(Newswire.net — April 16, 2018) —
Research conducted by leading consumer group Which? found that faulty household appliances were the root cause of 60 fires a week. That’s a shocking statistic. One of the most catastrophic fires in recent times – the Grenfell Tower fire disaster – was sparked by a faulty fridge-freezer. There has also been a high-profile recall of Hotpoint, Indesit and Creda branded tumble driers, which have been blamed for numerous domestic fires, some of them serious.
Of course, faults are not always linked to the age of the appliance, but the older an appliance is, the more likely it is to be faulty. And as AEG repair specialists know all too well, some faults mean there is a danger to life and limb.
Here are the five main dangers caused by outdated appliances in the home.
Electrical Fires
Faulty wiring in old appliances causes a huge number of fires each year. Studies in the United States have shown a distinctive pattern: incidents of domestic electrical fires increase dramatically in December and January, which are the coldest months of the year. Most of these fires start in the bedroom and are mainly due to an increase in the use of heating appliances.
Faulty or frayed electrical cords is a common problem, but older appliances may have dodgy internal wiring too.
Missed Product Recalls
Manufacturers have a duty of care to contact customers if their appliance is subject to a product recall. Some manufacturers do devote a lot of resources to what is always a mammoth task, but others are less thorough. A Beko recall of faulty fridge-freezers removed 85% of appliances from the market, but 15% are still in use!
The problem is people move to a new home and don’t inform the manufacturer, which makes it impossible to trace them. The same people might not see media coverage of the recall or might ignore an email. The older your appliance is, the more likely it is to be affected by a product recall.
Asbestos
Older appliances manufactured pre-1980s are often lined with asbestos. Back then, nobody knew how dangerous asbestos was. It was used in toasters, ovens, dishwashers, washing machines and a host of other domestic appliances used in everyday life. Most were not a danger unless they were damaged in some way, but pre-1980s hairdryers released asbestos fibres every time they were used.
Toxic Gases
Modern fridges typically use HFC-134a (1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane) as a coolant, but older appliances used Freon. The gases in older fridges are extremely harmful to the environment if allowed to escape. In theory, the gases inside your fridge or freezer’s coolant system are contained, but many older appliances are not frost-free, so ice builds up. The best way to defrost a freezer is to unplug it and let it defrost slowly, but if you are not the patient type, you might be tempted to hack away at the ice with a knife or screwdriver. All it takes is one wrong move and you will puncture the wall and release toxic gases.
Flammable Materials
Older appliances are often packed with flammable materials such as plastic and flammable insulation, so if faulty wiring sparks a fire, they ignite like a bonfire. If you are in the room at the time, you have a chance to extinguish the fire and escape, but if you are out at work or asleep in bed, it is likely to be a different story.
Be very careful if you buy a second-hand appliance, as it may come with a host of serious safety issues. Always check if it is affected by a product recall and, if possible, buy from a reputable supplier or have it checked out by a qualified electrician.