Am I just paranoid regarding appliances?

[Melanie]

How many of you feel comfortable leaving your house with the dishwasher, washer, dryer, etc. still going? I'm totally paranoid something will happen, and rarely leave them on. Am I too paranoid?

I also have a hard time leaving the house with something in the crock pot, and isn't that the whole point?

[princessgirls]

There has been a few house fires in our area, so I rarely will leave the house with the dryer on... AND once in our old house, while I was close to the dryer it died with a bang and plume of smoke. Lucky I was close enough to pull the plug!

I do run the dishwasher in the middle of the night (set the timer), so if it floods my kitchen, I'd never know anyway until I got up for the day. I'm thinking that's not the smartest plan, just the best time to run it for us.

It is good practice to be home for the dryer...there are occasions where you cut it close for time with having to go, and I just leave it go. I have a new dryer now, and I am diligent about cleaning the lint out.

Julie
No...your not paranoid!!
Julie

[faline]

I never run the dish washer or the dryer when I am not home. If one, or both, of these appliances are running when I need to go out, I'll turn them off and restart them when I return. I'll admit that leaving the crock pot on when I'm not at home makes me a bit nervous but I'll do that though I don't use my crock pot all that often. I will run the washing machine when I am not at home.

[murphy1]

I don't leave any of it running either. I guess I'm paranoid too, if that's the case, I also have the dog and two cats and would hate for them to get hurt or worse.

[wickedgin]

I never worry about stuff like that. I leave stuff running all the time--dishwasher, washer, dryer, slow cooker, and sometimes my flat iron (by mistake).

[Scar]

I have a friend who is a firefighter. He says the leading cause of house fires is from the dryer, so, no that is never on when not at home. Washer, no worries. Toaster oven, always unplugged when not in use. Dishwasher, hasn't worked in 20 years, used as storage.

[Mickey'sGirl]

I don't leave anything running ... and even unplug all that I can (within reason of course) before going out .... especially "hot" things like the dryer or the stove. I will set the washing machine to come on just before we get home, to time the laundry transfer with my arrival, but that's about it. I only use the crockpot during the day if someone will be around, otherwise, I use it overnight, then reheat it at dinnertime the next day.

I guess we're all a little paranoid, eh?

[AgentC]

I am selectively paranoid.

I never leave my dryer on. I will leave my washing machine on if it is near the end of the cycle. If not I pause it. I don't normally worry about my dishwasher. I won't usually turn it on as I am leaving, but if it is running I will keep it on.

Funny you mentioned the crock pot/slow cooker. I just started using one and am having a real hard time using it on days when I am not here.

[buzznwoodysmom]

I NEVER leave my house with any of those going, even the crockpot!

It's funny you say this because I just had an issue with my dryer last week and I thanked my lucky starts I never leave the house with it running. In the morning DH noticed the towels in the dryer were still damp. He found it funny that I would do that. So he put it on and it wasn't turning. After bringing the kids to school I put it on to see if it would turn and it didn't. I manually tried to turn it and it made a big blue spark of light. Then the heating element would come on, turn bright orange for about a minute, then would click off and go back to black, even though I had it on off. About a minute later it would click on, then off. I had to hurry and kick the power breaker off then disconnect the dryer for fear that it would catch on fire.

A friend of mine told me about a year ago the back of her dryer caught fire or started smoking (I don't remember the details) and luckily she was home to stop it.

My mom once put clothes washing then went cut her grass, when she got back into her house there were several inches of water in her utility room and kitchen, and going into the living room and another room. She had to replace all the flooring in those rooms.

We recently had a plastic serving spoon fall through the cracks in the dishwasher and it was stuck on the heating element. We could smell something burning and it took awhile to determine it was the spoon in our dishwasher. Not sure if it could have actually caught fire, but that was enough to scare me. Not that I ever left it running before, but for me it was even more reason not to. I also unplug the toaster and I'd never leave my hot iron on. Those things get so hot!!!

