Owners of four older top loader Samsung washing machines are being urged to check their model number after a fire at a family home in Auckland last month.
These units were voluntarily recalled by Samsung Electronics Australia Pty Ltd in 2013 on specified Samsung top loader washing machines sold in New Zealand through various retailers for potential fire hazard.
Affected washing machines were manufactured in 2010, 2011, 2012 and some models in 2013. Affected model numbers: – SW75V9WIP – SW65V9WIP – SW80SPWIP – SW70SPWIP
A family of five had to leave their home on the 25 September after their smoke alarm went off and they found their washing machine on fire. The fire was able to be extinguished without it causing significant damage.
Fire and Emergency’s Community Risk Manager for Counties Manukau, Thomas Harre says smoke alarms helped prevent what could have been a much worse outcome.
“This family was very lucky to have been ambient and awake with working smoke alarms meaning they all evacuated to safety with minimal property damage, however the outcome could indeed have been very different.”
Simon Gallagher, National Manager, Consumer Services at MBIE says over the following four years, over 96 percent of impacted washing machines were repaired, replaced or refunded to remedy the fault.
“While this remedy rate is considered high for electronics recalls, I’d encourage anyone who has a Samsung top loader washing machine model built between 2010 and 2013 to check their model number to confirm it isn’t one of the models affected. If it is, they should get in touch with Samsung.”
These models were also simultaneously recalled in Australia, but by 2015, Samsung was able to locate only 51% of these models.
By May 2015, in New South Wales Australia, Fire and Rescue had already responded to 18 house fires caused by these machines.
In June 2017 also, quick thinking on the part of a Queensland house owner saved the entire home from catching fire when his Samsung washing machine caught fire. A load of clothes was being washed when the smoke alarm sounded, and he rushed and dragged machine outside while it was on fire.
Even though in New Zealand 96% of impacted machines were located, there is a possibility of some people still having these machines in their homes and are currently being used.
– from NewsViews
