duvet into domestic washer/dryer = smoke. diagnosis?

[Lit Up*]

HOTPOINT WDF740

So I have some guests in my flat. They’re from Canada and they never saw a washer dryer before. One of them has a dust allergy, so he wanted to ‘fluff’ (sic) the duvet. Apparently they can put a duvet in a domestic machine, the cold air will go around and get rid of the dust, or something.

So he stuffs my double feather duvet into the standard sized home washer-dryer and we put it on wash-dry (I didn’t know what he wanted to do). He says that he had never come across a feather duvet. About 20 minutes later a bit of smoke is coming out of the back of the machine. Obviously the drum was stuffed and the thing overheated. I immediately stopped the machine. We took the duvet out and it’s ruined – all the feathers came out and stuck in the drum and the rubber around the door. There is also what appears to be burned rubber or plastic on the duvet itself.

So I put the machine on a cold wash just to get cold water around the machine, thinking this might cool it down. Anyway, the mechanism was still working.

What I’m concerned about is the smoke that came from the machine. Are the electrics damaged? I haven’t done a wash yet, which I intend to do soon. What shall I look out for? Has this impacted the lifespan of the machine?

I spoke to hotpoint. They say that because the machine is out of warranty, it will cost £105 for an engineer to come out and inspect it. OR I can pay 14 pounds a month (something like 180 quid) for a year’s warranty. The machine will then get inspected, new parts or full replacement if necessary. Is this good value?

[Martin]

Re: duvet into domestic washer/dryer = smoke. diagnosis?

Putting your machine through a few ‘Rinse & Spin’ only cycles will no doubt eventually clear the feathers from the drum. You will need to check the pump drain filter (located bottom front R/H/side behind kick panel)and clean it thoroughly each time.

The burning smell means the feathers have been sucked into the dryers fan and heating chamber. Clearing that is a different story and involves dismantling the heater box on top of the drum. Continued use of the dryer will only make matters worse by the way.

Disconnect from power before lifting the lid. :zap:

[Lit Up*]

Re: duvet into domestic washer/dryer = smoke. diagnosis?

Thanks v much for your reply. To be honest I’m not a serviceman nor into DIY. I need the machine serviced or replaced. What is the cheapest way of doing this? Machine is out of warranty, as mentioned hotpoint say it will cost £105 for an engineer to come out and inspect it OR I can pay 14 pounds a month (something like 180 quid) for a year’s warranty. The machine will then get inspected, new parts or full replacement if necessary. Is this good value? If not, perhaps you could recommend me servicemen in London

[kwatt]

Re: duvet into domestic washer/dryer = smoke. diagnosis?

Hi,

If you use the engineer search, here:

http://www.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/search/fi … ineer.html

You shouldn’t have much trouble in London getting a good washing machine repair man.

K.

[Lit Up*]

Re: duvet into domestic washer/dryer = smoke. diagnosis?

Just tried and got a 500 sql error when submitting the query. not a problem my end…

[kwatt]

Re: duvet into domestic washer/dryer = smoke. diagnosis?

That’s odd. Can you tell me what you entered as a postcode by email or PM please and I will check it why.

It is working fine as people have booked calls etc. and works for our postcode and few others I tried. 🙂

K.

[Author]

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