The top 10 things homeowners put off fixing around the house include noisy or vibrating washing machines, overflowing gutters and dripping taps, according to a new survey conducted by OnePoll[i] for the Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances (AMDEA) to mark Register My Appliance Week (19th-23rdJanuary 2026).
Slow-draining sinks or showers (23 per cent), freezers constantly icing up (16 per cent) and coffee machines and kettles crying out to be descaled (15 per cent) also made the list.
AMDEA is urging consumers to prioritise sorting these maintenance issues – while they are still small – alongside registering their appliances so they don’t miss out on vital safety information. This registration message will once again receive resounding support from more than 150 Fire and Rescue Services nationwide, the Government and safety and consumer groups, who will help spread the word in national and regional press, as well as all major social media platforms.
The survey revealed that when it comes to registering large appliances with the manufacturer, one in five (20 per cent) of homeowners couldn’t remember if they had registered their large appliances and less than half (46 per cent) had registered all their major white goods.
Surprisingly, Millennials claimed the highest percentage who have yet to register all their appliances (63%). While nearly a quarter (24 per cent) of homeowners[ii] in the survey, admitted, they might not immediately hear about a recall on an appliance they own.
Stefan Hay, CEO of AMDEA
Stefan Hay, CEO of AMDEA said: “We all put things off for one reason or another, it’s human nature. An iced-up freezer or an unusually loud washing machine tends to be things we’ll look at when we finally get a minute, but those ‘little jobs’ can quickly turn into a bigger headache.
“Acting early is the simplest way to avoid unnecessary expense and inconvenience later down the line. With appliances especially, prioritising registering them with the manufacturer means you can be contacted immediately if a free safety repair is needed on your particular model, before any real issue occurs.”
With washing machines, fridge freezers, ovens and microwaves practically universally owned unregistered products remain extremely hard to trace if a safety repair is ever needed. Homeowners represent nearly two thirds (sixty five percent) of the UK’s 29 million householders who – unlike tenants – are wholly responsible for their home purchases and admin.
While 94 per cent of homeowners feel it’s important to keep large appliances in good condition, 28 per cent admitted they rarely check them for potential problems.
The top excuses for putting off jobs include the issue not feeling urgent (36 per cent), lack of time (28 per cent) and the anticipated cost of repairs (24 per cent).
And three in 10 admit they believe this delay has ended up costing them more in the long run. The study found on average, the problems costing homeowners more in the long run, saw them fork out £305 due to their delayed response
AMDEA’s CEO, Stefan Hay added: “We all lead busy lives, but ignoring small maintenance issues can lead to bigger repairs in the future, as they rarely stay small for long.
“Tackling them early saves time, money, and stress – plus it will keep your home running smoothly.”
Affirming that procrastination can carry cost
Register and Relax – https://registermyappliance.org.uk
For Info.
1- Register My Appliance is a web portal developed by AMDEA to improve ownership data by making it quicker and easier for householders to register old and new appliances. Offering access to 77 of the nation’s leading brands, many manufacturers on the site welcome registration of products up to 12 years old or even older. Handy tips guide the user through how to find the important model details, meaning all the user needs to supply is their name and address. This data then goes directly to the manufacturer for use exclusively in case of a recall.
2- AMDEA is the UK trade association for manufacturers of large and small domestic appliances, representing over 85% of the domestic appliance industry, rising to 90% of white goods brands. Members’ products include most of the UK’s top selling brands of major white goods, other large and small kitchen appliances, heating, water heating, floor care, waste disposal and ventilation equipment. Contacts for further details, interviews or comment:
[i] OnePoll. Total sample size was 2,000 adult homeowners. Fieldwork was undertaken between 30th December to 5th January 2026.The survey was carried out online. All figures quoted are from the OnePoll survey unless otherwise cited.
[ii] Home ownership .gov.uk https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/housing/owning-and-renting/home-ownership/latest/#main-facts-and-figures.
