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Original poster

Surprised to read you shouldn't leave the washing-machine on in an empty house

168 replies

aliasjoey · 13/06/2014 09:54

AIBU to be surprised to read on another thread about a washing-machine being used when no-one was home, and so many replies were that you should not leave it on!

We work full-time, if it wasn't switched on until I got home, then I would be hanging up wet washing really late at night. Confused

Is it so different to other electrical items left on? The slow-cooker? The boiler might switch on in the winter, that's electricity and water combined. I think

OP posts:
LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 13/06/2014 16:29

There's so much variation between insurance policies too. You might be covered to repair the house, but not for rental accommodation while that's going on, for example.

SconeRhymesWithGone · 13/06/2014 16:37

Not only do we not run it while we are out, we turn the water off to the washing machine when we leave the house. We had a hose burst (the machine was not in use) and sustained very expensive water damage several years ago. We now have steel hoses and always turn the water off when we are not at home.

My neighbor's house caught fire from a dryer left on during the night. Luckily, no one was injured.

BosomBunnies · 13/06/2014 17:19

I previously worked for a company that dealt with insurance claims from members of the public against a well-known washing machine manufacturer - most were for fire damage caused by electrical faults in the machines. Can also occur with dishwashers, driers etc. Bearing that in mind, most workers at the company wouldn't leave their machine on whilst out of the house. Saying that, there was also a member of staff who wouldn't use their washing machine whilst they were IN the house - stating that their mum had had a terrible experience when her machine caught on fire causing awful damage to the house and put them in danger trying to deal with it. She said it was safer to be out of the house when it was running than indoors.

landrover · 13/06/2014 17:40

Lauriefairy, i hope you live in a detached house, I wouldn't fancy being attached to your house if you are that happy to take the risk!

JohnCusacksWife · 13/06/2014 17:43

At a fire safety event at our local fire station they told us NEVER to leave tumble drier or washing machine on while we're out or in bed. Apparently they case a very large percentage of house fires. Not worth the risk so I never do it.

LaurieFairyCake · 13/06/2014 17:49

landrover - clearly the vast majority of people take that risk every day Grin

Not as risky as crossing the street ....

supersop60 · 13/06/2014 19:15

I heard only yesterday that a colleague's DSIS came home on Monday to find the house full of acrid black smoke. Whole house is ruined, they had to get temporary accommodation and the insurance company should have been by now. Dishwasher left on while they were at work.

GatoradeMeBitch · 13/06/2014 21:04

My next door neighbour always runs her washing machine overnight Sad

Mind you, I always left ours on while I was out, so I didn't know any better! What about routers? It's just that and the fridge freezer on all night in our house.

Bowlersarm · 13/06/2014 21:14

I do sometimes put my washing machine or dishwasher on if I go out and am coming back soonish. And there is no one at home.

I would never leave them running overnight, or if the children (teens) are sleeping in bed in the morning and I am going out.

Have heard of two really close escapes from friends close to us.

It's definitely not just an MN thing!

poorbuthappy · 13/06/2014 21:19

My washing machine caught fire.
Luckily we were in the house so it was ok.
Unsurprisingly we never leave the dryer washing machine or dishwasher on now.

harriet247 · 13/06/2014 21:26

I never leave anything on if leaving the house, pretty ocd about it, when I was little a neighboura house caught and she died. Always stayed with me

daisychain01 · 13/06/2014 21:32

Would there be an insurance claim issue if the appliance caught fire? Im just wondering if they would be able to tell that the machine was on in an empty house.

It has made me think maybe it is a fire risk, because of the moving parts ...

bigbarns · 13/06/2014 21:43

DH is a fireman and I've just asked him for his view - he's been to fires caused my washing machines and so definitely wouldn't leave on one in an empty house or overnight. For what it's worth he said nor would he leave a slow cooker on all day either but acknowledged the risk with those is much lower.

TamzinGrey · 13/06/2014 21:55

SiL could have died when her dishwasher caught fire after she'd gone to bed and was fast asleep. Thankfully her lodger came home and immediately called the fire brigade. Since then I've never left any appliances on when out or after going to bed.

