HE Group responds to angry consumers over oil heater recall

May 15th, 2012

A number of customers affected by a faulty and potentially dangerous Dome 5 Fin Oil Heater have voiced their grievances on the Appliances Online Facebook page, where a link reporting the recall notice was posted earlier today.

The heater was officially recalled on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s dedicated recall website on 10 May 2012, prompting one affected consumer to say:

“WHY HAS IT TAKEN SO LONG TO RECALL? I reported mine early last month as it sprayed toxic fumes and oil all over my 9 month old son’s room whom could have died from the fumes due to the heater being faulty… My son cannot sleep in his room, the burnt oil smell is stuck in the floor boards and nothing removes the smell. It has cost me over $400 to accomplish no better results. The company has never returned any phone calls but Coles was happy to refund….After the 1st report they should have been removed from our shelves.”

Another customer said that their heater was purchased two weeks ago and that days after the heater sprayed oil over the room, “the whole house is toxic.”

Appliances Online has contacted the supplier, HE Group for comment. A spokesperson has said that as yet they have not heard of any case where the faulty heater has caused injury to a person, and that every complaint has been replied to.

“We are endeavoring to get everything done possible,” the spokesperson said. “All the Australian product safety guidelines are adhered to.”

Consumers can expect to see the recall notice issued in-store at Coles Supermarkets as well as advertisements in the major daily newspapers, HE Group said.

The heater is being recalled due to a potential safety hazard: units may rupture when turned on, allowing hot oil to spray out causing potential scalding and burns.

The Dome 5 Fin Oil Heater (JY-1000XLb), which is supplied by HE Group, has been distributed nationally by Coles Supermarkets from February 2012 to May 2012.

It can be identified on the base of the oil heater, with batches 111210, 111220, 111231 or 120106 having been affected.

Keri Algar

Having once had to sit on the washing machine to stop it from bouncing into oblivion, Keri is today delighted with the new (smoother running) technologies that make housework easier every day. A self-confessed lazy-bones, Keri seeks out quirky inventions that ease the human workload, such as the robotic vacuum cleaner (wow). And as soon as someone figures out a Jetsons-like self-cleaning house, she will happily lay her pen to rest and retire from appliance journalism. Until then, her pick is a fridge that will tell her smartphone when it's time to pick up more beer on the way home. Magic.