins a corrective action programme covering around 103,000 built-in heat pump dryers across eight brands, modifying machines in owners’ homes.
May 2025
OPSS declares a national incident. Product safety reports are published on 20 May 2025 for the Haier, Hoover and Candy models with stop-use advice.
1 August 2025
OPSS serves a Requirement to Warn notice on Haier under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005. It finds that some machines were not modified to a satisfactory standard and that for others the modification’s effectiveness cannot be determined. Haier is ordered to halt the programme and tell the roughly 17,000 owners of already-modified dryers to stop using them.
September 2025
Haier restarts with an updated modification, prioritising second visits to machines that had the first repair.
October 2025
London Fire Brigade issues its own stop-use warning. OPSS de-escalates the national incident to a monitoring group, with the programme continuing under supervision.
December 2025
OPSS and Trading Standards services across the UK repeat the stop-use message. Around 85,000 machines still need the correct modification. This remains the latest published figure.
October 2026
Notice still live. Separately, a coroner’s report on a fatal fire involving a Hoover condenser dryer puts Haier under fresh regulatory scrutiny.
04How do I check whether my tumble dryer is affected?
There are two checks. The serial number check tells you whether your machine is in the affected batch. The rating plate check tells you whether it has already had the correct modification. Do both.
-
Confirm it is a built-in heat pump dryer from one of the eight brands.
If it is freestanding, or a condenser or vented dryer, this notice does not apply to it.
-
Find the rating plate.
Open the door and look for the sticker on the inside of the door frame. On some machines it is on the back panel instead. It shows the model number and a 16-digit serial number.
-
Look for a modification mark.
The rating plate will show “J7”, “HM1” or nothing at all next to the model details. The cards below explain what each means.
-
Run the serial number through the checker.
Go to productsafety.haier.co.uk and enter the 16-digit serial number. This works for all eight brands.
-
If it is affected and unmodified, stop using it now.
Switch it off at the socket and unplug it if the plug is accessible. Book the modification through the checker, by phone on 0808 178 0516, or by email to recall@hoovercandy.com.
“J7” on the rating plate
The current, approved modification has been applied. OPSS says no further action is needed. Keep the dryer registered so you hear about any future notices.
“HM1” or no mark at all
The dryer is still affected and must not be used until modified. “HM1” means it had the first, inadequate repair before 1 August 2025 and needs the second visit. No mark means it has never been modified.
Check your serial number now
The checker takes under a minute and covers all eight brands. If your dryer is affected, you can book the free engineer visit from the same page.
05What should I do if my dryer is affected?
- Stop using the dryer immediately, even if it has been working normally. The fault can occur during any cycle.
- Switch it off at the socket and unplug it if you can reach the plug. For an integrated dryer the socket is often in the adjacent cupboard.
- Book the free modification online, by phone on 0808 178 0516 or by email to recall@hoovercandy.com. Have the model and serial number ready.
- If you had a modification before 1 August 2025, book again. The first repair did not remove the risk.
- Make sure an adult will be at home for the visit. Haier says the modification typically takes about 30 minutes.
- If you no longer have the dryer, complete the disposal form on Haier’s safety page so it is removed from the programme.
- Tenants: tell your landlord or letting agent today. Landlords: check every affected property, because you are responsible for the safety of appliances you supply.
The fix involves the refrigerant circuit and wiring, and only Haier’s approved engineers can apply the J7 modification and record it against your serial number. An independent engineer cannot clear your dryer from the notice, and Whitegoods Help’s Find an Engineer service is not the route for this repair.
06What are my rights if my dryer is on the safety notice?
The modification is free regardless of the dryer’s age, where you bought it or whether you were the first owner. You do not need a receipt. If Haier cannot modify your dryer for any reason, ask what alternative remedy it is offering and get the answer in writing.
Your rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 are against the retailer and run alongside the safety programme. A product that does not meet safety regulations is not of satisfactory quality, so a retailer cannot refuse to engage simply because a manufacturer programme exists. In practice the manufacturer route is faster. Our guide to consumer rights for appliances explains the detail.
If you are being kept waiting for a visit, keep a written record of every contact. Delays in a safety programme are exactly what OPSS monitors, and Trading Standards will want the detail if you complain.
07Are there other tumble dryer safety notices I should know about?
Two others are relevant to UK households, and readers often confuse all three.
The long-running Whirlpool programme covers vented and condenser dryers made between April 2004 and September 2015 under those five brands, where lint could reach the heating element. Whirlpool-branded machines are not included. The programme has never formally closed and unmodified machines may still be in use. Whirlpool’s helpline is 0800 151 0905. Read our full guide to the Hotpoint and Indesit tumble dryer fire risk.
