HOUSEHOLDS looking for popular heating gadgets that claim to cut energy bills are being warned about potential fire risks.
Dangerous plug-in heaters which are deemed unsafe are being sold by online marketplaces including Amazon, eBay and Wish, according to Which?.
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It comes as millions of households search for ways to save money after energy prices have skyrocketed.
The charity tested 10 plug-in heaters and found that non of them met the necessary UK safety standards.
The products claim to save energy, but Which? found that all products tested posed “serious harm” and were “illegal to sell in the UK”.
All of the models in Which?’s tests posed a risk of electric shock and were illegal to sell in the UK because they did not meet the Electrical Equipment Safety Regulations.
Three models from eBay and one from Amazon also presented a risk of fire.
For example, the Lesvtu Electric Portable plug-in heater, sold on Amazon, had counterfeit fuses that had been used in the plug for the heater.
They posed a risk of electric shock, fire or even explosion.
Another plug-in Wall Heater 900W, sold on eBay, was so poorly made that it poses a risk of fire or electric shock.
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Internal wires were soldered directly onto a circuit board, while another circuit board was just loose within the product.
Which? is also concerned that these dangerous products were being advertised on “dodgy” review sites that appeared as sponsored ads at the top of Google.
Rocio Concha, Which? director of policy and advocacy, said: “Our latest research has uncovered plug-in mini heaters that are illegal and could cause serious harm to consumers – showing the clear failures of online platforms to eradicate unsafe products, fake reviews and dodgy adverts, which have all contributed to promoting dangerous products that end up in people’s homes.
“The government must urgently legislate to strengthen product safety, including giving online marketplaces greater legal responsibility for unsafe products sold on their sites so that consumers are far better protected.
It comes after the charity Electrical Safety First warned households not to buy “dangerous heaters” that could cause fires.
Which products came with a fire risk?
Three products tested and purchased from eBay came with a fire risk:
- Plug In Wall Heater 500W Mini Electric Space Portable Digital Timer Ceramic Heat
- Plug In Wall Heater Portable Mini Electric Fan 900W Space Warmer with Remote UK
- 500W Plug In Wall Heater Portable Mini Electric Fan Space Warmer Quick Delivery
An eBay spokesperson said: “We take the safety of our users very seriously.
“We had already removed three of the five listings that Which? flagged to us.”
One of the items purchased on Amazon also presented with a fire risk:
- Lesvtu Electric Portable Plug in Heater-Low Energy Mini Plug in Wall Heater with Adjustable Thermostat and 12H Timer Led Display, Energy Efficient Small Ceramic Fan Heater for Office Home Room Bathroom
An Amazon spokesperson said: “Safety is a top priority at Amazon and we require all products offered in our store to comply with applicable laws and regulations.
“Two products were removed in December, including one in relation to safety concerns, and we have proactively removed similar items and introduced measures to prevent new products from going on sale.”
What should I do if I’ve bought a dangerous heater?
If you’ve bought a plug-in mini heater from an online marketplace that looks the same as one of the models found in their investigation, Which? said to stop using it immediately.
You should contact the seller and the platform to request a refund.
And if you’ve received a recall notice from any seller or platform, stop using the product immediately and follow the instructions in the email.
How do I keep myself safe when using a portable heater
The London Fire Brigade recommend households follow the following advice when using portable heaters:
- Make sure heaters are well maintained and in good working order.
- Check that your heater is not on a recall list; many fires in the past year were sparked by heaters that have been recalled.
- Never install, repair or service appliances yourself.
- Never install, repair or service appliances yourself.
- Always have your chimney swept by a specialist; at least once a year for coal, twice if burning logs.
- Supervise children and pets and use a fireguard to protect against flying sparks and hot embers.
