Everyone knows that a dishwasher needs to generate hot water to get those dishes extra clean, but how hot is too hot? GE is recalling 1.3 million dishwashers this year due to 
heating element failure.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, there have been seven reports of fire, three of which caused extensive damage to the rest of the home.
Is My Dishwasher Recalled?
The recalled models were distributed between March 2006 and August 2009 and have serial numbers that begin with the following:
AM, AR, DM, DR,
FL, FM, FR, GL,
GM, GR, HL, HM, LL,
LM, ML, MM, RM,
SM, TM,VL, VM, ZL, ZM
Not sure where to find the serial number on your dishwasher – check out this video from Maytag:
If your GE dishwasher falls under these requirements, the company is offering free in home repairs or a rebate for a new dishwasher. We are guessing the company would much rather pay for repairs then to replace 1.3 million dishwashers.
What Should I Do If My Dishwasher Catches Fire?
It may be tempting to run in the sight of a fire, but the most important thing to do is to grab and use a fire extinguisher (which should be kept under the sink anyways). Once the fire is out and everything has cooled off, the dishwasher should be disconnected. Take several pictures of the damage for home insurance purposes.
According to Consumer Reports, “In March, our investigative report found that out of more than 15 million appliance units that have been recalled in the past five years, almost half of the recalled units were dishwashers”.
So whether you own a GE or not, your dishwasher may still be a risk waiting to happen. Make sure to have all of your appliances checked out and serviced regularly, especially your dishwasher.
Image and story credit: USAToday.com.