MiloSimpson · 13/06/2014 21:56

You should never leave a dishwasher to run over night either - if I recall correctly, Terry Wogan and his cock suffered some serious damage to his property as a result of a dishwasher or maybe a tumble dryer catching fire.

I personally don't run the dishwasher/washing machine etc when I'm out but I can totally understand why some folk do.

mousmous · 13/06/2014 22:01

I never run them when away or at night.
either do a quick wash in the morning or a longer one when I get in from work.
dishwasher goes on after dinner so is finished before we go to bed.

ALittleFaith · 13/06/2014 23:19

Our home caught fire when a blender I left plugged in caught fire. Major damage (buildings in the region of £35k, contents £16k). It sounds dramatic but it changed us forever. It happened at night, without smoke detectors we'd be dead, no question. I leave only essentials plugged in now and never leave appliances running while we're out. Not worth the risk.

I would advise ensuring you all know your escape routes from the house, can find keys and shoes in the dark because it's very disorientating and scary and these things save precious time.

PootlewasthebestFlump · 13/06/2014 23:34

I'm a bit scared of my Bosch dishwasher since all the fire scares so I never leave it in if I'm not there.

I do leave my washing machine running but thinking about it it's not worth the risk - not only could I lose my home but my dogs ate home alone and a fire breaking out when I am not there is one of my worst nightmares.

PootlewasthebestFlump · 13/06/2014 23:42

That should say my dogs are home alone not my dogs ate home alone, although they do eat the occasional dog bed and slipper.

My old washing machine once had smoke pouring out the door. And if we run our washing machine and dishwasher at the same time it blows all our electrics and the freezer defrosts...so I'm thinking no to the running appliances when we're out...

Permanentlyexhausted · 14/06/2014 00:12

I never leave my washing machine, tumble-dryer, or dishwasher on if I'm not home. If I run my dishwasher in the morning before work, I open it as soon as it is finished to cool it down before I have to leave. I switch all three off at the wall when they have finished.

To answer the OP, we both work full time too. I either put a load on early enough in the morning to be sure it will be finished before I leave, or I put it on when I get home and put the washing to dry on racks before I go to bed (which is what I shall be doing in a moment).

Many many years ago an acquaintance of my mum's went to her son's school sports day and left her washing machine on. Their house was burnt to the ground (rural area, no neighbours to raise the alarm) and all 3 of the family dogs were killed. Just awful.

A couple of years ago we were woken one night because a neighbours smoke alarm went off when their dishwasher caught fire.

It's a bit of an inconvenience but the safety of my family, my dog, and my home is worth it.

In some ways it was easier when our washing machine and tumble dryer were in a stand-alone garage (apart from having to go out in the rain and snow to do the washing).

Permanentlyexhausted · 14/06/2014 00:28

Btw, you should all sleep with your bedroom doors closed to give you extra escape time. And close all doors when you leave the house as it will minimize the damage if you do have a fire.

Test your smoke alarms.

Also, as a PP said, have an escape plan, practice it, and make sure your children know what to do if the smoke alarm goes off.

On a different note, we also have carbon monoxide detectors.

PhaedraIsMyName · 14/06/2014 00:46

I'm one of the people who posted you should not do this. A colleague's kitchen was gutted by a fire caused by an electrical fault in a washing machine. She was actually at home working in another room. Had she been out it would have been far worse.

dexter73 · 14/06/2014 06:14

So many people on here use slow cookers so their dinner is ready for them when they get back from work. I wonder if they are safe to be left?

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 14/06/2014 11:57

Funnily enough we went to a fire station on a school visit yesterday so I asked about this and they had been to lots of house fires caused by washing machines, less so dishwashers, but the general advice was to leave nothing on overnight.

He also reminded me (if we're talking fire safety generally now) about teaching the DCs to crawl on the floor as part of any escape plan or drill - there can be 100s of degrees of difference in the amount of heat further up the room, and of course smoke also rises.

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 14/06/2014 11:57

^^ not just DCs to crawl, adults too...