The Nice People Thread, No.16: A Universe of Niceness.

Pyxis

My washing machine is under the stairs.

I had it done years ago, when I was having the understairs cupboard converted to a loo, so having the next bit of cupboard plumbed in as well was no hassle.

The kitchen extension I was having done at the same time is quite small, so I didn't want cupboard space there taken up by a washing machine.
For the same reason, I had the boiler put up in the loft, and not on a
kitchen wall.

GDB2222

PasturesNew wrote: »

Washing machines and fire potential petrify me - that is one of my main drivers for my extension .... it's currently (never used) under the gas boiler in the kitchen!!!

My preference would be a small brick built separate outhouse ....

Mine will go into the utility when that's built.... on the basis that if it catches fire it won't be under a gas boiler, or near the gas pipes - and it will be easier to lug it outside from there - and I can close the door on it and not have to stare at the devastation.

I'm like a cat on a hot tin roof every second a washing machine's turned on... and when they go into fast spin I just want to collapse from fear.

As for dirty washing, I always take the dirty washing from the bedroom to the machine at the time it's going to be washed. In the main my washing isn't "dirty" it's just a bit grubby. Others have dirty lifestyles where this could be more important.... e.g. people with horses might have all manner of stable dung and animal excrements splashed on their clothes.... or those with manual workers in the household might have all manner of drainage system splashes on them .. or chemicals/cleaners etc for industrial use only.

The Grenfell fire was started by a fridge. Modern fridges are mostly plastic, so they'll burn well. The refrigerant is often butane gas, these days, to replace CFCs. About a quarter of a pint of liquid butane in the average fridge, apparently.

Pyxis

GDB2222 wrote: »

The Grenfell fire was started by a fridge. Modern fridges are mostly plastic, so they'll burn well. The refrigerant is often butane gas, these days, to replace CFCs. About a quarter of a pint of liquid butane in the average fridge, apparently.

Has there been any info on how that fridge could have caught fire?

I mean, you hear of washing machines, driers and dishwashers catching fire, but fridges?

GDB2222

Pyxis wrote: »

Has there been any info on how that fridge could have caught fire?

I mean, you hear of washing machines, driers and dishwashers catching fire, but fridges?

There's an electric motor running the refrigeration pump. If that overheats it can set fire to the plastic back of the fridge. It's safer to have a fridge with metal at the back, but plastic is cheaper. How many customers inspect the back of the fridge, then say they won't buy one with plastic at the back? So, there's no down-side for the manufacturers, just a cost saving. That's the sort of thing that needs a safety standard, really.

Although washing machines are more highly stressed, there's a lot less combustible material in a washing machine or dishwasher than a fridge. Driers mostly catch fire, I assume, because they over-dry the clothes, and the clothes catch fire?

GDB2222

In 2010-2014, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 166,100 home1 structure fires that involved cooking equipment per year. Almost half (46%) of reported home structure fires were caused by cooking.

Unattended cooking was by far the leading contributing factor in these fires and fire deaths.


In 2010-2014, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 15,970 home structure fires involving clothes dryers or washing machines each year.

The vast majority of fires (92%) involved clothes dryers.

Refrigerators, separate freezers, and separate ice makers together were involved in 1,710 home structure fires reported to U.S. fire departments per year in 2006-2010. These fires resulted in two civilian deaths, 56 civilian injuries, and $50 million in direct property damage per year.



So, my interpretation is that washing machines caused around 1300 fires, which is only marginally less than the 1700 caused by fridges and freezers. Over 14,000 caused by driers. Over 166,000 caused by cookers.




http://www.nfpa.org/news-and-research/fire-statistics-and-reports/fire-statistics/fire-causes/appliances-and-equipment/cooking-equipment

http://www.nfpa.org/news-and-research/fire-statistics-and-reports/fire-statistics/fire-causes/appliances-and-equipment/home-fires-involving-clothes-dryers-and-washing-machines

http://www.nfpa.org/news-and-research/fire-statistics-and-reports/fire-statistics/fire-causes/appliances-and-equipment/home-structure-fires-involving-kitchen-equipment

Pyxis

I've never had a drier, so I don't know.



My fridge is about 16 years old. I have no idea what its back is, as it's an integrated one, so I can't get to the back to see.

When it needs replacing, I'll deffo look for a metal back.

In fact all my appliances are the same age, as I got them all the same year.

Eeeek!

PasturesNew

I did a quick Google and it seems washing machines are the most likely to catch fire.

My Google result said that 19% of appliance fires are washing machines. 482/year.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/3995178/deadly-white-goods-appliance-revealed-grenfell-london-tower-block-fire/

Cakeguts

Our fridge is at least 27 years old. I don't think all the lights come on inside anymore.

ivyleaf

I'm sure I read that the fire in the fridge at Grenfell Tower could have been caused by one of the power surges the residents had been fruitlessly complaining about, though of course it won't be known until the result of the enquiry is published.

I think our fridge=freezer is about 20 years old! The ventilation is at the front. My son got it as part-exchange for some work he'd helped an architect with (the said architect was his friend's brother) and the fridge-freezer had been about to be put into a skip at a house he'd been working on; he'd pointed out that it was nearly new, why throw it away? To which the homeowner said he didn't need it as he had a new one in the new kitchen. So architect saved it from the skip and it's been in our kitchen since just after that!

I know new ones are meant to be cheaper to run, but I know someone with an elderly fridge-freezer who's found it uses less energy than a new AA rated one.

Pyxis I haven't tried Sardinian pecorino but we brought some back from a visit to a vineyard estate near Florence where the family also kept some sheep and produced pecorino. It was very nice indeed. Do you know if the Sardinian one is available over here?

silvercar

I thought I'd read that the fridge exploded rather than just caught fire. I also read that the fridge fire had been extinguished before the whole block went up.

My hair straightners once caught fire. I'm guessing there was a short in the lead because that's where the flames appeared, but scary because I was holding them at the time. Luckily I dropped them onto a tiled floor rather than a carpet.