85,000 Heat Pump Dryers at Fire Risk: Full List of Affected Models and Brands

Around 85,000 heat pump tumble dryers in UK homes are now subject to an urgent safety check after regulators concluded that certain models can suffer an internal electrical fault that may cause a fire. The warning follows investigations by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) , which has issued a series of safety reports on the affected machines.

In a notice published on the UK government website, OPSS said specific models of integrated heat pump tumble dryers manufactured by Haier and sold under multiple brands should undergo an urgent repair because of a risk of fire linked to an internal short circuit. An updated government alert in December 2025 highlights that tens of thousands of these machines remain in everyday use and still require safety work. You can read the full OPSS statement here on GOV.UK .

How the safety issue emerged

Concerns over these dryers first surfaced publicly in May 2025, when OPSS published detailed product safety reports setting out how a fault in the compressor and associated wiring could lead to an internal short circuit during normal use. Subsequent testing showed that the defect could cause the drum or rear section of the appliance to ignite.

Haier, which owns brands including Candy and Hoover, began a corrective action programme offering safety modifications to affected customers. But in August 2025, OPSS ruled that the modification being carried out was not enough to remove the risk in all cases and issued a legal Requirement to Warn notice. That decision forced the manufacturer to contact thousands of households again and inform them that a fire risk still existed even after a previous repair.

By December, the regulator estimated that about 85,000 integrated heat pump dryers were still in homes and needed an updated safety intervention, prompting the new urgent check.

Which brands are affected?

The dryers at the centre of the warning were produced by Haier but sold across the UK under eight different brand names. According to OPSS and local authority trading-standards updates, the brands are:

• Baumatic
• Candy
• Caple
• Haier
• Hoover
• Iberna
• Lamona
• Montpellier

A number of UK fire and rescue services, working with the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) , have echoed the call for households to check their appliances, warning that even a small number of fires linked to these models is enough to justify strong precautionary action.

Key models named in public safety notices

Full model and serial number lists are published on GOV.UK and on each manufacturer’s product safety pages. Below is a summary of key models that have been highlighted in public alerts and news reports. Owners should always check their exact model and serial number against the official databases.

*This table highlights prominent examples drawn from public safety notices and news reports. For an exhaustive list of affected models and serial numbers, readers should always refer to the official GOV.UK recalls and alerts pages and the manufacturers’ own product safety checkers.

What the official guidance says

OPSS states that affected appliances must not be used until a safety repair has been completed. The government notice advises households that, where the plug is accessible, they should switch off and unplug the appliance and then follow the instructions provided on the manufacturer’s product safety website or through the GOV.UK alert.

Owners are asked to check both the brand and the exact model and serial number of their dryer and to contact the manufacturer to arrange any required work. This applies whether the machine was bought new, purchased second-hand or inherited with a property.

Fire risk and wider questions about appliance safety

Heat pump tumble dryers have become increasingly popular as a lower-energy alternative to traditional vented or condenser models, typically using a closed loop system to capture and reuse warm air. The current safety issue highlights how even highly efficient designs can pose a risk if key components are not adequately protected against electrical faults.

The case has also raised broader questions about how quickly manufacturers respond when safety problems emerge. Some customers have reported difficulties securing engineer appointments or clear information from call centres, prompting criticism from consumer groups and coverage in outlets such as the Guardian’s money pages .

OPSS has said it is reviewing how corrective action programmes are monitored to ensure that any future safety modifications are properly tested and independently verified before they are rolled out at scale. For now, the priority remains reaching every household that owns one of the affected dryers and ensuring the necessary repair or replacement is completed.