This is an updated article about washing machines “exploding”, which was previously published in mid 2011 on my original site Washerhelp. (If you are looking into exploding door glass – you need this article instead door glass exploded).
If the drum has exploded out of the washing machine then continue reading.
Hotpoint Indesit & Hoover Candy washing machines exploding
I’ve been following and collating people’s experiences of exploding washing machines for a few years now, which started abroad. The first reports were mostly of Hoover & Candy washing machines (see links at bottom of article) but for some reason focus has shifted to Hotpoint and Indesit washers even though I have over 20 reports of Hoover or Candy washing machines doing the same thing.
Manufacturer’s first assured us that UK washing machines were not affected, which turned out to be untrue. Then they decided there was no need to warn any customers with an official safety notice, which was heavily criticised by Which? Then they assured BBC Watchdog that only two models were affected, which again turned out to be untrue and gave a false sense of security to many.
Last night BBC Watchdog did a second feature on this story (the first being in November 2012) and both Indesit and Hotpoint have now accepted they need to issue a proper safety notice, and have done (links below).
What’s happening?
The inner drums of these washing machines are coming undone at the seams or splitting on spin, which is causing the laundry and parts of the metal inner drum to burst through the top of the (plastic) outer drum and through the plastic lid and control panels.
Due to the strong centrifugal forces involved on high spin the washing machine mechanically explodes throwing debris across the room.
Sensationalist headlines
My original article was picked up on several months ago and made headlines around the world, many of them sensational.
However, it does appear that washing machines with this potential to explode are in use all around the UK. Manufacturers all over the world typically try to mitigate safety issues by quoting how only a very small a percentage of the hundreds of thousands built have been affected. Whilst true, surely the only thing relevant is the potential consequences, not the percentage?
Taking their argument to its logical conclusion, if a child was killed by a product with a known design or manufacturing fault a manufacturer would try to say it’s only one child but there must be a million children unaffected. Therefore it’s not the frequency – but the potential danger and seriousness that should drive this sort of thing.
What if you have one of these washing machines?
Hotpoint and Indesit have issued statements saying
The incidents outlined has been identified as a technical issue with a very small percentage of washing machine production during periods of 2007 to 2009 could be affected. [sic] ”
Official Hotpoint & Indesit Safety Notices
Please let me know if any of the above links stop working
The faster spinning washing machines appear to be the problem, particularly 1400 or 1600 rpm I’ve commented many times before on Washerhelp that in my opinion many modern washing machines spin too fast for their quality of build. Plastic outer tubs (or drums) also play a part in allowing this sort of thing to happen, which couldn’t happen when we had metal outer tubs.
Spinning at such high speeds puts a lot of stress and strain on a washing machine and involves powerful forces. Do manufacturers increase the quality of motors, drums, suspension etc. when they make them spin much faster? As far as I’m aware, no they don’t.
If you are concerned, you need to check your model number using the above links. If your model number isn’t officially affected but you don’t trust that it’s guaranteed to be safe the best thing you can do is –
- Make sure people stay out of the room the washing machine is in when it’s spinning – especially children. Pets also.
- Stop letting your washing machine spin at full speed by changing the wash programme, or preferably if you have options to reduce the spin speed of the final spin reduce it to 1000 rpm or as near as they will allow. If you are seriously concerned maybe even down to 800 rpm. Logic dictates that the faster one is spinning the more likely and the worse an incident could be.
I can’t guarantee these tips will prevent any incident, and some may argue it’s an over reaction to even follow these steps. People have to make up their own mind. It is true that statistically it’s very unlikely to happen to any specific washing machine, presumably even ones with affected model numbers.
The main thing to bear in mind is to limit people’s exposure to them whilst doing a load. As with all washing machines and other appliances like dishwashers and tumble dryers my advice is to never leave them on totally unattended or when in bed.
PREVIOUS COMMENTS TRANSFERRED: I’ve decided to copy and paste all previous comments that had been added to this article when it was on Washerhelp for reference. Therefore the first few pages of comments below will appear to have come from me.
