Beko warns of tumble-dryer fire risk

Appliance manufacturer Beko has issued a safety notice for more than 3,000 tumble-dryers in which it said it had identified a potential fire risk. It has urged customers not the use the machines.

A voluntary repair programme has been put in place for more than 3,450 Beko and Blomberg 8kg and 9kg tumble-dryers manufactured between May and November 2012 and purchased between May 2012 and May 2013.

In February last year, one of the affected models, a DSC85W (pictured), was found to have been responsible for the death of mother-of-two Mishell Moloney from Birmingham, according to a report in The Guardian.

The inquest into her death, held at Birmingham coroner’s court in August, heard that the same model had also been responsible for 20 other fires.

Talking to The Guardian, Beko stated that the fault identified in the tumble-dryer safety notice was ruled out by forensic experts and therefore unrelated to the fault that caused Moloney’s death.

Beko said in its latest safety notice that it had identified a production batch with a faulty component supplied by a third party. In rare circumstances, the component could fail and overheat, leading to a potential fire risk.

The company has advised customers who believe they have an affected model not to use their machines, while waiting for a service engineer visit.

The firm has informed Trading Standards that it is undertaking a voluntary repair programme on models DCU8230W, DCU9330R, DCU9330W, DSC85W and TKF8439A.

Consumers can check if their tumble-dryer is affected by visiting either www.beko.co.uk/dryerrepair or www.blomberguk.com/dryerrepair and entering the model number into the online product checker, or by calling 0800 917 2018.

Beko will arrange a free-of-charge home visit from an authorised service engineer to any customer that may have an affected machine to check and replace the faulty component, with it said takes around 30 minutes.

Andrew Mullen, head of quality at Beko, said: “A small number of Beko and Blomberg 8kg and 9kg condenser tumble-dryers have been affected by this faulty component, however we would urge any customer who thinks that they may be affected to check.

“While there is a low level of risk, we are taking the proactive step of initiating a voluntary repair programme to ensure we can modify all affected products.”

Home > News > Beko warns of tumble-dryer fire risk