Oil filled radiator oil?

[vespaboy]

Could anybody out there tell me if the oil from an oil filled radiator is dangerous if the heated fumes are inhaled.

I had one over-heat at home last night which caused it to split spraying the hot oil everywhere. We were only woken by the smoke alarms being activated - the house was full of vapour that we had obviously been inhaling.

Even if you know of ehich oil it is I could chase for COSHH sheets.

Thanks everybody!

[AliFlump]

Hi Vespaboy, i cant answer your question about the fumes im afraid but i would look on the manufacterers (sp) website to see if they have any info.

Also i would check to see if your rad was faulty, i have one of these in my bedroom and leave it on for quite a few hours a day, when it gets hot it turns itself off so it doesnt overheat

i would check to see if you can claim anything against the company even if its just the cleaning costs

[vespaboy]

Thanks for the reply, we have taken it up with the retailer (who is also the manufacturer). They have promised compensation.

All the family feel better now, only problem is the smell in the house is still there, must be in the fabrics (curtains etc).

The rad was definately faulty as it had split at a welded seam. Surely these must be pressure treated?

[meeshe76]

vespaboy, what was the make of your radiator that burst? I had the same happen to me a week ago - it was a Challenge brand bought from Argos.

Argos have arranged for the clean up of oil which was all over my carpet but it still smells, they have also refunded the cost of radiator...

I asked for compensation for the inconvenience caused because I'm currently sleeping in the lounge but they have no policy that offers it - which I think is appalling! Like you say - the fumes could be dangerous and it could've injured someone if they were close to it!

[vespaboy]

Meeshe76

Mine was also a Challenge make bought from Argos!I've complained to them and am awaiting a reply.

As you now know the oil smells horrible, it makes me fell sick all the time. My rad split in the middle of the night, we were only alerted by my smoke alarms activating. I have 2 young children and a small dog (the dog was actaully in the conservatory where the rad split). It is very lucky none of us were hurt.

I intend to seek thorough compensation as my house had to be evacuated, my family had to sleep at a relatives house and I had to stay in the house with the doors and windows open all night. Both my wife and I lost a days work due to cleaning up and lack of sleep.

[meeshe76]

Hi vespaboy - I knew it! When I spoke to the Argos lady to discuss rectification, she said it was possibly due to a 'bad' batch of Challenge radiators as this had happened to some others.

You're absolutely right to seek compensation - especially where you've been inconvenienced and that it could've been worse. It happened to me at 6am on a Sunday morning, luckily the radiator was at the end of the bed and my cats weren't near it!

Can you tell me who you wrote to? I looked into doing this on www.adviceguide.org.uk and it put me off a little because it seems I don't have a strong enough case, but I'm sure if they recieve several complaints something can be done, rather than just a refund of radiator and clean up of damage done. I'm still awaiting money for the damage to my bedding that couldn't be cleaned, luckily I have a spare but it's not good enough is it!

Let me know how you get on...

[vespaboy]

Meeshe76

I had to fill in a 'product safety hazard notification form' at Argos and their insurers are 'Crawford and Company'.

Their claims Manager Mr. A Collins contacted me and I've forwarded all the details to him ith a request for compensation.

You can contact him direct on 01903 302211 or [email protected]

I would suggest going through Argos though, their staff were extremely helpful to me.

I'll keep you informed. please return the favour.

[meeshe76]

Vespaboy, that's great thanks for the info. I did get a call from Crawford & Co after notifying Argos what had happened, and asked them about compensation for inconvenience, as well as just cleaning costs, he (I didn't get his name) advised that it wasn't Argos policy to do this. I will contact Argos again and see what I can find out, like you say, it's probably best to go straight to them.

Will keep you informed too.
Good luck!

[Timmerfy]

Hi all, well I was very surprised to see this as exactly the same happened to us on Friday night (I too was googling if it's toxic) so Argos must be aware that there is a problem. I have scrubbed the floor and sprayed it with 'Fabreeze' it still stinks and its quite a sickly smell.