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19th February 2013 – christine lewis
My hoover washing machine ‘exploded’ this weekend. My family said there was an almighty bang, the main fuse tripped and there was an awful smell of smoke in the house. My daughter was terrified, and now having nightmares. As noted on this link, it appears that my washing machine exploded following the drum coming apart at the seam. This is awful that Hoover are aware of the situation but have done nothing about it!
2nd March 2013 – Kalle
Our Candy machine starting to pour out smoke after the third wash. I turned it off and after reading the comments I will definitely ask for a total refund. This machine is not coming into our house again!
15th April 2013 – Amy
I have a hoover oph614 that i had brought 3 years ago and it exploded I have a 18month old and we wa very lucky that he wasn’t in the kitchen. All the marble work top is ruined the cupboard doors. If Hoover really was sorry wouldn’t they off tested there other makes and do a recall….
(Comments transferred from original article when published on Washerhelp)
30th April 2013 – Sally
Our Hoover 1600 spin washing machine blew up last night. Fortunately it was at night in a utility room and only damaged a storage unit and a few clothes. There was bits of metal, concrete and plastic everywhere if anyone had been in there attending to the dryer or getting items out of the freezer a serious injury could have occured. Why is Hoover not recalling or issuing a product warning for these machines, what would happen if one did seriously injure a child.
3rd May 2013 – Sally
Update to Message: 30th April 2013 We contacted Hoover and the next day they sent out an assessor. He duly came and looked at the Washining machine, which he deemed ‘buggered’. We also pointed out that the WM had pushed a storage unit into the dryer dinting the side and preventing its operation (it had jammed the drum), he took photos and notes and said he would contact head office with the info. Result: A new WM and Dryer of the same or better spec is now on its way to us. Conclusion: Contact Hoover, they will replace, we estimate our WM was about 5-6 years old.
4th May 2013 – Sarah
My washing machine exploded today. Luckily I was upstairs on the third floor getting ready and both my boys were in their bedroom on the x box which I had told them not to do! However, I am glad for once that they disobeyed me otherwise they would have been in the kitchen!! Huge bang, tripped electric, drawers damaged, sink moved, shrapnel everywhere and a completely mangled inner machine!! Had to cut my sheets as completely shredded and entangled in metal. Had not heard anything about this until I spoke to indesit who informed me of the problems and sending engineer next week. Already ordered new machine as cannot be without one. Not an indesit though!!
8th May 2013 – a evans
my HOTPOINT KEEPS making extremely loud bangs when spinning is it safe or should I get the Engineer in.
9th May 2013 – Washerhelp
Check to see if your model is one of those affected by this issue using the links in my article, if it is I would contact them.
(This was the last of the 50 comments transferred from original article when published on Washerhelp)
Has anyone had an indesit iwc6105 blow up or having problems? Neighbours when spinning sounds metally and banging against sides .
I just entered the model number into Indesit’s safety notice checker (linked to in my article) Anna. I didn’t have a serial number, which it asked for but didn’t complain when I didn’t put one in. It just said no need for further action.
Thanks for that Andy I will let her know
Anna
Hi I have a Hotpoint WMF760 at risk from this problem I don’t want there make do repair job that will not stop the front coming out of the machine, What are my options? please help
Yes as far as I know the “modification” is simply a metal bar placed on the top under the lid to limit or prevent the drum and tub from bursting out of the top. If true, it is the first time I’ve ever head of a safety notice where a modification isn’t carried out to prevent the dangerous fault but merely to limit its effects. If the modification does not prevent the drum from coming apart in the first place (i.e a new inner drum) I would think you have a case against the retailer under the Sale of Goods Act. I would have thought that all this evidence would be acceptable proof that these models have been sold with an inherent fault.
