Tumble dryer burning smell: what to do now

Stop using it

If your tumble dryer smells of burning, stop it and unplug it straight away if the plug and socket look and feel normal; otherwise switch off at the consumer unit. Don’t use it again until an engineer has checked it. Tumble dryers are often recalled, so check your model against the GOV.UK recall register.

Also covers: tumble dryer smoking · tumble dryer smells hot.

What to do now

Don’t use it again, and get it checked, if:
  • You smell burning, see smoke or scorch marks, or the appliance trips your electrics. Stop using it, and switch it off at the wall only if it is safe to reach. Otherwise switch off at the consumer unit.
  • Another appliance doesn’t work in the same socket, or the plug or socket is hot, scorched or crackling. Stop and call a registered electrician.
  • The manufacturer says not to use the appliance with this fault. Leave it switched off and unplugged until it has been repaired.

Switch the appliance off safely and don’t use it

  1. If it is safe to reach and the plug and socket look and feel normal, switch off at the wall and unplug.
  2. If the plug or socket is hot, scorched or crackling, or there is water around it, don’t touch it. Switch off at the consumer unit instead.
  3. Don’t use the appliance again until it has been checked by the manufacturer or a qualified engineer.

Don’t keep resetting a consumer unit switch that trips again.

Check whether your model has been recalled

  1. Find the model and serial number on the appliance’s rating label. Your manual shows where it is.
  2. Search the GOV.UK product safety alerts, reports and recalls register and the manufacturer’s own recall pages for your model.
  3. Register your appliance with the manufacturer so they can contact you about future recalls.

Why it happens

Finding the cause means opening up the tumble dryer, which is a job for the manufacturer or a qualified engineer. Read our safety information.

Related problems

Questions people ask

How do I reduce the fire risk from my dryer?

Electrical Safety First advises cleaning the fluff filter after every use, never plugging a dryer into an extension lead, not running it overnight or while you’re out, letting the cool-down phase finish, and registering it so you hear about recalls.

More tumble dryer problems and codes, or use the fault finder.

Sources

Last checked against these sources: .

We write every page in our own words from manufacturer guidance and check it against the sources above. If your manual says something different, follow your manual. How we check.