It’s safe to say the heater is probably one of the most popular appliances for keeping warm during winter. Actually, you’re probably sitting in front of a heater right now.
The bad news is not all heaters are created equal. In fact, after recent testing, Consumer advocacy group, CHOICE says many heaters are “plain unsafe”.
Heater warning
CHOICE’s team of experts is now warning consumers to be careful about the heater they buy and how it’s used.
“Of 15 current electric heater models we recently tested, six failed our safety tests, which is quite a terrible result we haven’t seen before,” says CHOICE heating expert Chris Barnes.
“Some of the heaters were so damaged after our safety tests that they were no longer operable – one blew a thermal fuse when we simulated knocking it over. Another became unusable after we tested how securely its power cord was attached.
“It’s a timely reminder that using heaters can be hazardous, so you need to ensure that you not only buy a safe model but that you operate it safely as well.”
How does CHOICE test heaters?
Two heaters failed what CHOICE calls the ‘towel drape test’.
“Our expert testers check that the heater doesn’t overheat and that it shuts down before the towel or the heater is damaged,” says an article on the CHOICE website.
Another three heaters failed the ‘chord anchorage’ test to see how securely the cord is attached to the heater.
Lastly, one heater failed two tests: the towel drape and the ‘knock over’ test. The test involves seeing how easily each heater can be knocked over. The heater is then placed on its side to see how long it takes for the tilt switch and thermal cut-out feature to turn the heater off.
The heaters that failed
- DeLonghi TCH8993ER ceramic tower fan heater – failed towel drape test
- Goldair GCT330 ceramic tower fan heater – failed towel drape test
- Goldair GCT270 ceramic tower fan heater – failed towel drape test and tilt stability test
- Click CPN2500 convection panel heater – failed cord anchorage test
- Noirot DM73588TWIFI convection panel heater – failed cord anchorage test
- Mill AUSG2000LED convection panel heater – failed cord anchorage test.
If you own one of the heaters named in this article, particularly one of the models that failed our cord anchorage test, they recommend you to stop using it.
Don’t plug a heater into a power board or extension cord
This news comes after parents were recently warned to never plug a heater into a powerboard.
One mum who experienced the devastating consequences of overloading a power board is now sharing her story after her daughter’s room caught on fire.
“Do not plug any heater into a power board!!!!” she told the CPR Kids.
“Do not think because you buy a quality power board it will be ok! It’s not, and wasn’t for us.”
You may also like:
9 of the best energy efficient portable heaters for colder months in Australia
The best oil heaters to brace yourself for the cooler nights ahead
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