Safety alert: Dixons Carphone warns of fire risk in Logik tumble dryers

Anyone who owns an affected Logik LVD7W15 or LVD7W18 tumble dryer could be at risk of causing a fire in their home if they continue to use it.

In a safety alert issued to consumers, Dixons Carphone warned that placing heavy items on top of affected dryers, or sitting on them, could cause the top cover to become 'deformed'. This could lead to spilled liquids on the top cover leaking into the dryer and causing a fire.

Dixons Carphone says that if your LVD7W15 or LVD7W18 tumble dryer has not had heavy weight placed on top of it, it is OK to continue using it.

We'd suggest caution in following this advice if you have an LVD7W15 model, as we identified the LVD7W15 tumble dryers as dangerous in 2017 due to a fire risk caused by a different fault in the heating element of the dryer.

Logik LVD7W15 and LVD7W18 tumble dryers

Dixons Carphone recalled the batch of Logik LVD7W15 dryers which had the faulty heater elements, and later discontinued the model. They are still available from some third-party sites, and there may be models in people's homes. Dixons Carphone continues to sell Logik LVD7W18 dryers.

Dixons Carphone told us that the most recent LVD7W18 dryers have a reinforced top cover already, and consumers will only be contacted if they have a machine with an older lid that still poses a safety risk.

Dixons Carphone has also said that only two fires have been reported to them so far in relation to the two dryers, and in both instances nobody was hurt.

'While we have no definitive evidence that this very rare set of circumstances caused any fires, as a responsible retailer, we are writing to customers as a precaution,' Dixons Carphone told Which?. 'We follow rigorous safety testing processes when a product is identified to us as potentially falling below our standards.'

If you think you might be affected, make sure you read the Important Safety Information notice released by Dixons Carphone, or read on below.

How do I tell if my tumble dryer is affected?

To find your tumble dryers model numbers (LVD7W15 and LVD7W18), the first thing to do is to switch off and unplug your tumble dryer.

You'll need to have the model and serial numbers of your tumble dryer to hand if you're going to alert Dixons Carphone that you've been affected.

Both numbers can be found either on the inside of the door or on the Rating Label on the back of the dryer.

What do I do if I have an affected Logik tumble dryer?

Dixons Carphone says it is writing directly to consumers who own affected tumble dryers to advise them on next steps.

But if you do have one of these machines, don't wait. Contact Dixons Carphone with the serial and model number of your tumble dryer.

Dixons Carphone says it will arrange for a technician to come and replace the top cover of your dryer (unless it already has a reinforced cover), and have promised to do this free of charge.

Your rights with an unsafe tumble dryer

The Consumer Protection Act 1987 gives you the right to claim compensation against the producer of a defective product if it has caused damage, death or personal injury.

The act also contains a strict liability test for defective products in UK Law making the producer of that product automatically liable for any damage caused.

Which? will never stop campaigning for safer products to be sold to consumers. Find out more about your rights when a faulty product causes property damage or personal injury and visit our End Dangerous Products campaign page to pledge your support.