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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My Indesit wixl143s washing machine exploded today! The top came off, drum fell to the floor & plastic everywhere. I have an 8 year old son, 3 cats & a dog. Lucky nobody was in the room. Drawer front & base cover blown across the room & washing mangled in machine. Shocked at the catastrophic damage, didn’t know of the problems Indesit had experienced. Should have been recalled.
Hi Andy,
I have a indesit w1kl 163 which has just exploded. Just like described in a majority if these posts, drum torn apart, outer drum smashed, large bang at the end of spin cycle. I would appreciate any advice as I plan to ring customer service tomorrow when they re-open and would ideally like them to replace. From what I can gather this is very much a manufacturing fault and is in my eyes their responsibility to help however I don’t want to go in blind and be passed from department to retailer trying to resolve.
Many Thanks
Kate
Hello Kate, hopefully Indesit will have a good system in place to deal with these by now but if they don’t, you need to remember that only the retailer who sold it to you has any liability in consumer law. Therefore if they don’t deal with it to your satisfaction you will have to take it up with the retailer.
very interesting article on indesit and hotpoint washers hear. having just experianced the same thing i was brought to light about the situation from my sister with links to relevant user and consumer investigation programs. after contacting indesit today i was informed that because my model which i was unaware of at the time has not been put on the indesit list that i would be required to pay a “call out fee” of £110 although my model clearly states on it that there is a 5 year parts gaurantee on it. Absolute disgrace! may i add that the model in question is IWD 71250 the washer along with all other appliances in the flat were instaled when we rented the premises. however the premises are brand new along with all appliances. may i also add that in the space of two years the oven has also packed in 2 times with the same fault accuring over once in the first year and once in the second year. indesit and hotpoint clearly know of this problem and there repair procedure which is nothing more than flimsy piece of metal clearly does not stop the drum rupturing! I’ve had to spend an hour cleaning up shattered pieces of concrete which had exploded inside the machine! heaven knows what the outcome may have been if i was not at home to rush and switch the horrible machine off! indesit are contacting me at 1 o clock apparently ( Wednesday 11 june 2014) to let me inform them if my landlady is willing to pay the call out fee or take out an additional 12 instalments of £15.49 for an extra year warranty costs. however i am armed with lots of knowledge about there washing machines now and will be taking the matter further if anyone from bbc or watchdog is interested as this is not a model which they have not listed and is only just under 2 years old. i shall inform back to this site after i have spoken to indesit.
having had to call indesit back after being told that they would call me back i have informed them armed with all the information i have regarding this indesit machine model number iwd71250 the customer services team 5 of them in total! have decided that because this machine is not listed as being “problomatic” then they cant do anything other than have my landlady pay the £110 call out fee! disgrace! my advice is to stay well clear of these machines as like i previously stated this model also exploded and concrete was shattered across the kitchen which luckily no one was in at the time! these machines are not fit for purpose to be spinning at 1700 rpm! they fall to pieces and cause damage in the process
Tony wrote, ” i would be required to pay a-call out fee of £110 although my model clearly states on it that there is a 5 year parts guarantee on it. Absolute disgrace!”
That’s actually how these 5 year parts guarantees work, they only cover the parts, and you have to use the manufacturer to get them fitted, which they charge £110 for.
“These machines are not fit for purpose to be spinning at 1700 rpm! they fall to pieces and cause damage in the process”
It sounds like this may be the case. If so, and the manufacturer refuses to help then you can only chase the retailer under the Sale of Goods Act saying they sold you a machine with an inherent fault, or it was not of durably quality.
Sadly, the retailer is likely to get in touch with the manufacturer and if they tell them the same they may come back to you and say sorry there’s nothing we can do, which is not true (if you have a valid claim under the SOGA). This scenario happens all the time and I’ve written an article about it here because it seems manufacturers are dictating whether consumers get recompense under the SOGA yet they have no liability at all – Out of guarantee doesn’t always mean you have to pay for repair
Hi there I have just been forward this article as my Hoover washing machine exploded today 13 sept 2014 and I didn’t know anything about there being an issue with the washing machines and as result of it exploding the drum has litterly exploded through my counter and sink draining board x
Indesit washing machine exploded this morning ripping the kitchen countertop off and the plumbing to the sink. I thought this was a crazy incident that has never happened before. Imagine my surprise when I come across evidence this has happened many times!
In relation to my incident with my indesit machine the sales team only want to pass you around from person to person. They know fine about this problem but still deny it! Known to engineers as code red! Only way to get some where when on te phone is to tell tem you are sick of being passed around and that you will be going to watchdog and the papers about it. Because my machine was still under “manufacturers warranty” for 5 years on parts I still had to pay a call out fee of £100 for an engineer to come look at it. When he opened it the drum was still intact but as I had to pick up all the concrete block which shattered he picked out the remainder concrete and ordered a new concrete block. The concrete on my opinion was not mixed at the correct ratio of sand to cemente and water.
Having been told by Indesit they would call back yesterday before closing hours, they have still not returned a call. Will have to phone them back now.
30-09-14: Washing machine explodes, Indesit says they will phone back that day.
1-10-14: No phone call, I ring Indesit and they say they will phone the following day.
2-10-14: No phone call, I ring Indesit, they give me an email address to send photos to and say they will phone the following day.
3-10-13: No phone call, I ring Indesit and they say they will have to await until the photos have been reviewed.
I imagine they will be closed over the weekend, meaning a whole week will have passed with no running water in my kitchen with the sink broken. No idea on whether or not I need to get insurance or solicitors involved. The thing seems to be a complete and utter farce, I hope they will do the decent thing and replace all damages but for now I’m stuck in the stress of not knowing.