A while back we reported on a few Samsung top loading washing machine models sold in Australia that had been subject to a recall due to fire risk but, as with most recalls, the effectiveness of it has not been great, there have been more incidents and Samsung are under fire for the MacGyver worthy remedy involving a plastic bag and duct tape.
A recent blaze at a house in Parmelia in Perth, Australia’s southern suburbs was the 206th fire nationally relating to the defective Samsung washing macine models.
The washing machine burst into flames, causing an estimated $5000 worth of damage to the appliance and to the rear of the property.
The outcome could have been much worse but luckily the householder detected smoke coming from the laundry and poured water on the fire while calling firefighters, who extinguished the blaze within minutes.
‘If the machine was left on while no one was at home, the house could have been completely destroyed,’ Department of Fire and Emergency Services assistant commissioner metropolitan Darren Klemm said.
It’s the eighth fire reported in WA since June 2013 that is believed to have been started by a defective Samsung washing machine.
The recalled models, which were manufactured between 2010 and 2013, include: SW75V9WIP; SW65V9WIP; SW70SPWIP; SW80SPWIP; WA85GWGIP and WA85FWWIP.
Of the 144,451 machines sold in Australia, 51.8% have been rectified and made safe by Samsung.
In some circumstances, moisture penetrated the electrical connectors of the top loaders, sparking a fire.
Consumer Protection acting commissioner Gary Newcombe said it was concerning that thousands of faulty washing machines remained in homes around the nation.
‘We urge consumers who have Samsung washing machines in their home to check the model numbers at the back of their machine or on their receipt,’ Mr Newcombe said.
‘Samsung are trying to locate owners of these machines but they need the help of the community to do so.’
But the Sydney Morning Herald reports that Samsung has had to defend using plastic bags and tape to prevent faulty washing machines from bursting into flames, despite growing reports of problems occurring even after repairs.
As part of a national recall of six top-loader models, Samsung has been instructing technicians to apply “a fire-retardant, industry-standard polyethylene bag” to electrical connectors to prevent a water leakage fault that can cause fires.
Minister Victor Dominello says he is satisfied by Samsung’s recall efforts.
It said it was “100 per cent confident of the re-work solution”. NSW Fair Trading approved the fix.
The paper reports that Liz Herbert of Avoca Beach said her machine had been fixed under the recall but subsequently caught fire. The newspaper also understands there have been 17 more post-fix incidents across the country.
“Someone is going to die. Someone is going to get killed in a fire, unless they take this much more seriously,” Ms Herbert, a health worker, said. “It’s not good enough.”
We doubt that this story is finished.
