Firefighters and emergency services in Spain are warning the population about the risks of leaving three appliances running overnight without supervision: the washing machine, the tumble dryer, and the dishwasher. The alert, reported by the newspaper Okdiario, recommends avoiding putting these appliances on while the whole family sleeps.
These three devices combine electricity, water, and components that can reach very high temperatures, increasing the risk of fire in case of malfunction. Although modern equipment has protection systems, degraded electrical installation, a faulty socket, or an internal failure can pose danger. During the day, anomalies such as strange smells, smoke, or unusual noises can be detected quickly, but during the night the situation is different, since residents may be asleep and a malfunction may go unnoticed for longer.
The tumble dryer requires particular attention due to the accumulation of fibers and lint released by clothing, which can deposit on the filter and other components, impairing ventilation and increasing temperature during operation. Therefore, firefighters recommend cleaning the filter regularly and performing proper maintenance of the appliance.
In addition to not leaving these machines running overnight, emergency services advise not overloading sockets with several high-consumption appliances, checking the condition of the electrical installation (especially in older homes), avoiding inappropriate extensions or adapters for high-power equipment, and unplugging appliances that do not need to remain connected. The goal is to ensure that someone awake at home can react quickly if any sign of abnormal operation appears.
