These 10 household appliances are a fire hazard: here’s how to stay safe
House fires can be devastating. Your life and the lives of your loved ones are at risk and your home could be ruined. Even a small fire can destroy irreplaceable belongings or leave you with damage that costs a fortune to fix.
The appliances you use every day can cause house fires if they’re not well-maintained and used correctly. According to the Home Office, in the year ending March 2023 cooking appliances were the largest ignition category for accidental fires in the home, accounting for 44% of fires.
Many of these fires can be prevented by taking a few simple precautions. We’ll guide you through the potential hazards to help you keep you and your family safe.
Read on to discover the most dangerous home appliances and what you can do to protect yourself.
Over 12,000 fires in UK homes were caused by domestic appliances in the year ending March 2024
First, let’s find out which appliances are the most dangerous and how you can take precautions in your home.
10 fire hazards to look out for and prevent in your home in 2025
According to the Home Office in the year ending March 2024, there were over 12,000 fires in UK homes caused by domestic appliances.
Here are the top culprits and what to look out for to ensure your home is kept safe.
1. Ovens
Ovens were responsible for over 50% of domestic appliance fires in 2023/24, making them by far the riskiest appliance in your kitchen.
It’s no surprise they’re at the top of the list considering almost every home in the UK has one. Most of the time they’re very safe but there are a few steps you can take to ensure you don’t take risks.
Oven fires are often caused by leaving food unattended or cooking under the influence of alcohol. If you don’t keep your oven clean, oil and grease can build up and increase the fire risk.
2. Oven hobs
Oven hobs were responsible for around 10% of appliance fires in the UK last year. Depending on what type of hob you’ve got at home, there’s a few things you should bear in mind.
If you have a gas hob, you should get it checked annually and light it with a spark rather than a match or lighter.
Make sure your hobs are turned off when you’re done and keep them clean and grease-free. When you’re cooking, try to avoid wearing loose sleeves which could catch alight.
3. Toasters
They might be small, but toasters were the cause of nearly 1,000 appliance fires in the last year.
One of the biggest risks is putting your toaster under a kitchen cupboard, which could heat the wood above and catch alight. Another is a build-up of crumbs which can burn and catch alight, so keeping your toaster clean is very important.
Lastly, putting sugary food in the toaster is also a recipe for disaster – since sugar can reach incredibly high temperatures. To stay safe, toast sugary treats like sugared waffles and hot cross buns under the grill instead.
4. Microwave ovens
Microwaves are so popular that 97% of UK households have one, according to 2018 data from Statista.
Most microwave fires are caused by mistakes, such as entering the incorrect cooking times or leaving food in too long causing it to dry out and ignite.
Accidentally putting metal in the microwave, like foil or metal trims on kitchenware, can cause sparks that can also start a fire. Always take care when using a microwave, and don’t leave it unattended.
5. Tumble dryers
You might not think of the tumble dryer as a potential hazard, there’s no open flames or soaring temperatures.
However, over time your filter can fill up with highly flammable dry lint and fluff, which can lead to fires. It’s important to clean out your filter after every other use to reduce the risk.
6. Washing machines
Like the tumble dryer, you might be thinking: how would the washing machine be a fire hazard? It’s full of water.
The most common reason washing machines catch fire is due to a fault. Never leave your washing machine unattended while it's running and avoid starting it when you're going to bed.
It’s also worth keeping an eye out for product recalls from the manufacturers, especially if yours is secondhand.
7. Other cooking appliances
This can include air fryers, steamers, slow cookers and countertop pizza ovens. This category is quite broad, but as with domestic ovens and microwaves, keep these items clean and free from oil and grease and always ensure you’re taking proper precautions when using them.
Air fryers have had a recent spike in popularity, but there’s not enough data to comment on whether or not they are a danger in our homes. What we do know is they should be cleaned after each use to ensure flammable oils and fats don’t build up inside.
8. Deep fat fryers
Deep fryers are a dying household appliance. Chip pan fryers were once a leading cause of kitchen fires in the UK, but thanks to public awareness campaigns many households have ditched their fryers for good.
