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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Continued from above.
3-10-13: Ask whether or not I should involve my solicitor.
6-10-13: Told they will send out a new washing machine and pick up the old one for investigation. I’ve to collect quotes for the damages to claim through Indesit.
9-10-13: Still no word on when this new washing machine is to come. I was told they would inform me when a date was set. I can only take this to mean it may still be some way off.
At this rate I will be approaching two weeks without a washing machine or working sink in the kitchen. To say this has been stressful on my partner and myself is an understatement. It has completely ruined her vacation time from work as we have been making calls constantly or waiting on hearing back.
I could only recommend that people do not buy Indesit. Even if the faults are corrected in the new machine ranges their customer support is a disgrace. It took about a week before we managed to get anywhere at all. From the get go they should have got a claim reference set up.
Thanks for sharing your experience Murray. It’s a shame they don’t seem to be overly concerned at all. It’s a shame manufacturers have little or no liability for things like this and the only people you can legally pursue are the people you bought it from and it’s not remotely their fault.
Hi I have a hover all one 10 kg brought a month ago been fine until tonight it started burning I was upstairs ran down and smoke was coming from drum and draw only three pieces of clothing in it turned all electrics off and opened windows smelt like burning rubber scared to sleep now I will be making a call in morning
Hello Vikki. Your incident sounds different, it still sounds serious but unrelated to the exploding washing machines as the washing machine is usually very obviously severely damaged physically. It’s also not supposed to happen on new machines so if it turns out to have been caused by the inner drum punching through the outer drum please let us know.
We bought our new, Candy ‘Grand comfort’, washing machine 5 months ago. Today, I noticed a strange noise, whilst it was spinning (2 minutes before the end of the cycle). I went to investigate and smelt burning. Terrified, I then noticed white smoke, coming from the dispenser drawer. Immediately switched off the power but dread to think what could have happened (reading the threads on here), if I hadn’t! Rang Argos (where we purchased the machine) and they told us to contact Candy (Hoover). After a long phone call, they said they would send out an engineer but no one came. We are a large family and rely heavily on a washing machine but to be honest, I don’t want the appliance in my house anymore and I am so grateful that my children weren’t at home and that I was able to turn off the machine. Having 5 children (one of whom is severely disabled), for 20 years, any washing machine, we have owned, has been used 2-3 times a day and I have never experienced anything like this before – shocking to see it seems to be happening, with startling, regularity!!!
I have today had a washing machine explode on me hotpoint model wml540 its also damaged the tumble dryer which is also hotpoint model tvfg65c. Had really bad contact with there customer service department as they have passed me round from pillar to post. has anyone had the number to watch dog.
I aint a compo chaser i just want the washing machine and tumble drier replaced.
Hello Matthew, you need to check the model to see if it’s one affected by the safety notice from Hotpoint. There is a link to Hotpoint’s Safety notice in my article above.
My Indesit IWE8123 8kg has just exploded. Five minutes before this happened by 7 yr old had gone into the kitchen to put something into the bin. I’m still in shock. It sounded like a bomb. The drum and the concrete block had collasped in sounds (luckily have taken pictures) It was on the last spin and all the water had emptied out. There has been no problems whatsoever with this machine until now. The machine is 3 yrs old. The company I purchased the machine from have shut down and moved on.
Can/should I still contact Indesit for advice? I typed in Indesit and the model number and so this.
Any help/advice would be appreciated and would like to contact Indesit asap.
Hello Jennifer. Technically your redress is under the Sale of Goods Act which is with the retailer so it’s not good they have gone. You should definitely contact Indesit to see if they will do anything. The issue raised in this article was about washing machines made several years ago and new models should not supposed to be affected.
Early this morning my Indesit IWE 8123 washing machine exploded. The drum has completely collapsed and the side casing has come away. Several items of clothes have also been ruined. When I rang Indesit they told me that this was not one of the models on their list of concerns; however, they are going to send someone out to look at it. Fortunately the explosion happened when nobody was in the kitchen as there was debris everywhere which could have caused serious injury.