Do you leave your washing machine unsupervised?

Rosa_Damascena

unforeseen said:

So, it could also have been a fault in the washing machine lead itself.
Did you get the extension lead tested? 

I would imagine after an experience like that most people would not undertake a diagnostic process but take it as read that the combination is not a good one.

After a shock like that I would have disposed of the extension lead without question. And probably the washing machine as its sounds like it may be on its way out. It might not be the MSE thing to do but safety comes first.

keithtmoir

Why wouldn't you I often go to bed with the washing machine and the dishwasher on. 

CheeseDreams

I had a washing machine get stuck on the spin cycle while I was out. It was incredibly hot when I got home - and I'd only been gone 30 mins.

My sister-in-law had a house fire caused by a dishwasher 3 years ago. I wouldn't run either appliance unattended!

I put my washer oon when I get in from work on an evening I don't have to go out - but I live alone so rarely do more than 2 loads a week. 

ninna3

Used to run my dishwasher overnight on Economy 7 but it caught fire early one morning & was due to the wires getting squished when the door opened/closed - always put it on now in the daytime and only when I'm in. I thought the insurance claim post earlier in the thread made a lot of sense. 

Zandoni

I'd never leave an appliance like that unattended, especially if it was a Hotpoint.

BethP

My washing machine takes 2hrs 39min or 3hrs 59min.  I don’t put it on after 7pm as it beeps many times to tell me it’s finished!  As long as I start a wash before 6.30pm, it’s finished before I go to bed.  Yes, I turn it on and go out occasionally during the day. Am confident the washing machine won’t cause a fire because we have a circuit breaker fitted to our electrics.

Myser

BethP said:

I don’t put it on after 7pm as it beeps many times to tell me it’s finished!

You can usually switch that off, which make is it?

casper_gutman

What does "unsupervised" mean? I usually put the machine on when I'm upstairs working. Even if I put one of the quicker ~1 hour washes on, I'm hardly going to sit on the floor in the utility room and "supervise" am I?

kinger101

My standard was at 40 C is around 45 minutes, and if I turn it down to 20 or cut the heat out altogether, I will cut that down a little more.  There are shorter options, but the spin cycle Is inadequate on those.  I'm struggling to see what you'd get out of a 3 hour cycle.

As for leaving the machine unattended, it can fail badly.  My parents' did one day and they came home to find the ground floor flooded.  Cold water had probably been spilling out for 3 hours.  Covered by insurance (and they effectively got a new kitchen out of it so some silver lining), but extremely disruptive as the drying out takes weeks. I know it's rare, but I've not run my washing machine if I know I'm going to be out since.

flashg67

BethP said:

My washing machine takes 2hrs 39min or 3hrs 59min.  I don’t put it on after 7pm as it beeps many times to tell me it’s finished!  As long as I start a wash before 6.30pm, it’s finished before I go to bed.  Yes, I turn it on and go out occasionally during the day. Am confident the washing machine won’t cause a fire because we have a circuit breaker fitted to our electrics.

Me too - modern consumer unit etc but didn't make any difference  when my fridge freezer went up one night!