PEOPLE are only just releasing they are using their hot water bottle wrong.
The cheap and easy-to-use heating device is a staple in many homes over the winter months.
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But Lancashire Fire and Rescue Safety Service is now warning households to be aware of the unusual code at the neck of their hot water bottle.
The community group explained the symbol – which looks like a flower – is actually a tool to help you figure out the expiry date of the product.
A post read: “If your hot water bottle is more than two years old from the manufacturing date, it is at risk of leaking or bursting.
“Look for the ‘Flower Wheel’ or ‘Daisy Wheel’ on the funnel or neck of your hot water bottle.
“This will show you the manufacturing date.”
The news shocked many people with some completely unaware you had to replace a hot water bottle.
“I’m still using the one I had as a kid in 1984,” said one user.
While another said their hot water bottle was made in 2003.
Others chimed in with cautionary tales, with one woman sharing how she ended up in hospital from using an out-of-date water bottle.
She said: “Please anyone who has a bottle over 2 years old please please bin it.
“I was scalded by a hot water bottle only 4 weeks ago as I didn’t know they had a 2-year shelf life. “
She added:” “I am still going to the hospital twice a week for dressing changes which bloody hurt. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.”
Another woman thanked the service for sharing the warning and said she would throw her “current ones out and buy new ones”.
HOW TO CHECK YOUR HOT WATER BOTTLE
For starters, look for the number in the centre of the wheel that shows the year it was made – so if it says 20 it was made in 2020.
As for the 12 petals around the wheel, these represent the months of the year.
You might have also noticed the dots inside some of the petals, this is to indicate the weeks of that month.
For example, three dots in five petals mean the product was made in the third month of May.
If you find your hot water bottle is out of date you may want to consider replacing it for safety reasons.
A spokesperson from The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, previously told The Sun:: “Hot water bottles that are past their expiration dates should not be supplied.
“Their expiration date is generally around two years from the date of manufacture. “While there are no specific regulations for hot water bottles, general product safety legislation says that only safe goods should be placed on the market.
They added: Therefore, it is recommended that hot water bottles older than two years are not supplied to ensure consumer safety.”
WHAT ALTERNATIVES ARE THERE?
If you are not keen on using a hot water bottle then you may want to consider these alternatives.
For example, an electric blanket can help you stay warm and is cheaper than turning on the central heating.
Tesco is currently selling one by Slumberdown and it comes with three heat settings and is reduced from £24 to £17.
You could also stay warm by buying other warming gadgets, such as an electric heating pad.
Costing £34.99 on Amazon, the product keeps you warm but uses less than a tenth of the power of an electric heater.
The Sun’s Rosie Taylor recently reviewed the top heating gadgets on this market this winter, which you can check out here.
5 ways to keep your house warm in winter
Property expert Joshua Houston shared his tips.
1. Curtains
“Windows are a common place for the outside cold to get into your home, this is because of small gaps that can let in air so always close your curtains as soon as it gets dark,” he said.
This simple method gives you an extra layer of warmth as it can provide a kind of “insulation” between your window and curtain.
2. Rugs
“Your floor is another area of your home where heat can be lost and can make your home feel chilly,” he continued. “You might notice on cold days, that your floor is not nice to walk on due to it freezing your feet.
“Add rugs to areas that don’t already have a carpet, this provides a layer of insulation between your bare floor and the room above.”
3. Check your insulation
Check your pipes, loft space, crawlspaces and underneath floorboards.
“Loose-fill insulation is very good for this, and is a more affordable type of insulation, with a big bag being able to be picked up for around £30,” Joshua explained.
4. Keep your internal doors closed
“Household members often gather in one room in the evening, and this is usually either the kitchen or living room,” Joshua said.
“This means you only have to heat a small area of your home, and closing the doors keeps the heat in and the cold out.”
5. Block drafts
Don’t forget to check cat flaps, chimneys and letterboxes, as they can let in cold air if they aren’t secure.
