NHS GP Dr Amir Khan has issued a warning about old hot water bottles, urging people to check the manufacturing date and replace them every two to three years to avoid serious injuries.
In an Instagram post on Monday, November 2, Dr Khan highlighted the hidden safety risks of ageing hot water bottles and explained how to tell when one should no longer be used. He said: "As we enter November and the colder season and with energy costs through the roof - many of us will be reaching for our trusted hot water bottles to keep cosy warm. But do remember to check this before using yours."
How to check your bottle's age
Dr Khan, who regularly appears on ITV's Lorraine and BBC News, pointed to a small wheel embossed on most hot water bottles that indicates the month and year of manufacture. He said: "On the top of your hot water bottle is a tiny wheel. It tells you the month and year your bottle was made."
Holding up his own bottle to the camera, he explained: "So in the middle of my wheel, it has the number 23. That means it was made in 2023. And then the segments around that number are the months of the year, and they should have dots in them. Depending on how many are highlighted with dots will be the month. So my first three segments are highlighted with dots. So January, February, March. So this was made in March."
Why replacement is necessary
He stressed that rubber degrades with heat and time, so hot water bottles should be replaced every two or three years. "That's important because rubber degrades with heat and time and hot water bottles should be replaced every two or three years," he added. "Mine really should be replaced now because old bottles are much more likely to crack. They can split or they can leak boiling water onto your skin. And I promise you. Bottle burns are not cosy. They are painful."
Using old or degraded bottles significantly increases the risk of cracks, leaks, or catastrophic bursts, which can cause painful hot-water burns.
Safe usage tips
To ensure safe usage, Dr Khan advised using hot rather than boiling water, filling the bottle to only two-thirds of its capacity, and carefully expelling excess air before tightening the stopper. "So if you are using a hot water bottle, just check that date and make sure it's up to date. Use hot, not boiling water," he said. "Fill it just kind of two thirds of the way full and gently squeeze out any air. Make sure that stopper is screwed on properly, and always do kind of a leak check before you use it."
Dr Khan also warned against placing hot water bottles directly against bare skin. Prolonged direct contact can trigger erythema ab igne, a skin condition that causes a marbled or web-like rash due to chronic heat exposure. He said: "Never put the hot water bottle directly onto your skin always use a cover or a towel or something because if you put that directly onto your skin over time it can cause skin damage. There's a rash called 'erythema ab igne' that we see quite a lot. It looks like a web or a marbling over the surface of the skin and it's usually where you've had your hot water bottle over time."
