“METEOR” Table top patio heaters recall

Published: 13.10.2009

Energy Safety (ES) has issued a public safety alert warning and taken initiatives in respect to a recall of “METEOR” table top patio heaters. The warning and recall follow the death of a couple in their Taumaranui home in July.

ES is assisting the police with the investigation into the deaths, which are believed to be accidental. Initial investigations indicate the couple died after using an outdoor table top heater which emitted carbon monoxide inside the home.

Detective Senior Sergeant Keith Borell told the media at the time of the event: "I would like to take the opportunity to raise people’s awareness of the dangers of having outdoor equipment such as gas patio heaters and gas barbecues inside the home, as it may well turn out that such equipment caused this tragedy. These products are designed for outdoor use only."

With the police, ES arranged for initial tests that revealed the heater emitted high levels of carbon monoxide. In consultation with the New Zealand retailer of the heater, ES then arranged for the heater and a number of new heaters of the same make and model to be tested by an independent laboratory. Tests by the laboratory identified a fault with the heater and a number of the new heaters. As a consequence of the findings, the retailer issued a recall notice.

ES issued a safety alert to reinforce earlier messages to the public that appliances manufactured for use outdoors must never be used indoors.