I personally would not accept a solution that left my washing machine potentially to self destruct at any time it spins. If the manufacturer will not replace it with a totally unaffected model, or replace the drum you will need to fight your case with the retailer. It’s unfair on them, but that’s how the consumer law has been designed and large retailers at least should be able to get compensated by the manufacturer.
Maybe the manufacturer is thinking if the drum no longer bursts out of the top of the machine it’s not dangerous any more so they no longer have any safety issue. But if they have not fixed the inherent fault in the drums they still have a situation where they have made faulty products available for sale. Under UK consumer law though, they may only be responsible for making the machine safe from harming customers, so if that’s their position the onus falls on the poor retailer who unwittingly sold it.
What is an inherent fault?
A fault which is present at the time of purchase.
It should be noted that people may not be entitled to a brand new washing machine, only “compensation”, which can mean a free repair, or if they compensate by refunding money they can take account how much use you’ve already had from it and reduce the amount accordingly.
My washing Machine [Hoover Vision Hd 1400 ripped open like a bean can while spinning, smashing all the interior up, and parts of the outside, and my washing, I phoned hoover up on the 3rd of may 2013 (all quite helpful as normal sales crap!! took place) he said my machine is still under warranty and is between 3-4yrs old, and if I open up a direct debt plan £13.99 a month for 12 months they will get a man round in a week and if he can repair he will [ under the £13.99 plan – for free] and if he can’t fix it – I will get 40% off a new machine, I said I would think about it and get back to him – I have since read all the dangers and happenings of these machines [on watchdog etc] and hoped for a better response from hoover and the hoover man said ….. he would get a man round and do a safety check but if it turned round to be a waste of time they would charge me??? – what do I do? – please help, I phoned trading standards who done nothing more than advise me of the sale of goods act.
Hello Helen. It sounds like you’ve just been given bog-standard spiel. How can a visit from an engineer be a waste of time when it’s clearly been destroyed? The person on the phone has just rattled off the sales speech without listening to what has happened.
The scheme they’ve tried to sell you is presumably very successful for them as they get £168 off everyone they persuade in to it. I don’t know enough about it to comment whether it seems a fair scheme or not but most people have to pay more than they needed to in order for it to work, and in any case it’s totally inappropriate for someone who’s washing machine has failed catastrophically due to a known inherent fault.
You need to ring them back and tell them the drum has failed because of a known fault and serious safety issue, and they should be replacing it. If they don’t help, you need to go to the retailer you bought it from as it’s unfortunately their responsibility under UK consumer law. They sold you the washing machine which was faulty at the time. No one knew of course, but the fault allowing the drum to come apart at the seams has to be a manufacturing or design fault, and that’s why it should be classed as an inherent fault because it was there when sold.
we too recently suffered the experience of the exploding washing machine, it was just like an explosion, we emailed hotpoint indesit who as usual did not admit any liability, we changed the machine to a zanussi the same week, hotpoint were not at all helpful , the company we purchased the new machine from removed the “exploded one” and we arranged for hotpoint to collect this from them as they delivered to this local company twice a week and they are still collecting it!!!, eventually we advised them to skip the offending machine, I will not purchase a hotpoint.indesit machine ever again as they have totally disregarded the health and safety aspect of this problem, surely if a modification was necessary they could have traced all machines and serial numbers easily, as do car manufacturers when a fault is found
After seeing watchdog a few weeks ago I noticed that my machine (indesit wixl143 1400 purchased in 2008) was one of the ones affected by this fault. I phoned the helpline number an was told yes my washing machine was one of the ones possibly affected by this and an engineer would come an check it out.
The engineer came today but im not sure he was telling the whole truth! He said mine was not one that was a potential risk because it was a 48 litre drum an not a 52 litre?, also he said it wasnt made in the factory where the problem ones have come from (apparently theres 4 diff factories which used different drums??)
He gave me a printout stating that my machine was ok to use.
Jyst wondering if anyone else has had this or if anyone has any advice or thoughts on this as I have 2 small children an have lost all confidence in ghis washing machine??? Thanks xx