Bathroom heater recalled after spate of fires and overheating events
Tuesday, 26 March 2024
The Serene S2068 heater is being recalled amid safety concerns.
WorkSafe banned sales and use of the heater last month.
Two other Serene heaters are also being investigated after failing to meet safety standards during testing.
A bathroom heater which has been linked to more than a dozen fires and overheating events is being recalled.
The Serene S2068 heaters were made in March 2021 and have a manufacturing defect which can cause harm to people or damage to property, the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) says.
The voluntary recall by retailers comes after WorkSafe banned the sale and use of the wall-mounted heaters last month.
“We are aware of at least 15 fires or overheating events associated with these heaters and want to encourage anyone who has these heaters to contact the retailer immediately,” MBIE business specialist Ian Caplin said.
Recalls were usually issued by manufacturers but as the maker of the heater had closed its business in New Zealand, retailers were being encouraged to voluntarily recall them.
Even if a retailer was yet to issue the recall, shoppers could reject the heater under the Consumer Guarantees Act and ask for a replacement or a refund, Caplin said.
“If the heater was wired directly into your house rather than plugged into a wall socket, you can also require the supplier to arrange for its removal by an electrician.”
WorkSafe was also investigating two other Serene bathroom heaters, models S2069 and S207T, which did not meet safety standards during recent testing.
Once those investigations were complete, MBIE could ask for further voluntary recalls.
The prohibited S2068 heater is described as:
Wall mounted fan heater with step-down thermostat with pull-cord on-off switch, for fixed-wired installation in bathrooms and similar locations
Mirror polished stainless steel metal shell or white shell with die cast grill
Dimensions: 300 mm wide, 210 mm high and 110 mm deep.