Hot water bottles are a cosy way to beat the frosty winter temperatures, but did you know that they have an expiration date?
Many are turning to the portable heaters to stay warm while cutting down on energy use and lower bills. But like anything filled with roasting hot liquid, using the rubber bottles comes with a risk and many don't realise that they only last for so long.
Hot water bottles can degrade over time and cause the rubber material they are made of to split. If older ones are filled, they pose a risk of leaking hot liquid or even bursting, which can result in a nasty scalding and painful burns.
What most people may not know is they are only usable for two years after they are manufactured. Therefore, it is good to know when to replace it before a serious accident occurs.
If you are using a hot water bottle but are unsure of how long it's been made, there is a little flower motif imprinted on it which can help you figure it out. Here's how to check the expiry date of your hot water bottle, as reported by Chronicle Live.
How to check whether your hot water bottle is out of date
There should be a daisy-like symbol engraved on the funnel of your hot water bottle. It is located on one side and will display a number in the centre indicating the year it was made.
Around the number are 12 petals, one for each month of the year and inside those petals will be some dots. The dots, which can have up to four in each petal, are to demonstrate the week of the month that it was made.
So if your hot water only has one dot in the first petal, then that shows it was made in the first week of January. If it has 13 dots in four petals, then it means the first week of April.
If your hot water bottle doesn’t have the daisy sign, then look out for the BS safety standard. The internationally recognised standard for rubber and PVC hot water bottles should read BS 1970:2012.
This standard has been updated from BS 1970:2006 and BS 1970:2011. If your hot water bottle has either of these then it is likely time for an upgrade.
People are advised to remove the covers from their hot water bottles each time they refill them, this way they can see the expiry date. This also ensures that nothing spills inside the cover risking further burns.
Previously speaking on This Morning, consumer expert Alice Beer also warned consumers to never pour boiling water into their hot water bottles. Using the scoring hot liquid can damage the seams and put users at further risk of suffering more serious burns.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond. Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
