Do you ever leave your tumble dryer on when you go out?

[beakysmum]

And if your house burnt down if the tumble dryer caught fire, would insurance cover the damage?

Yes, when I had one. It's was in the extension wouldn't have noticed if it caught fire any way.

Never thought about it- why wouldn't it be insured?? Accidental damage surely?

Gulp. Now you've got me all worried

No, because we have to open the window to put the hose out.

I used to until a friend of friend's caught fire and caused significant damage. DH installed a smoke detector in the utility room after that

No I don't. I used to set the timer so it would do overnight/early morning and heat the kitchen!

Then I read it was one of the biggest causes of house fires, so it only runs when I'm around.

Don't know about insurance.

No also because of the fire thing. Though I defluff and turn it off at the wall after use as well. It's new, but I just don't trust them.
Washing machine is left on though & I never worry about a flood...

So if it caught fire while you were in the house, what we would be different from it catching fire while you're out of the house, other than you having to escape and call the fire brigade?

Are you presuming you would be able to put out the fire?

I used to - it was in the garage and I wouldn't think twice about it.

Now, however, I don't.

a) because a teacher at school did that and it caught fire and burnt her house down and

b) because my tumble drier is broken and I'm using a heated airer instead.

Always. We have a washer/ dryer. We put in washing at 7am before work on a timer so it turns on at 4pm, washes everything, then dries everything and finished at 7pm when home

I do, but our utility room is in an extension so a fire wouldn't danage the main house. We have a smoke alarm out there too.

I'm sure fridges/freezers are responsible for a lot of fires and no one worries about leaving them on.

I only use mine during the day when I am home. DM's caught fire luckily while we were in the kitchen, so Dad and I carried it out (while it was on fire) into the garden before it could do any more damage. Made me a bit wary of the buggers.

No. I'm also paranoid about it catching fire.

Why do they catch fire? Is this because of cheap ones or tumble dryers are inherently more fiery..?!

www.whitegoodshelp.co.uk/is-it-safe-to-leave-washing-machine-on/

Basically cleaning helps. Low risk with high consequences.

I do leave mine on while I'm out. I'm out of the house at work 50 hours per week and the washer/dryer is right next to DDs bedroom so quite loud.
If I only had it on while I was in, I'd never get all my washing done. It takes over 3 hours to do a complete wash and dry cycle.

www.whitegoodshelp.co.uk/is-it-safe-to-leave-washing-machine-on/

Yes. It's new and I defluff it after every run.

Tbh if it was going to catch fire and burn my house to cinders, I'd rather it did it whilst I was out.

Of course I go out with it on. And what Maryz said.

Yes and why wouldn't your house insurance cover it?

Mine is always on - well 3 or 4 times a day - and there is no way I could be in for all of that time. I also put it on overnight as I have economy 7. It has never occurred to me that it might catch fire

I also put dishwasher and washing machine on overnight...

I also have my oven on when I am out too.

Of course I do.
I believe fridges and freezers have a higher risk anyway, and presumably everyone leaves them on all the time ?
I do what I can to minimise risk - keep the vent clean and open, clear the fluff after every use, keep smoke alarms working and doors shut around the house, but ultimately the tumble drier is there to do a job - no point in having one if I had to sit and watch it all the time.

No we don't. My DH wouldn't allow it after seeing the damage done. It's not meant to be left on like a fridge or freezer.