Now Hotpoint / Indesit machines explode!

[rolls_rapide]

I found this:

http://www.whtimes.co.uk/news/drama_as_washing_machine_explodes_in_hatfield_1_623907

 

[rolls_rapide]

And this makes rather interesting reading...

http://www.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=2533

 

[dyson2drums]

Hello

Thank you for this post.

I am worried as my cosin brother has a hotpoint wmd940 k (black). He has a daughter who has just learnt how to walk and is intrigued by the washing machine. I've seen that the model is mentioned in the 2nd link. This is bizzare, unsafem glad the family were safe and unharmed in link 1.

What should I do?

Thanks

 

[hotpoint95622]

hotpoint 95622

Poor plastic tubs with a weak moulded seam.

Cost cutting at its worst!!

 

[rolls_rapide]

If the machine is excessively vibrating, I would want to have it checked out.

The supposed modification appears to be a stabilising bar, but - the photo of the Hatfield machine that I copied from the newspaper report, seems to show a silvery bar already fitted to the destroyed machine (look at the top-left of the photo).

 

[dyson2drums]

Thanks, it's usually okay as the out of balance sensor is quite good on their ultima. To my surprise, compared to toher ultimas lol.

Thanks

 

[fordtech]

What is interesting to me is that the front plastic housing looks split but no pieces missing. So what exactly went flying to cause such described damage?

 

[electron1100]

Modern Designs

Dont yah just love modern designs everything built to be just up to the job, nothing over engineered (with obvious exceptions)

 

[rolls_rapide]

It appears...

...that the stresses induced by spinning the drum, are causing the outer tub to rupture. Probably, the tub weight gets forced into changing direction so rapidly, that the g-forces just tear the polypropylene outer tub apart.

One also has to wonder whether the drum-tub clearance gap has been reduced so much, that modern heavier wash loads are 'wobbling' too much and causing internal collisions.

I wonder how much plastic and metal the manufacturers have shaved off, in terms of tub and drum thickness, over the years of production.

 

[dyson2drums]

contacted hotpoint

I think that the machine that exploded could have been a one off, what do we know. The person may have put a duvet in a normal machine, just saying.

I got a reply and they said nothing to worry about, it goeas as follows

"We can assure you that all of our appliances do comply with, and in manycases exceed, all Domestic and European legislation on design andsafety. All our products are independently tested to ensure that theycomply with all current regulations before they are allowed onto themarket place. We carry out continual monitoring of the performance of our products anddo introduce modifications if it is felt that the performance of theappliance could be enhanced. We would seek to reassure you that the design of the WMD940 series hasnot given any cause for concern. We do not consider that we have anunusually high failure rate given the number of appliances that havebeen produced and are currently installed in homes throughout the UK. We are unable to comment on anecdotal remarks made by third parties inrespect of our products. However, if you feel that the machine is notworking to specification, our call booking service can be contacted on08448 224224 to arrange an engineer"

Thanks

Take care

 

[fordtech]

Well Im not positive, but any device sold in the USA with a prefix of WMD might be cause for a raised eyebrow in any case.. LOL

Weapons of Mass Destruction! OMG

 

[hooverkeymatic]

Ohhhhhhhhh.

I seem to have one of the affected models.

 

[nrones]

@dyson2drums

Owners of exploded Candy"s got similar answers!
I think it just happends... maybe if such things happend in Stiftung warenttest"s laboratory, a huge media thing would happend just like it did with Candy...
I"ve learned something a while ago... just focus on your experience, so if you have a WMD940 that is acting normal, and doesn"t seem wired, than relax, because it"s fine!

 

[hotpoint9534]

I disagree. There should be absolutely no chance of this happening, whether the machine is overloaded or otherwise. The simple fact is that costs have been reduced to the point where safety is becoming an issue and that isn't on.

Tom.

 

[dave886]

so what, does that mean my aqualtis is going to blow up then? <_<

 

[dyson2drums]

Aqualtis models aren't affected at all