I actually unplug every single item in our house when we go on vacation, as well as shut off our main water line. So I am definitely a bit paranoid about these things. I might be paranoid, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.

[Tink1]

Same here. I cannot leave the house with things on or running. I have a friend who uses the timer thing on her oven to start meals while she is at work. I would be a wreck!

But I also had an oven fire (kids fault) and do not ever want another. Cleaning up the smoke mess was awful.

Nanc

[Jeri]

I always leave the house with the dryer, washer & dishwasher running. I also use a slow cooker too.
If I didn't have them running even when I am not at home my laundry would never get done. I have to run so much during the day with 2 older kids needing to be taken to school & back, activities, and a baby with Down syndrome going to various appointments.

The funny part is, as soon as I am done with the toaster or ths coffee is done brewing I unplug them. I am always afraid I will forget to turn them off, so I unplug them.

[SBETigg]

I had a smoke situation coming from my dishwasher once and I know clothes dryers are a hazard, so I never leave with those two appliances running. Clothes washer, I worry about water damage but it doesn't freak me out as much. I usually only run it when I know I'm home for awhile, though. The Crock Pot/slow cooker doesn't worry me at all. But I don't think you're unusual, Melanie.

[Dragongirlx]

Ever since my washing machine flooded my downstairs neighbour when I was out I never leave it on if I am not there. I would be completly paranoid all day if I did. My twin sister even unplugs all the appliances if we are going to be away for more than a day - just in case

[disneymom15]

We run the washer and dryer on occasion when we're not home. It's usually towards the end of its cycle, so I don't really worry about it.

[mgmnut]

Clothes washer - Yes

Clothes Dryer - No , major cause of house fires. Drier lint is so flamable, hikers ofter carry it because it is light weight and can be used very effectively to start campfires. A neat tip, fine steel wool ,a 9 volt battery, and drier lint is all you need to start a fire very quickly.

Dishwasher - Yes, usually start it as I go to bed at night, but will run it and leave the house also

Crock pot - definate Yes, We crock pot cook all the time. some of the best food comes from a crock pot

I also have a pellet stove, I will leave that running on low if I will only be gone for an hour or two so the Boiler doesn't kick on, pellets are much cheaper than oil.

so are you paranoid? No! To each thier own, you have to do what makes you most comfortable.

[Dulcee]

Dryer - no

Washing machine, dish washer, crock pot - yes

[DizneyRox]

On vacation? I usually shut the house down, only a few faucets on, most breakers go off, etc.

Day to day? I don't think about things too much. It's a good idea to keep things in order, like braided hoses to appliances, maintaining dryer vents, etc. So, while accidents can happen, I don't let them run my life.

I would guess there are bigger problems in most houses than those mentioned, like bad wiring, etc.

[NewDVCowner]

If I go somewhere and take my dog with me (dog park, vet, visiting family that the dog is welcome at) I'll run the dryer and dishwasher. If the dog is at home I will not run anything. I occationally use a crockpot but I make sure that there is NOTHING close to it that might catch fire. I even have a hard time leaving a light on when I'm gone and the dog is trapped inside.

I will run the dishwasher over night, though.

[BrerGnat]

Well, I wasn't paranoid before, but I am now!

I routinely run all my major appliances (excluding stove/oven) when I'm not home.

Never even thought it could be an issue.

Our Washer and Dryer are brand new, and the home we are renting is less than 5 years old, so I don't worry about it too much. I suppose if there is a huge flood from the dishwasher one day, it will be our landlord's fault, not ours...

That's what insurance is for, right?

Now, I am very careful about leaving my flat iron or regular iron on. I unplug those and put them away when I'm done with them.

I don't own a crock pot, because I don't understand how those are any different than just slow simmering a pot on the stovetop all day. Never understood that. I would actually feel better about leaving a large pot on the stove simmering all day (gas stove), than a crock pot plugged in.

[joonyer]

Clean your dryer lint trap daily, whether you use it when you are at home or gone. #1 cause of dryer fires = clogged lint filters.