5 Year Old Washing Machine close to fire

Cape Clear

My 5 year old washing machine had smoke coming out of it on a wash cycle. Luckily my other half was in the house at the time and immediately turned it off. What if any are my rights here? Appliances these days don't have the lifespan they once had but I would not expect a machine to catch fire. Am I wasting my time even contacting the shop I bought it from or the manufacturer?

Xterminator

Hi Op

you ask specifically about your rights. Your rights here are under the sale of good and supply act read here

https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/consumer/products-and-services-bought-before-november-2022/your-rights-if-you-bought-in-a-shop-before-november-2022/

specifically if a fault develops in the 1st 6 months it is presumed it is a fault present at manufacture and you are entitled to one of the three R's (repair replace refund) but you don't get to select which remedy is offered.

if the fault occurs after 6 months you can be asked to provide evidence that there was a problem when you got it. Which at the moment you cannot. It could as easily be an issue with the usage or the environment as with the product as manufactured.

You could get a 3rd party to examine and issue a report (or you could so your own research and show evidence this model is a fire hazard) and use that evidence in small claims court.

At the moment you have no evidence, but if you can demonstrate an issue you might have recourse via the small claims court.

Cape Clear

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122704229#Comment_122704229

Thanks for your detailed reply. So really unless something happens a product early on you have little come back under the legislation.

JVince

Smoke came out - it did not catch fire. Substantial difference.

After 5 years, it possibly is not a manufacturing fault. Things can wear out over time. You only have rights if you can show a defect in the machine.

An appliance smoking can be caused by several things including a drain pump getting blocked which is caused by stuff left in pockets and that then causing the motor to malfunction, but also if its hotpoint or indesit, there was a recall a while ago

https://www.ccpc.ie/consumers/product_recalls/whirlpool-recalls-certain-hotpoint-and-indesit-washing-machines/

My guess is its a pump malfunction. A relatively easy fix.

KildareP

Was it coming from inside the drum after a spin cycle? It's probably bearing related - either the bearings are seizing, or have slipped and the drum is rubbing against the door seal.

blackbox

Is it a belt driven machine - if so the belt could be slipping. The smoke would have a distinct smell of burning rubber.

If it's a washer drier there could be a build up of fluff = smoke from this would also have a distinctive smell.

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122707450#Comment_122707450

Agreed. It was an 'exothermal event' rather than a fire.

I suppose it doesn't change the OP's right to get it repaired. 😀

893bet

age for a washing machine is less relevant with the number of cycles per week varying by multiples on a weekly basis in different households.

kirving

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122709470#Comment_122709470

Not necessarily - if you never used the machine, the rubber seals and belts can dry out and crack. Obviously that's unlikely, but it could be in a holiday home for example.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058373556/5-year-old-washing-machine-close-to-fire

By law, products should last a "reasonable" amount of time, as opposed to a set time period. This is in addition to the manufacturer provided warranty.

If it a €350 machine, it may be reasonable for it to last 5 years, but it certainly wouldn't be reasonable for a €2000 machine to last only 5 years in a residential setting IMO.

JVince

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122709420#Comment_122709420

There's no right unless they can show it as a result of a manufacturing issue - and after 5 years of constant use, that is very unlikely.

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122709654#Comment_122709654

Repaired privately. 😁 I wasn't suggesting that it was a warranty issue.