Electric Heater Testing – May 2018 only

Portable electric heaters are a major cause of house fires. Often faults are not visible, and hidden damage may exist. Only testing can verify if your heater is safe or not. Has yours got hidden faults?

For the coming month of May 2018, we will be conducting testing of

portable electric heaters
(this will include electric blankets)

This will be available for residents in the Hornsby Shire only – unless otherwise negotiated.

Why test heaters

Heating is the second most common cause of fires in homes (behind unattended cooking).

Each winter, homeowners take their heaters out of the cupboard (having not used them for nine months), plug them into the power point and wait for the heat to appear.

Burning house in NSW Rarely do homeowners check to make sure that their heaters are safe to use.

They haven’t noticed if it is in good condition, or if it has cracks in the case. They haven’t checked for visible burning on the plastic?

The plug or cord could be damaged; the cable connections could be broken; or the over temperature sensors, or tilt switch might be not be working.

They might not realise that their heater is in urgent need of repair …

… until something happens that is!

Portable electric heaters, like other appliances, should be regularly checked to verify their integrity. However heaters have an added complexity – they get hot – VERY hot.

A thorough test of your heater, is the only way in which your heater can be confirmed to be safe for use. The older the heater, the more likely that problems exist.

Damaged elements, leads and plugs, are all a source of potential fire. A buildup of dust debris, and blocked filters are another avenue where fire can occur.

Correct testing with specialised equipment is the only way to determine if your heater is operating correctly and is safe to use.

During the month of May 2018, we are offering heater tests at a reduced rate.

What will we test?

Tests will cover:

Full appliance test as per AS/NZS 3760
Including:
- - Thorough visual check for cracks/damage or burning.
  - Full verification of operation.
  - Test of all safety devices incorporated in the heater.
  - A signed and dated written report with full test results and pass/fail.
  - Basic repairs if it is possible (at a small additional cost).

How much will it cost?

There will be a minimum charge of $75 which will cover testing for the first three heaters. Each heater after this will be tested at $10 each.

What if I don’t have three heaters?

Ask me for advice! If you live near Westleigh, I might be able to work something out for you.

(Distances North of Bridge road Hornsby or Purchase road Cherrybrook will incur a small travel cost)

These tests are being offered during the month of May only, they will verify that your electrical heaters are as safe as they can be. They are being made available to home owner/occupiers only.

Landlords, agents or insurance companies will be charged at full cost.

How long will it take?

Time taken to complete each test varies, but is expected to take a maximum of 15 minutes per heater to complete. This includes time to write up the report for each appliance.

Please allow a minimum of one hour for testing of three heaters.

NSW Fire and Rescue have some advice for consumers. Here are a few links.

https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/page.php?id=9201
https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/page.php?id=956

Need more information?

If you would like more information about how we might be able to help you with your appliances, or to book an appointment, please use our contacts page, where you can email or phone us.

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