What to do if your washing machine catches fire?

Any electrical appliance can catch fire. Such situations rarely occur if a person takes precautions and monitors his condition washing machine. Still, sometimes you have to deal with a fire in your washing machine. All this leads to a dangerous situation for people’s lives and property. It is important not to panic, but to know what to do if the washing machine catches fire. In this case, it will be possible to at least prevent the situation from worsening.

Causes of fire

Household appliances often break down, but only in rare cases do they start to burn. The washing machine is usually connected to the electrical network. Therefore, the socket, plug and cord are live when the device is in operation. Often the machines are located in the bathroom, therefore, they operate in a humid environment. This leads to the possibility that one day a fire may occur.

Possible reasons:

Poor quality of some parts or the entire machine. Budget models catch fire much more often, because they can have many defects. High quality washing machines They are reliable, so unpleasant situations happen to them less often.
Poor quality repairs. If a person does not know how the device works, then it is better not to touch anything. Any damage must be repaired by a qualified technician. At the same time, it is important to contact only good specialists so that there is no fire later.
Incorrect installation. Sometimes there is no protective shutdown when the voltage exceeds the maximum permitted mark. It also happens that there is no grounding. In such cases there is a risk of fire.
Failure to comply with safety rules. Most people know how to use washing machines. They know what to do and what not to do.

It is advisable to be at home when the washing machine is running. It is much easier to prevent a fire than to put it out later. You need to carefully monitor how the device works. If signs of fire appear, action must be taken immediately.

In particular, a fire is indicated by a burning smell, smoke, crackling and clicking sounds that were not there before. Even one of the signs already suggests that a fire may start soon.

In such a situation, you need to disconnect the device from the network, if possible. Naturally, we must not forget about safety precautions, because otherwise a person will risk his life.

First actions in case of fire

It is easiest to put out a fire when it has just started. Therefore, you will have to act independently to prevent the fire from spreading. You need to know what to do. We'll have to turn off the electricity. You may even have to cut off the power in the entire house at once. Otherwise, the entire wiring may catch fire.

After this, you need to remove the cord from the outlet with dry hands. When the fire has already appeared, you will have to find a thick blanket and cover the washer with it. This is necessary so that the fire does not receive oxygen. In such conditions, the flame will quickly go out, otherwise it may ignite and spread.

There are also situations when even timely measures taken do not help to extinguish the fire.You will have to urgently call the fire department and report what happened. The person will have to leave the apartment immediately. If the fire grows noticeably, then it is worth warning your neighbors about the fire. If firefighters take a long time to travel, then other apartments may also suffer from fire or smoke.

It is important to understand that under no circumstances should you extinguish the washing machine with water or touch the flame. Often this only worsens the fire situation. When the first measures to extinguish the fire have been taken, you will have to close the windows and doors so that a minimum amount of air gets inside. Of course, it is unsafe to stay indoors, because you can suffocate from the smoke.

What causes a fire?

When a person purchases household appliances, he immediately wonders whether the washing machine can catch fire. This kind of situation actually happens.. Although it does not occur often, people still encounter fire.

What elements can catch fire:

The socket to which the washing machine is connected.
Contacts of the control board or drain pump.
Wiring located inside the machine.
Electric motor.

Sometimes you can smell a burning smell during washing, but this does not mean that the washing machine is about to catch fire. A strange odor occurs when the washing machine was recently purchased. Plastic parts are not yet used to heating up, which is why you feel a burning sensation. The smell will disappear after a few washes and may never return.

It also happens that debris gets into the heating element. In this case you will have to Clean the heating element yourself. You can contact a specialist to ensure that no breakdowns occur. The specialist will also tell you what can be done to prevent a fire.

You need to understand that any malfunctions should not be ignored. Of course, not all of them lead to a washing machine fire. However, the unit must be maintained in good condition. If you deal with problems in a timely manner, then you will be able to avoid many troubles. If there are any breakdowns, the device may catch fire, which sometimes results in a major fire. It is much easier to prevent a situation than to deal with its consequences later.