Whirlpool has added 21 models of Hotpoint and Indesit washing machines to its list of appliances being recalled due to a fire risk.

This equates to around 55,000 washing machines in the UK, and is the third round of product recalls issued by Whirlpool, the BBC reported.

Customers who have previously checked that their appliances are safe should now check again to see if they have one of the newly affected models.

All the washing machine models that have been named on the latest round of recalls were sold after October 2014. They have a flaw with the door locking system, with the news provider explaining that the fault develops over time and can lead to overheating, which could cause a fire.

It’s estimated that 79 house fires have been caused by the fault so far, according to Whirlpool.

Chief executive of charity Electrical Safety First Lesley Rudd commented: “It is alarming that five months into this recall we are only now hearing about these extra models which pose a risk to owners.”

Whirlpool has set up a tool on its website to allow customers to check whether their machine is one of the affected models. It is offering replacements or repairs, free of charge, to all customers. The company also added that it is continuing to carry out the work during the lockdown and that all its teams of engineers have full PPE and maintain social distancing.

But what if one of your appliances breaks down during lockdown and it isn’t one of the Whirlpool models that’s affected? As we recently explained, you can still arrange appliance repairs in Bournemouth, or wherever you live, as long as it’s considered an emergency.

You’ll also have to make sure that you are able to maintain a distance of two metres from your contractor while they’re carrying out their repair work.

Whirlpool Issues More Product Recalls