Our challenge heater was in out 8month olds room so it could have been very serious, as it is its a case of oil dammage and the smell, our little boy was a bit freaked out by the noise but nothing serious luckilly.

We have talked to our local Argos but waiting to speak to the store manager on Monday a.m. I'll post an update when we hear more.

[meeshe76]

Timmerfy

Sorry to hear it's happened to you as well, and in your baby's room too. When it happened to me I immediately called Argos and they arranged for the carpet to be cleaned, it took a week and several phone calls before it happened (we had to sleep in the lounge in the meantime as the smell was so bad) but now the smell has gone and no oil in carpet as far as I can see. I hope they are arranging to do this with you too - Febreeze is not enough and it's a horrible smell isn't it!

In the meantime, I'm still waiting for Argos insurance company to reimburse the cost of my bedding it has ruined, and I will be getting round to writing to Argos with a complaint because of the lack of compensation offered (I did ask but it's 'not their policy') - like you say, it could've been worse and extremely dangerous!

Let me know how you get on with Argos and good luck.

[JEP]

I bought a Challenge Oil filled radiator last Sunday and by Wednesday it had leaked all over the carpet.

You are all right about the smell. It made me throw up. I have returned the radiator and I am faxing through a letter tomorrow demanding the carpet is cleaned and to ask for compensation. I'll let you know how I get on.

[meeshe76]

JEP

Sorry to hear it's happened to you as well. Did you buy it from Argos? I'm surprised they are still being sold - surely they have been taken off from sale for full investigations?!

Hope you get it sorted.

[JEP]

I did by it from Argos. When we returned it I noticed a safety notice on the wall behind the customer services desk asking for Challenge radiators of this model sold in Sept and Oct to be returned as they have found a significant number to leak. I made them give me a copy.

Argos are getting my carpet cleaned and I am being sent a form from their insurers to claim compensation.

I have asked Argos to consider withdrawing the product as there seems to be too many of us affected. Someone could get burnt or it may cause a fire.I have also e-mailed trading standards to make them aware and any other consumer organisation I can think of. It may sound a bit obsessive but I just don't want anyone else to go through what I have this last week, especially this time of year.

[checkout mum]

Hi Vespaboy, I hope you are still using this site, as I to had an oil filled radiator purchased from Argos explode. It happened in January at 11pm in my then 9 months old daughters' bedroom whilst she was asleep. The oil only just missed her by millemetres. Argos have sorted out the mess but we are battling them for compensation over the seriousness of the matter, how did you get on as we are still pushing.We have been dealing with both Alan Collins at Crawfords and Paul Downhill at Argos. They seem unable to tell us what the oil was, and so we are having to get our own analysis done.

[deggers316]

this happened to an oil rad we had it filled the bedroom with fine oil mist the thermostat had failed and for some reason the oil escaped ,had a child been in the room asleep i dread to think what would have happened before the alarm went off,i think if i remember correctly this was a challenge radiator,we did claim on the insurance for the mess it made
this was 6 years ago

[SteevieWeavy]

I do not have one of these radiators but I get extremely irritated when retailers attempt to wriggle out of their responsibilities by saying "they have no policy to cover that." Well this is where English retail law should assist. It is a legal requirement that goods are sufficiently durable, of merchantable quality and fit for the purpose to which they will be put. There are no excuses that can avoid a retailers responsibilities where these terms are not met. It is on the statute books. I could accept that an isolated incident would not necessarily constitute wilful ignorance on the part of a retailer - it appears that there are numerous incidents here and so Argos should have procedures in place to track potential issues. So quote them chapter and verse, ladies and gentlemen. If there are consequential losses arising then they must make reparation for these too - ruined carpets, deoderising your premises etc etc. I would also ask for a gesture to make it more likely that I would remain a customer. Above all - when complaining - be clear about what it is that the supplier must do to resolve your complaint. Good luck folks - don't accept these poor quality and dangerous goods.