Hot water bottle failure

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Awrrr
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#3268549 6-Aug-2024 10:46

If hot water bottles are so dangerous, why aren't they plastered with warning labels in this risk-averse country? Even better, just ban them. How hot is too hot? How do you measure it? How full is too full? Why are materials that deteriorate over time allowed at all? How long is too long?

Maybe I will go ride a bicycle without a helmet. Just to tempt fate.

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spid

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#3268557 6-Aug-2024 11:02

I went through the same when the kids were young. Fashy hot water bottles are made in Germany and are more of a plastic than rubber. I think they are available at life/unichem pharmacies. They are a bit more expensive but are still fine a few years later.

Rikkitic

Awrrr
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#3268583 6-Aug-2024 11:52

Since I started this thread I have learned a lot more about the issue. Here are links to a Herald article on it. Annoyingly, it is not dated but it appears to be current.

https://archive.ph/W8xaR

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/burst-hotties-prove-a-hot-safety-issue/KDCQO5555SZKZXQINOUYP2P2SA/

According to this, what happened to me is not unusual and there may even be an investigation. Thanks to the helpful tips people have provided here, I now know that Fashy is the (non-Chinese!) brand I should look for. I have done some reading on it and it does seem to be better materials and construction than the others. They are available locally and I will get one on my next trip into town. Thanks to everyone who has contributed here. Hopefully I can sleep warm and snug again soon without fear of another superheated explosion.

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neb

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#3268594 6-Aug-2024 12:26

A peripheral question, but why are people still using something only one step removed from medieval coal-heated bedpans? We've had this thing called electricity for over a century now that evenly heats your entire bed from head to foot, foot being a very useful part to have heated, rather than an excessively hot sloshy thing that becomes a cold sloshy thing over time. Given the choice between absolutely nothing and a hot water bottle I'd take the hot water bottle, but it'd be a last resort.

Rikkitic

Awrrr
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#3268599 6-Aug-2024 12:35

neb:

A peripheral question, but why are people still using something only one step removed from medieval coal-heated bedpans? We've had this thing called electricity for over a century now that evenly heats your entire bed from head to foot, foot being a very useful part to have heated, rather than an excessively hot sloshy thing that becomes a cold sloshy thing over time. Given the choice between absolutely nothing and a hot water bottle I'd take the hot water bottle, but it'd be a last resort.

I have used both and I much prefer the hot water bottle. There are good reasons for this. One is that with electricity I have to heat the whole bed just to keep my feet warm. A hot water bottle lets me direct the heat to wherever it is needed without overheating everything else. This is just one example. There are others.

Sometimes the old way endures because it is the best way.

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alasta

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#3268613 6-Aug-2024 13:22

neb:

A peripheral question, but why are people still using something only one step removed from medieval coal-heated bedpans? We've had this thing called electricity for over a century now that evenly heats your entire bed from head to foot, foot being a very useful part to have heated, rather than an excessively hot sloshy thing that becomes a cold sloshy thing over time. Given the choice between absolutely nothing and a hot water bottle I'd take the hot water bottle, but it'd be a last resort.

I don't need to have my bed heated. I use a hot water bottle to heat my feet when I am in the office.

I don't know why but my feet get freezing cold here, and I think it's a combination of the office heating coming from ceiling ducts, and my low resting heart rate affecting my circulation.

Eva888

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#3268629 6-Aug-2024 14:22

alasta:

neb:

A peripheral question, but why are people still using something only one step removed from medieval coal-heated bedpans? We've had this thing called electricity for over a century now that evenly heats your entire bed from head to foot, foot being a very useful part to have heated, rather than an excessively hot sloshy thing that becomes a cold sloshy thing over time. Given the choice between absolutely nothing and a hot water bottle I'd take the hot water bottle, but it'd be a last resort.

I don't need to have my bed heated. I use a hot water bottle to heat my feet when I am in the office.

I don't know why but my feet get freezing cold here, and I think it's a combination of the office heating coming from ceiling ducts, and my low resting heart rate affecting my circulation.

Buy some home socks from The Warehouse, the thick ones made of polyester. Wear them in boots. Guaranteed to warm the coldest feet.

mattwnz

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#3268640 6-Aug-2024 14:53

neb:

A peripheral question, but why are people still using something only one step removed from medieval coal-heated bedpans? We've had this thing called electricity for over a century now that evenly heats your entire bed from head to foot, foot being a very useful part to have heated, rather than an excessively hot sloshy thing that becomes a cold sloshy thing over time. Given the choice between absolutely nothing and a hot water bottle I'd take the hot water bottle, but it'd be a last resort.

