Tumble Dryers - Important Notice

I appreciate that this is a serious issue but, on a slightly lighter note but still perhaps relevant; years ago my MIL complained that her fairly new tumble dryer wasn't doing its job as the clothes were still damp after what should have been ample time to dry them.

OH investigated and removed the filter from the rear of the machine.  It was totally clogged up with 'fluff' which he removed. MIL said, "Oh I thought that was part of the filter". She'd been carefully placing the fluff 'mat' back into the filter every time she'd used the machine. 

So, if you have any twirlies in your family; might they be doing a similar thing?

Success - we've just been offered a brand new replacement dryer - either a condenser model at £99 or a vented model at £59.00.  We've ordered the vented one as the appliance is in our garage, and the venting kit is already in place.  It's being delivered on Wednesday - which could have been as quick as Monday but we're busy elsewhere! 

Success - we've just been offered a brand new replacement dryer - either a condenser model at £99 or a vented model at £59.00.  We've ordered the vented one as the appliance is in our garage, and the venting kit is already in place.  It's being delivered on Wednesday - which could have been as quick as Monday but we're busy elsewhere! 

Hi Val

just interested to know, did you get the offer when they arrived to do the repair or beforehand?

The engineer called us on Wednesday this week and wanted to come on Thursday but it wasn't convenient for us.

To be honest my tumble drier is amazing, so fast at drying.  A load of shirts can be dry in the time it takes me to peg them on the line.  Don't really want to change it in any way!!

We reported the problem when I first posted, and had an acknowledgement stating that someone would be in touch about a repair.  Today we had an email stating that we would have to wait until September for an engineer to call but:

If your dryer is over 1 year old and you would prefer not to wait until September for your repair; as a goodwill gesture, we are able to offer a brand new Hotpoint tumble dryer at a reduced price. For the reduced price, we will deliver, install, remove your existing appliance and replace it with a new dryer.

 We decided that as ours was nine years old (approx) that the replacement would be a better idea.

That's good news Valda, hopefully we will be offered a similar deal as ours is about 10 years old.

we  have a Hotpoint one I phoned them last november and they said an enginer would ring haha rang  again yesterday to be told we are down for a call in April thats for the enginer to make an apointment so that will be six months and no idea how long after enginer phones to him or her turning up what a farce   malc

I repaired tumble dryer's for close on 40 years and they have had a build up of fluff on the heaters for all that time. usually it just burns off without any problem or burning indication but if the filters are allowed by the consumer to build up then problems occur.the same thing happens when the flexible vent hose fills with water due to a "u" bend in it causing condensation preventing the airflow venting outside.

I have to say we were meticulous in removing the fluff build up in the filter at the front, (the birds in the garden use it for nesting if you put it out somewhere) but the design left a lot to be desired and fluff appeared to get 'underneath'.  Every few weeks my OH would poke about down there with the flexible hose on the hoover!.  Our previous Phillips (very old and brown) dryer had a much better filter arrangement.  

I repaired tumble dryer's for close on 40 years and they have had a build up of fluff on the heaters for all that time. usually it just burns off without any problem or burning indication but if the filters are allowed by the consumer to build up then problems occur.the same thing happens when the flexible vent hose fills with water due to a "u" bend in it causing condensation preventing the airflow venting outside.

Have you any idea what repair the engineer will be doing to the  'faulty' driers.

I only ask as my drier is stacked in a really tight space, it's quite a major job to move it!

I was shocked to see the complete devastation brought on a family when one of those driers caught fire and burned the house down.  Every day we are hearing about others of those makes  causing overheating problems.  

That there is a recall on the serial numbers affected is laudable but what is unacceptable is the length of time an alleged dangerous machine takes to be made safe. 

One of my daughters reported that her drier was one with the affected serial numbers and was told an engineer would be there in nine to ten weeks but just to use the drier during that time.  No way !!.  

Shocking response from Hotpoint 

K