Leaving the tumble dryer/washing machine on when going out

I never worried about leaving the dishwasher on until a friend had a fire.

They'd popped out in the morning and returned to fire engines and house ablaze. They had to move into rented accommodation for half a year while their house was rebuilt. The fire officers confirmed it was the dishwasher that started it.

From that moment, as annoying and inconvenient it might be sometimes, I've never left a washing machine or dishwasher on without being awake/in the house.

I mean, I'm not going to live my life worrying about a 0.01 percent chance of a fire maybe breaking out.

Of course the fire brigade will tell you not to do it - that's their job. Like an A&E doctor will say that children shouldn't use trampolines due to the risk, or a GP will tell you not to eat processed sugars.

The number of house fires that occur each year in this country is incredibly small.

I occasionally nip out for 5-10 minutes to go to the corner shop which is literally across the road with the washing machine on but wouldn’t go further afield. I don’t have a tumble dryer but if I did definitely wouldn’t go out with it on, I’m very paranoid about a house fire I tend to turn everything aside from the fridge/ freezer off when I go out. I have a friend whose house burnt down due to a phone charger and my laptop charger once started sparking and smoking from nowhere - luckily I was there to turn it straight off and there was no damage but it’s made me very aware that electronics can’t be relied on not to short circuit or go wrong.

There’s always a change it could go wrong… but chances are it won’t.

We put the dishwasher on once before going out and I got a panicky call from DS saying that the sink was full of water (and rising) , the floor was all wet… bless him he was bailing out when we rushed back but there was so much water!

An electrical short could happen just as easily on any appliance, including your washing machine or even fridge.

The additional risk for a tumble dryer is the combination of built up fluff and hot moving parts.

I agree. We do calculate risk in everything we do. It's just you'll find people will calculate risk that aligns with how much they'll be inconvenienced. That's what makes people scary.

I'm usually home while the washer is running as I need to empty it to dry, though sometimes I set it to finish just as I'm waking up. I have nipped out for short time only when needed, tbh I worried more that it may leak than catch on fire.

A fire is my biggest fear at home as my options for escape are limited and so I've been reluctant to get a tumble dryer despite how useful it would be in winter, as they frequently seem to be the cause of house fires. I'm also likely to be one of those people that does forget to clear the lint often enough.

Of course that's not what it means, but the risk is always going to be much smaller if you use proper equipment from official suppliers, rather than cheap eBay knock-offs.

I don't think it's that I have blasé view of the world, it's just about calculating risk.

The vast majority of us get in cars or cross roads everyday even though more people are killed in traffic accidents than house fires.

I'd have been beside myself

It's not worth the risk

I always used to put my washer on when I left for work but neighbour had a house fire. Caused by a cigarette and luckily her ndn realised and got them out.
Anyway the Fire Brigade sent someone to chat to the whole neighborhood and they said to never leave anywashers, dryers or dishwashers on when you were out or even overnight. So I don't.

No. Absolutely you shouldn't.

Just ask your local fire brigade

You mean like the 600,000 Hotpoint/Indesit machines that had to be recalled a few years ago because of the fire risk?

I never leave the tumble dryer or dishwasher on when I am out or overnight, i know people who had fires from both. I would be cross too OP.

I do leave the washing machine on but would never go out and leave the tumble dryer on.

0.00002% chance of a WM or TD-caused fire. Do you usually plan your life around minuscule odds?

YANBU. House rule to never leave the dryer on when no one is around

I never let the lint build up...when DS was little he would rush to take it out 😀. We had to have a repair once and I was shocked at how there was still lint in the workings of the machine, and the element is just a coil of heated metal so can see how easily they catch on fire

Just reminded me I need to wash one of the filters

I don't have a tumble dryer. I will leave the dishwasher, washing machine or pressure cooker on when I go out. I don't have the time to stay in and watch them. The risk is pretty low in the grand scheme of things.

And that means of course they they will never develop a fault? Good to know.

You lot are scary dudes man. I'd quite like to have a nothing like that would happen to me blasé view of the world. Must be comforting.

I don't leave the washing machine, dishwasher or tumble dryer on when I am out or overnight.

The fridge freezer is of course left on all the time or food would spoil.

Yes, I do charge my phone overnight beside my bed and will continue to do so.

My neighbour left his tumble dryer on, in the garage and it set the house on fire. I would not leave any appliance on and go out for that reason. Again, the fire service were quite clear that none of them would leave washing machine or tumble dryer running when they were out.

People should be cleaning the "fluff" out after every use, really. But I bet the majority don't which is why the fire risk is high.

Well, because I buy them from official suppliers and not for cheap off eBay.

I personally don't know anyone who doesn't leave stuff charging overnight or when they're out. I really can't bring myself to worry about it when the chance of a fire is less than 0.1%.

The "fluff" produced by dryers is highly flammable - it's used by wild campers to start fires outdoors and it's highly effective. Try it...but only outside.

This is why dryers are specifically high risk because heat and fluff can quickly start fires in a new/working machine. All other appliances can of course cause fires but usually due to maintenance issue.

I'm so surprised the voting is not 100% yanbu (but perhaps people are mentioning washing machines)

YABU - stop nagging and be grateful he did some washing.
YANBU - everyone knows you don’t go out and leave the tumble dryer on.

its pretty depressing that you use the word “nag” about yourself and that you feel an option would be to be grateful a man did some laundry.

Just tell him to stop “nagging” you as YANBU and most sensible adults know not to go out leaving the washing machine and dryer on

YANBU and it's a bit worrying so many people think it's fine. My neighbour's washing machine went on fire and wrecked her kitchen. I wonder if house insurance would cover fire damage from an unattended washing machine/dryer?