Which white goods can be a fire risk, and 15 ways to mitigate the dangers

With the ever growing market of domestic electrical appliances now firmly integrated into our daily existence, it is understandable why we may feel an increasing sense of paranoia towards the risk of house fires. This begs the question – which white goods can be a fire risk, and what can you do to mitigate the dangers?

First, let’s dive in to what we mean by white goods.

What are ‘white goods’?

This term is generally used to define appliances or large electrical goods found in our homes, which are often are white in colour.

Some common examples would be washing machines, cookers, tumble dryers, fridge-freezers and dish washers.

What all of these appliances have in common, is their capacity to catch fire either due to the malfunction of their electrical components or the nature of their use.

Research shows faulty appliances cause £41.6 million of damage per year and 60 fires a week in England alone.

So, which are the worst offenders…

Which white goods can be a fire risk?

According to figures provided by Electrical Direct, we have cookers and ovens coming in at number one in the UK. You could aptly describe this as ‘playing with fire’, as they are a direct heat source and often involve open flames, flammables and liquids in close proximity.

Do not fear, it is of course completely possible to utilise cookers and ovens in a way that is safe for daily use, but we will get into these tips later in the article.

Hot plates, followed by toasters and microwaves take the following spots respectively in causing the most fires in the UK in 2019-20.

It is important to note that appliances which main function is to generate heat, are found closer to the top of the list. Therefore, it is a good rule of thumb to take extra care when handling these kind of goods.

Kindly, Electrical Direct has compiled a comprehensive list ranking which white goods can be a fire risk, which is at your disposal below:

Rank	Appliance	Number of fires caused in 2019/20
1	Cooker including oven	8001
2	Ring/ hot plate (separate appliance)	1581
3	Grill/ Toaster	1368
4	Microwave oven	922
5	Tumble dryer	668
6	Washing Machine	624
7	Fridge/ Freezer	215
8	Dishwasher	194
9	Deep fat fryer	186
10	Extractor fan	182
11	Barbecue	89
12	Washer/ Dryer combined	68
13	Battery Charger	60
14	Blow lamp/ Paint remover	58
15	PC equipment (domestic use)	50
16	Spin dryer	49
17	Hair dryer	48
18	Vacuum cleaner	43
19	Camping stove	37
20	Iron	36
21	TV	32
22	Electric blanket	25
23	Electric kettle	19
24	Audio equipment	15
25	Gardening equipment	15
26	Video / DVD	2

(Number of household appliances that caused fires in England in 2019/20)

Whilst it’s important to understand the risks involved, what’s more valuable is how you can best avoid the dangers associated with their use.

How to mitigate the dangers of electrical fires?

Always practice precaution.

1. Read instruction manuals and follow all safety tips provided by the manufacturers.
   
2. Ensure regular cleaning and upkeep of appliances, as many fires are caused by built up grease, lint and other flammable materials setting alight.
   
3. When not in use, ensure electrical items are unplugged. This is especially important when leaving the house for long periods.
   
4. Ensure there are no flammable materials in close proximity to heat sources.
   
5. Do not leave the room unattended whilst cooking.
   
6. For maximum protection use both an ionisation and photoelectric smoke alarm, and regularly test both of these.
   
7. When purchasing electrical goods, ensure you purchase from a reputable seller and look out for the British Manufactured Symbol on the tags. This is especially relevant when buying second hand. We would not recommend the purchase of used electrical goods. The UKCA symbol confirms the product was produced in Great Britain, and in accordance to high safety standards. For goods manufactured in Europe, the symbol be CE.
   
   
8. Ensure you use the right fuse to prevent overheating.
   
9. If a product looks damaged, do not use it.
   
10. Ensure all heat generating appliances are in a stable position and away from children and pets.
    
11. Extension cords have an amp limit, and each item plugged in with have a different value. Ensure the total volume of amps does not exceed this.
    
12. Do not plug in too many appliances into one power outlet, as this can overload it.
    
13. Closed doors create barriers which may help save your life if a fire does spread.
    
14. Having fire safety equipment such as extinguishers and fire blankets in easily accessible places could save lives.
    
15. Ensure all those staying in the property have a safe way to evacuate.
    

Now you know which white goods can be a fire risk, be sure to check out our other blogs on the causes of electrical fires and portable appliance testing.

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If you are unfortunate enough that a fire does break out in your property, we can help get your life back to normality. Our fire and smoke damage restoration services are second to none, and should you need us we are available 24/7 on our national helpline: 01623 422488.