According to Statista, deep fat fryer ownership dropped from 50% of UK households in 2005 to 28% in 2017. Despite the drop in ownership, they still caused 201 fires in 2023/24.
If you are using one, be careful not to splash oil into the heat source. If a fire does break out, you should cover it with a lid or fire blanket and never try to put it out with water. London Fire Brigade shows us what happens when you do.
9. Kitchen extractor fans
A surprising addition to our list, kitchen extractor fans caused 170 fires in 2023/24, making it number 9 on our list of dangerous appliances.
Extractor fans remove excess water and oil from the air while you cook. They can become dirty quickly, so make sure that you clean yours regularly to prevent a hazardous build-up of grease and fat.
10. Fridge freezers
Lastly, we’re looking at the fridge freezer. Although technically it’s in spot number 11 for most dangerous household appliances, we thought it important to include it.
Overheating is a major cause of fridge freezer fires, so make sure that the ventilation is never blocked to maintain a safe temperature.
The majority of fridge freezer fires start because of faulty appliances or leads. Keep an eye out for recalled products from manufacturers, especially when buying secondhand.
How to keep your home safe from appliance fires
Here are our top 6 ways to ensure your home is safe from fires
1. Ensure your smoke alarms are working
According to GOV UK’s Fire Kills campaign, you’re around 10 times more likely to die from a fire if you don’t have a working smoke alarm in your home.
All you need to do is check your alarms once a month and replace the batteries if they’re not working. Fire alarms should also be replaced completely every 10 years.
2. Unplug appliances at night (unless they are designed to be left on)
Unplugging your appliances reduces the risk of fire breaking out in your home overnight – and it’ll reduce your energy bills too.
Unplug electrical appliances when they’re not in use to guard against over-heating and regularly give plugs, leads and sockets a visual inspection to ensure they are working safely. Always call a registered electrician if you’re unsure
3. Check your cooker is switched off
Double-check that your cooker is switched off once you’ve finished making your dinner. If you have small children, they might turn it on without you noticing.
Newer electric ovens and hobs often come with a safety lock feature, if you have young children and you’re looking to replace your appliances this is a useful addition to look out for.
4. Don’t run your washing machine or tumble dryer overnight
It may be tempting to wash or dry your clothes overnight to take advantage of off-peak electricity savings, but it can be a big fire hazard. Tumble dryers and washing machines are best used during the day when you’re in the house.
5. Close internal doors at night
You may not have thought about this one, but simply closing all the doors in your home at night can contain a potential fire, giving you more time to get to safety and ensuring that any damage is limited. To further reduce the risk of fire, consider replacing the door to your kitchen and, if you have one, utility room with an internal fire door.
These doors are designed to withstand fire for longer and are available as FD30 (which offers 30 minutes of protection) and FD60 (60 minutes of protection). If you have a loft conversion, or are considering one, building regulations require that every door on your escape route should be an internal fire door.
6. Keep door and window keys handy
In case you need to make a quick exit, ensure that everyone in your home knows exactly where your front and back door keys are. Make sure you always keep them in the same place to avoid confusion. It’s also vital to ensure you have window keys next to all of your windows, especially any on your escape route.
We recommend putting a hook next to each set of windows to hang a key, so everyone knows where they are.
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Other home appliances to keep an eye on
At the bottom of the list of appliance fires are TVs, audio equipment and video/DVD players, causing 40 fires in total in 23/24. Video and DVD players were the cause of only two of these fires. Dusting regularly and checking cables and plugs are sound is the best way to keep these appliances working safely.
Keep vigilant and stay safe!
Even a small fire can cause damage to your home, leaving you with ruined possessions and a hefty bill. The good news is, with a little knowledge and preparation you can prevent common house fire causes and keep your loved ones safe.
Above all, keeping on top of your maintenance and using your appliances correctly is the best way to protect you and your family.
Feature by Katie Dolan.
