Hot water bottles

[Bert]

I just bought a new hot water bottle (for my wife - she feels the cold more than I do). On the bag it says "Do not fill [with] water from the domestic hot water system as this can prematurely degrade the product". I contacted the firm that supplied the bottle to ask why. They said it was a requirement of the British Standard, suggesting that it was because the water might be almost boiling (which is not recommended) and that there may be additives present. Both these ideas seem like nonsense to me. Nobody would have hot water at near boiling and there are no additives in the hot water system. Does anybody know any more than I do about it?

[Naomicorlett]

Rubbish innit !!! I either fill mine from hot water tap or use boiling water from kettle and wrap hottie up to prevent it burning me. Elf n safety gorne mad.

[Clanad]

... But, if the warning wasn't in place, you can be assured that an enterprising barrister will surely find a way to sue a company on the behalf of some poor soul that insists they were harmed by such action... at least here in the U.S.
The companies that produce products spend thousands, if not millions of dollars on insurance premiums to protect against frivolous law suits

[CrazyCathy]

They used just to get away with

"Do not use boiling water " embossed (if that is the right word) on them near the top

I've got a next one with a heart on it's cover

[heathfield]

Did you ask them what to fill the water bottle with? Domestic tap water will have chlorine in it, and possibly flourine. Whether you fill from the hot tap, or heat a kettlefull from the cold tap, it will make no difference, they'll still be there. What are you supposed to use? Bottled water?

[Teddio]

Water from the hot tap is seldom hotter than 65 Celsius and contains no obvious corrosive substances. It's fine to use in a hot water bottle.

[theprof]

Whilst I appreciate the remarks made by heathfield and Teddio about this, I'm afraid that the manufacturers warnings do indeed have some foundation. Have a look at the following link notably section 8.7.3 and 8.7.4 where this is discussed.

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=7dAtCLDthak C&pg=PA29&lpg=PA29&dq=rubber+hot+water+bottles +corrosion&source=web&ots=jllUPn_2Xl&sig=rngNQ KztoEs5Wo-9_ZoJZTBat4k&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_resu lt&resnum=10&ct=result

I first read about this years ago in a scientific journal. I've been racking my brains without success trying to remember which journal I saw the article in. I'll probably remember in a day or two. If I remember rightly, they not only pointed out in the journal the rubber degradation from the copper in the hot water tank but asbestos was implicated as well, traces of which were sometimes found in the rising main water.

[theprof]

Whilst I appreciate the remarks made by heathfield and Teddio about this, I'm afraid that the manufacturers warnings do indeed have some foundation. Have a look at the following link notably section 8.7.3 and 8.7.4 where this is discussed.

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=7dAtCLDthak C&pg=PA29&lpg=PA29&dq=rubber+hot+water+bottles +corrosion&source=web&ots=jllUPn_2Xl&sig=rngNQ KztoEs5Wo-9_ZoJZTBat4k&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_resu lt&resnum=10&ct=result

I first read about this years ago in a scientific journal. I've been racking my brains without success trying to remember which journal I saw the article in. I'll probably remember in a day or two. If I remember rightly, they not only pointed out in the journal the rubber degradation from the copper in the hot water tank but asbestos was implicated as well, traces of which were sometimes found in the rising main water.

it's really nothing to do with additives. It's all because the hot water is stored in a copper tank, causing a vast increase in the natural copper content of the water.

[theprof]

Sorry about the double post. AB's on the blink once again!

[theprof]

Incidentally, chlorine content of water can be dramatically reduced by boiling it or leaving it stand in open air.

Boiling is pretty ineffective in reducing fluorine in water.

[theprof]

The obvious answer to this is to do what the elderly have done for years i.e. boil tap water in a kettle, leave it cool slightly and the fill the hot water bottle.

This way, the copper content of the boiled tap water is negligible allowing the hot water bottle to last for years.

Now and again I'm astonished about how sensible the behavior of the elderly was years ago, often without a seemingly scientific basis. If this isn't one such example, I don't know what is.

[theprof]

Oops, try "then fill the hot water bottle".

[Bert]

That's very interesting, prof. It looks as though it's the copper that is the problem - not an additive but an additional contaminant of the water.

[fredpuli47]

Ruddy scientists ! A manufacturer is now 'on notice' of the risk. LOL Up to then the worst consequence would be a claim that the goods were not of merchantable quality or fit for use and the vendor or maker would simply replace the 'defective' goods or reimburse with the cost.That claim, in this case, would not be likely to succeed if it went to court (because the goods would not, prima facie, fail for a very long time) but, of course, that wouldn't happen in practice.Now the maker is on notice, the claimant could seek damages for injury consequent upon the bottle bursting.It is now reasonably forseeable that the bottle could burst. Before this discovery, that argument would fail.

Anyway, it looks as though the British Standard has been revised.

Clanad, please leave barristers out of it. The trouble is from solicitors LOL