Cost and uses less energy. Especially as electricity in NZ has become so expensive

mattwnz

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#3268641 6-Aug-2024 14:55

Rikkitic:

If hot water bottles are so dangerous, why aren't they plastered with warning labels in this risk-averse country? Even better, just ban them. How hot is too hot? How do you measure it? How full is too full? Why are materials that deteriorate over time allowed at all? How long is too long?

Maybe I will go ride a bicycle without a helmet. Just to tempt fate.

The one I had had a warning that said don't use boiling water. But banning them will cause more problems than it solves. Many people only use them with warm water, so if they leak it isn't going to burn them. I haven't heard of anyone being burned by hot water bottles in the media, and there are bigger problems in NZ

johno1234

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#3268709 6-Aug-2024 16:34

Rikkitic:

I have used both and I much prefer the hot water bottle. There are good reasons for this. One is that with electricity I have to heat the whole bed just to keep my feet warm. A hot water bottle lets me direct the heat to wherever it is needed without overheating everything else. This is just one example. There are others.

But it is cheaper to heat the bed with an electric blanket even of you only put your feet on that part of the bed if you set the blanket to one side.

Other option is an electric throw rug such as: https://www.kmart.co.nz/product/heated-throw-green-and-cream-43325467/

It is personal preference, of course, but I agree with Neb. It seems to me that an electric blanket is simple, convenient, runs for whatever period you wish, can be automated, always dry and energy efficient but a hot water bottle is less convenient, can only heat a small area, has potential to leak, gets cold over time, and positively Victorian in technology and energy efficiency.

johno1234

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#3268710 6-Aug-2024 16:36

alasta:

neb:

A peripheral question, but why are people still using something only one step removed from medieval coal-heated bedpans? We've had this thing called electricity for over a century now that evenly heats your entire bed from head to foot, foot being a very useful part to have heated, rather than an excessively hot sloshy thing that becomes a cold sloshy thing over time. Given the choice between absolutely nothing and a hot water bottle I'd take the hot water bottle, but it'd be a last resort.

I don't need to have my bed heated. I use a hot water bottle to heat my feet when I am in the office.

I don't know why but my feet get freezing cold here, and I think it's a combination of the office heating coming from ceiling ducts, and my low resting heart rate affecting my circulation.

Cold extremities is a common affliction and the floor tends to be the coldest area. I love my Ugg boots.

johno1234

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#3268712 6-Aug-2024 16:37

mattwnz:

neb:

A peripheral question, but why are people still using something only one step removed from medieval coal-heated bedpans? We've had this thing called electricity for over a century now that evenly heats your entire bed from head to foot, foot being a very useful part to have heated, rather than an excessively hot sloshy thing that becomes a cold sloshy thing over time. Given the choice between absolutely nothing and a hot water bottle I'd take the hot water bottle, but it'd be a last resort.

Cost and uses less energy. Especially as electricity in NZ has become so expensive

By my reckoning (subject to assumptions and calcs earlier in this thread) an electric blanket uses less energy than a hot water bottle.

Rikkitic

Awrrr
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#3268714 6-Aug-2024 16:47

mattwnz:

The one I had had a warning that said don't use boiling water. But banning them will cause more problems than it solves. Many people only use them with warm water, so if they leak it isn't going to burn them. I haven't heard of anyone being burned by hot water bottles in the media, and there are bigger problems in NZ

Did you not see the link I posted above? According to that there is an epidemic of people being burned by hot water bottles.

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Rikkitic

Awrrr
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#3268715 6-Aug-2024 16:49

johno1234:

But it is cheaper to heat the bed with an electric blanket even of you only put your feet on that part of the bed if you set the blanket to one side.

Where did I mention cost as an issue? For me it is comfort all the way. Hot water bottles are better in every way that matters.

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ezbee

2335 posts

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#3268767 6-Aug-2024 17:12

Maybe you got one of Paramount's products, that only got a cursory, looks?

From Commerce Commission Y2021.
https://comcom.govt.nz/news-and-media/media-releases/2021/companies-in-hot-water-for-selling-unsafe-hot-water-bottles-and-toys

Paramount imports that supplied leading retailers and supermarkets.
""
The Judge accepted the Commission’s submission that had Paramount carried out brief visual inspection of the hot water bottles, the multiple compliance failures would have been evident, and noted that “Paramount is a sufficiently large enough business to have a robust compliance scheme”.
""

Its a real pity that there appears to be no/little consumer testing/report on Hot Water Bottles.
To guide consumers on best brands that assure quality.

Given it seems a relatively easy product examine and test, no fancy electronics.
Probably some simple tests of burst pressure, tear resistance, material qualities under heat.

Oh there is a report unsafe product form, if it has identifiable brand marking and you sill have details.
Report an unsafe product – Product Safety New Zealand

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