In October 2026 a coroner published a Prevention of Future Deaths report after a fatal fire linked to a Hoover DX C10DCER-80 condenser dryer, and asked Haier and OPSS to investigate similar Hoover and Candy condenser and vented dryers. There is no recall or stop-use advice. OPSS has an open investigation. Read our explainer on the Hoover and Candy condenser tumble dryer coroner’s report.
08What fire safety steps apply to every tumble dryer?
Whatever the brand or type, the same habits prevent most dryer fires. UK fire services and the manufacturers agree on all of them.
Clean the filter after every load
Lint is the most common cause of dryer fires across every brand. See why a blocked filter is a fire risk.
Never run it overnight or when out
A fire that starts while you are asleep or away has nobody to catch it. This is the single most important habit.
Register the appliance
Manufacturers can only contact owners they know about. Register free at registermyappliance.org.uk.
Know the warning signs
Burning smells, very hot casing, tripping electrics or cycles taking longer than usual all mean stop and get it checked. See tumble dryer tripping the electrics.
Got a dryer fault that is not covered by a safety notice?
For any tumble dryer that is not heating, not turning, tripping the electrics or smelling hot, a local engineer can diagnose it before it becomes a bigger problem. Safety notice modifications must go through the manufacturer, but everything else can be booked here.
09Safety notice
Heat pump tumble dryers contain a sealed refrigerant circuit and mains-voltage components. Do not remove panels or attempt to inspect the wiring or compressor yourself. If you smell burning or see smoke from any dryer, do not open the door, switch it off at the wall if safe to do so, leave the house and call 999.
Check any appliance you own against the GOV.UK product safety alerts, reports and recalls service. See also our DIY repair safety advice.
10Frequently asked questions
Is the Haier heat pump tumble dryer safety notice still active in 2026?
Yes. The OPSS product safety reports and the stop-use advice remain in force for every affected dryer that has not had the J7 modification. OPSS de-escalated its national incident to a monitoring group in October 2025, but that reflects the programme being supervised rather than finished. The last published figure, from December 2025, was around 85,000 dryers still awaiting the correct modification.
How do I know if my Hoover or Candy tumble dryer is recalled?
Only built-in heat pump models are covered. Find the 16-digit serial number inside the door frame or on the back panel and enter it at productsafety.haier.co.uk. Then look at the rating plate: “J7” means it has been correctly modified, while “HM1” or no mark means it must not be used until it has. Freestanding, condenser and vented Hoover and Candy dryers are not part of this notice.
My dryer was modified in early 2025. Is it safe?
Not necessarily. OPSS found that modifications carried out before 1 August 2025 did not reliably remove the fire risk and ordered Haier to tell those owners, around 17,000 of them, to stop using their dryers. If your rating plate shows “HM1” rather than “J7”, you need a second visit. Book it through the serial number checker or on 0808 178 0516.
Is the modification free, and what does it involve?
Yes, it is free whatever the age of the dryer and whoever bought it. A Haier-appointed engineer visits your home, applies the updated modification and marks the rating plate with J7. Haier says the visit typically takes about 30 minutes and an adult must be present. Do not have the work done by anyone else, because only Haier’s engineers can record the modification against your serial number.
Is this the same as the coroner’s warning about Hoover and Candy tumble dryers?
No. The coroner’s report published in October 2026 concerns a Hoover condenser dryer involved in a fatal fire, and asks Haier and OPSS to investigate similar condenser and vented models. It carries no recall or stop-use advice. The heat pump notice on this page is a formal safety programme with a stop-use instruction. Check which type of dryer you own before deciding which applies.
What caused the fault in the Haier heat pump dryers?
OPSS describes it as an internal short circuit during normal use. Its 2025 to 2026 delivery report identifies the root cause as deterioration of wiring in contact with the compressor pipework, which carries flammable refrigerant gas. Haier’s notice refers to manufacturing variations. Haier has not published technical details of the updated modification.
11Sources
- OPSS Product Safety Report 2505-0135: Haier heat pump tumble dryer, 20 May 2025, updated 1 August 2025
- OPSS Product Safety Report 2505-0138: Hoover heat pump tumble dryer, 20 May 2025, updated 1 August 2025
- OPSS Product Safety Report 2505-0143: Candy heat pump tumble dryer, 20 May 2025, updated 1 August 2025
- OPSS Requirement to Warn notice served on Haier Smart Home UK & I Ltd, 1 August 2025
- OPSS Delivery Report 2025 to 2026, GOV.UK
- London Fire Brigade: stop using certain heat pump tumble dryers, 22 October 2025
- Urgent safety check for 85,000 tumble dryers, OPSS release via Leicester City Council Trading Standards, 11 December 2025
- Haier UK product safety notice and serial number checker
- Sohaib Ahmed and Manahal Ahmed: Prevention of Future Deaths report, Courts and Tribunals Judiciary, published 19 October 2026 (condenser dryer section)
Still not fixed?
Here’s where to go next.
0 Comments