Gransnet forums

Chat

Washing machine recall

(22 Posts)
watermeadow Tue 17-Dec-19 18:51:51

I can’t check if my Hotpoint washing machine is one of those affected but, if so, we can only use a cold wash until it is repaired or replaced.
So I looked up washing in cold water (20degrees) Surprised to find all washing machines since 2013 must have a cold wash cycle, which is economical, good for the planet and gives perfectly acceptable results. Hurrah! Why didn’t we all know this?
Whether my machine is one of those affected or not I’m going to wash in cold water in future.

endlessstrife Tue 17-Dec-19 18:57:29

What’s wrong with them? Do you know?

endlessstrife Tue 17-Dec-19 18:59:24

ps, my daughter told me about the cold cycles, but you must use anti bacterial solution in the wash, I think for anything under 40 degrees.

tanith Tue 17-Dec-19 19:06:50

There is a problem with the door locks I’ve tried to look for my model number but it must be on the back and I cannot move it to look. Very annoying but it’s always switched off at the wall unless I’m using it and home.

MamaCaz Tue 17-Dec-19 19:09:08

watermeadow, although Whirlpool's site is down, there are lists of the affected models elsewhere on the net - some newspapers have listed them.
It looks like my machine is one of those affected!

I'm still not convinced that cold water will do the job properly. I mean there's ordinary cold, then there's middle of the winter almost freezing cold, isn't there!
I guess I will soon find out though, as i imagine it will be months before it will be repaired or replaced.

MamaCaz Tue 17-Dec-19 19:12:41

tanith, have you looked in the door recess? My machine has a sticker there that has several numbers on it, one of which is the model number. Apparently, another of them will be the serial number, but as yet I'm not sure which one!

Rather you than me if you have to pull the machine out to look behind!

endlessstrife Tue 17-Dec-19 19:22:13

For a ‘cold’ wash, the machine will heat the water to 20 degrees, however cold it was to start with.

MamaCaz Tue 17-Dec-19 19:37:19

Thanks endless. That's my 'something new' for today grin

I have to admit that I don't really understand the problem. Some of the explanations I have heard seem to suggest that the element is over-heating yet at the same time saying that the problem is the door lock. I don't get it!

Daddima Tue 17-Dec-19 19:54:42

I’ve just had to go and look to see if mine is a Hotpoint!
Hoover, fortunately.

Hetty58 Tue 17-Dec-19 20:02:19

In New Zealand it's normal to wash everything on cold!

Hetty58 Tue 17-Dec-19 20:10:14

My main one's a Hoover - phew, but there's a second one in the garage, so I'll check that tomorrow!

MamaCaz Tue 17-Dec-19 20:18:36

I've finally got on their site to check /register my model but the process has stalled on the page where they want contact details. For some reason, it won't let me go any further. Grrr!

TerriBull Tue 17-Dec-19 20:26:05

I heard about this on the news, apparently if you have one you shouldn't use it, until they send their engineers out, January at the earliest, which I imagine will be a massive inconvenience. Suggestions have been made for cold washes, it's something to do with the heating up process that affects the door mechanism. Low temperatures don't kill bacteria though. I have a Bosch, but commiserations to those that have one of the affected machines, washing soon mounts up, what a pain!

craftyone Tue 17-Dec-19 20:30:38

oh that is dreadful for so many people. I just googled and found an article
www.thesun.co.uk/money/10571648/whirlpool-recall-washing-machine-hotpoint-indesit/

all w machines should have the model number at the front by the door. People cannot be pulling them out for normal repairs, the number has to be handy

craftyone Tue 17-Dec-19 20:37:58

I don`t know what my dds have but I have e mailed offering my spin drier. In the old days we got by reasonably well by soaking washing and spinning

MamaCaz Tue 17-Dec-19 22:44:03

For any of you who think you might have a machine that is affected by this recall notice, I just wanted to say that after trying all evening, I have finally managed to complete the checking and registering process on Whirlpool's site - in other words, the site is currently up and running.

If you are not sure how to find it, I went via a link on this Which? article:

www.which.co.uk/news/2019/12/whirlpool-announces-recall-of-up-to-519000-indesit-and-hotpoint-fire-risk-washing-machines-in-the-uk/

Callistemon Tue 17-Dec-19 23:09:09

It is the electronic door lock which can catch fire on Hotpoint and Indesit machines.
You can phone on 0800 316 1442 (the Guardian)
I hope you all get a full refund and quickly.

MamaCaz Wed 18-Dec-19 13:23:19

It seems I was one of the lucky ones when I managed to get into Whirlpool's website last night (if you can call having a potentially hazardous washing machine lucky!) - it sounds like very few customers have managed to do either that or sort things out on the phone yet.

I hope that means I will be one of the first to get a repair or replacement, but it might not work like that!

watermeadow Thu 19-Dec-19 14:10:37

Turns out mine is not affected but I’m still going to try cold washes. Probably more feasible in countries with hot sunny weather.
As I never look at advertisements I have no concern over bacteria. Remember, detergent makers have made fortunes out of scaring people that the world is full of deadly bacteria which we must kill by using their products. Same as bottled water sellers flooding the world with plastic bottles of tap water.

Dottydots Thu 19-Dec-19 14:21:11

I did a check on mine and they said that my model is unaffected. However, I have now read that a lady who was assured her machine was ok has experienced a bad fire.

My washing machine is only a year old, so I can't really get rid of it yet, but I will be very wary of using it.

shysal Thu 19-Dec-19 14:28:36

For those who haven't seen it, there is a list of affected models on this page if you scroll down. I found my number at the front next to the open door and thankfully it is not included.

I was affected by the tumble drier problem. I had a machine which I bought to replace one which went up in smoke! The next one was recalled. it took a while but I accepted the offer of a new machine for £100.

shysal Thu 19-Dec-19 14:30:22

www.thesun.co.uk/money/10571648/whirlpool-recall-washing-machine-hotpoint-indesit/
Sorry, forgot to add the list! The numbers are towards the bottom of the page.