Aviva said it has seen some significant home insurance claims relating to air fryer fires over the past four years, with claimants sustaining considerable fire and smoke damage to their homes.
The average claim for 2024 amounted to £29,555 and in one case dealt with by the insurer, an air fryer fire caused £80,000 worth of damage to a kitchen after spreading and setting the entire room alight, destroying the kitchen ceiling, walls, cupboards and their contents, a washing machine and a television.
Aviva said that in some cases, claimants have described seeing flames erupting from collapsing and melting air fryers, destroying the surfaces on which they were placed.
It has also dealt with several claims where air fryers had been placed on hobs, accidentally switching the hob on and inadvertently setting the air fryer ablaze.
In one incident, a hungry dog was responsible for a hob being accidentally switched on.
The insurer also commissioned a survey by Censuswide, which found that around two-thirds (68%) of people in the research own an air fryer.
Nearly a fifth (19%) of people surveyed said they had encountered potential or actual fire hazards in their homes because of one, such as smoke, overheating or scorching.
The research also indicated that many people do not always follow guidelines and advice when using their air fryer, with only around a fifth (21%) saying they strictly follow the manual provided with their item.
Some people in the survey admitted to regularly over-filling their air fryer and some used it in a non-ventilated area such as a cupboard, according to the survey of 2,000 people in December.
Hannah Davidson, senior underwriting manager at Aviva, said: “With the increasing popularity of air fryers, it’s crucial that users are aware of the associated fire risks. Aviva’s survey shows that nearly one in five UK residents have encountered fire-related issues with air fryers, from smoking and overheating to explosions and fires. This, alongside our claims insights, underscores the need for constant vigilance.”
She added: “Simple practices such as not leaving air fryers unattended, avoiding excessive amounts of oil when cooking, placing air fryers on non-flammable surfaces, and ensuring proper ventilation during use can significantly reduce fire risks. Keeping a fire blanket and a small fire extinguisher in the kitchen is also good practice.
“In the unfortunate event of an air fryer fire, never throw water on an electrical fire. Instead, use a fire blanket or a fire extinguisher rated for electrical fires, and call the fire brigade if necessary.”
Luke Osborne, deputy technical director at charity Electrical Safety First, said that while air fryers have “become a staple part of our kitchen set-up” there is a risk of accidents if people do not ensure they are using them safely.
He said: “Always register the product to make sure you are contactable in the event a fault is detected by the manufacturer. Never overfill your air fryer and never plug the appliance into an extension lead to avoid potential overheating.
“Make sure you keep your power cords away from hot surfaces to avoid damaging cables, which could pose a serious fire risk and always refer to the manufacturer’s instructions when it comes to cleaning your device.”
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