Households who are investing in portable heaters as a way to combat the current cost of living crisis are being warned over certain models that have been deemed "dangerous" by experts.
New research conducted by consumer website Which? found that multiple unsafe devices are being sold on well-known online marketplaces including Amazon and Ebay. The watchdog tested out different appliances and all failed to meet UK safety standards, with some even posing shock, fire and even explosion risks.
Findings also show that certain plug-in heaters have been boosted by fake reviews on Amazon. In addition, identical models have been promoted on "suspicious looking sites" advertised on social media, including Facebook and YouTube.
Customers are being urged to examine the features of a device before buying, especially online. Those looking to make a purchase should read descriptions carefully to see if safety features like trip switches, temperature timers and to make sure they meet the proper standards.
The organisation tested ten mini-heaters, some costing as little as £12 and of them failed safety tests, with four products - three sold on eBay and one on Amazon - presenting a fire risk. All models were found to poses a risk of electric shock and were illegal to sell in the UK because they did not meet the Electrical Equipment Safety Regulations.
In the testing of a Plug in Wall Heater 500W, sold by a third-party seller on eBay, the plastic surround holding the heating element in place melted. The heating element had slipped down, creating another melted area, and was against the outer grill meaning touching the heater could result in electric shock or burns and Leaving it running could pose a fire risk.
A Lesvtu Electric Portable Plug in Heater, sold on Amazon, had counterfeit fuses that had been used in the plug for the heater, posing a risk of electric shock, fire or even an explosion. Another Plug In Wall Heater 900W, sold on eBay, was so poorly made that it poses a risk of fire or electric shock.
It is also recommended that shoppers don't rely on customer reviews when deciding what to buy, as experts detected activity of fake reviews on these unsafe products. A tactic known as product merging sees sellers boost the number of reviews on a listing by using positive reviews for other products to up their own star rating, manipulating shoppers into buying items.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - sign up to our daily newsletter here .
