Urgent recall and advisory for Serene bathroom heaters

We are aware of potential fire risks with some models of Serene bathroom heaters. WorkSafe’s Energy Safety investigations have found model S2068 to be unsafe, and models S207T and S2069 have been found to be non-compliant with safety standards.

As of January 2025, there have been 19 reported fires associated with Serene S2068. This number could rise due to the 28,000 recalled units known to still be in New Zealand homes.

We recommend that you check the make and model of any wall-mounted bathroom heaters in your home and/or properties. If your bathroom heaters are Serene-branded models, please see our advice below.

Check your bathroom heaters immediately

The model number of your Serene bathroom heater can be found on a sticker that is placed on the top of the unit. This placement makes it difficult to see when mounted on the wall. However, you can either:

• Use a step ladder to view the sticker on the top of your bathroom heater.
• Position a mobile phone above your bathroom heater and use the phone’s camera to take an image of the sticker. Keep the image for your records.

What to do if you have these heaters

If you have a Serene bathroom heater in your home, you should take action according to the instructions under your heater’s model number below. You may need to contact the supplier of your bathroom heater.

If you have a Serene S2068 bathroom heater

Serene S2068 bathroom heaters are unsafe. Testing by WorkSafe’s Energy Safety group has found that these heaters are non-compliant with safety standards. Several fires and overheating events have resulted from the use of these heaters.

There is a compulsory recall notice in place for this product.

Serene S2068 bathroom heater

There is a significant risk of people being seriously harmed and property being damaged by fire if the heaters are turned on. If you have one of these heaters in your home:

1. Stop using the heater immediately.
2. If you purchased the heater from a supplier or business, contact them to arrange for its removal. In some cases, your supplier may arrange for an electrician to remove the heater. You can ask your supplier for a safe replacement (if available), or a refund.
   • If you are a tenant of a rental property, please discuss a course of action with your landlord.
3. If your heater is plugged into a wall socket: Switch off the power at the socket, unplug the heater, and remove the heater. You must then safely dispose of the heater and ensure that it cannot be re-used under any circumstances.
4. If you don’t know who your supplier is, and your heater is wired directly into your house: You should contact your electrician to have the heater safely removed at your expense. Do not attempt to remove the heater yourself.

Note that if you do not act on this guidance and a fire event takes place related to this heater, your home insurance may not cover any losses or damage.

You can find more information about this recall on the Product Safety New Zealand website.

Serene S2068 Bathroom Heater(external link) – Product Safety New Zealand

If you have a Serene S207T or a Serene S2069 bathroom heater

Testing by WorkSafe’s Energy Safety group has found that Serene S207T and S2069 bathroom heaters are non-compliant with safety standards. There is a low risk they may be unsafe.

Serene S207T bathroom heater

Serene S2069 bathroom heater

If you have one of these heaters in your home:

1. Monitor the continued use of your heater.
   • If you are a tenant of a rental property, please discuss this matter with your landlord so that you can decide on a course of action.
2. If you observe an unusual smell or noise from your heater, stop using it immediately and contact an electrician to inspect it. You can report this to WorkSafe for further investigation.
   Notification of a non-workplace event(external link) – WorkSafe New Zealand

If you are not comfortable with the presence of the heater, you can have it removed or replaced for your peace of mind: 

• If your heater is plugged into a wall socket: Switch off the power at the socket, unplug the heater, and remove the heater. You must then safely dispose of the heater and ensure that it cannot be re-used under any circumstances.
• If your heater is wired directly into your house: Contact your supplier or your electrician to have the heater safely removed at your expense. Do not attempt to remove the heater yourself.

Some suppliers have also undertaken a voluntary recall of these heaters. If you purchased the heater from one of these suppliers or businesses, you can contact them to seek a remedy under the Consumer Guarantees Act. In some cases, your supplier may arrange for an electrician to remove the heater. You can ask your supplier for a safe replacement (if available), or a refund.

Please see the Product Safety New Zealand website for a list of suppliers who have recalled these models.

Serene S207T Bathroom Heater(external link) – Product Safety New Zealand

Serene S2069 Bathroom Heater(external link) – Product Safety New Zealand

Identifying your supplier

If you cannot identify the supplier of your bathroom heater, there are several ways you can find this information.

If your bathroom heater was already installed when you moved into your home, you can try to contact the previous owner to check if they know who their supplier was. If you are a tenant of a rental property, your landlord may have knowledge of the supplier.

If you purchased the bathroom heater yourself but are unable to remember who your supplier was, you can check your bank records or email invoices for this information.

How to dispose of these heaters

If an electrician has removed your heater, they may take the heater with them for disposal. Otherwise, you must dispose of your heater safely.

• Cut the cord of the heater as close to its unit as possible. This will ensure that it cannot be reused or resold.
• Mark your heater as faulty using a permanent marker (writing ‘FAULTY’ in large clear lettering on the unit will suffice).

Contact your local council or transfer station to confirm where your heater can be accepted for disposal. If you intend to dispose of your heater at your local transfer station, please make sure you contact them first.

Background and historical action

It is currently estimated that about 44,000 Serene S2068 bathroom heaters were sold and installed in New Zealand between 2018 and 2023.

Following a number of fire events, WorkSafe conducted an investigation into the S2068 model and determined that it did not meet New Zealand safety standards. A prohibition notice for sale and use of the S2068 was followed by the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs issuing a compulsory recall for Serene S2068 bathroom heaters in 2024.

As of February 2025, 16,000 heaters have been returned with the assistance of electrical and plumbing businesses nationwide. However, we continue to see regular reports of residential fire events that can be linked to the 28,000 heaters still remaining in New Zealand homes.

WorkSafe also conducted similar investigations for Serene S207T and Serene S2069 Bathroom Heaters and found similar results, although at a lower level of risk.

Serene Industries, the manufacturer of these models, is no longer operating in New Zealand. As a result, suppliers and businesses have taken up the responsibility of removing or replacing these heaters in compliance with the conditions of the Consumer Guarantees Act.

Your rights around unsafe products

The Consumer Guarantees Act (CGA) guarantees that products must be of acceptable quality, which includes being safe to use. Where a product is unsafe or doesn't meet mandatory product safety requirements, you have the right to return it to the business you purchased it from for a refund, repair, or replacement.

These rights apply regardless of whether the retailer has issued a voluntary recall.

You can find more information about your rights under the CGA elsewhere on our website:

Consumer Guarantees Act

Seek further assistance with a complaint

If you’re unable to reach an agreement with a supplier, you can read more information on our website about your rights and your options to escalate the issue through the Disputes Tribunal.

Know your rights to a refund, replacement or repair

Get a final decision on a complaint

If you think your supplier has not complied with the law, you can report them to the Commerce Commission. You can report a business you think has misled you or said something that isn’t true.

The Commerce Commission doesn't act on behalf of individuals and can't investigate every complaint. But their investigations do help make sure businesses are complying with the law. 

Report a concern(external link) – Commerce Commission New Zealand

More information

More information on prohibitions relating to Serene Bathroom Heaters can be found elsewhere.

Further action on Serene bathroom heaters(external link) – WorkSafe

Electricity Regulations (Prohibition of Serene S2068) Notice (No 2) 2024(external link) – New Zealand Gazette