January 2, 2026 – A consumer has reported a serious incident involving a Better Homes & Gardens space heater, leading to an overheated electrical outlet, burned wiring, sparking, and electric shock. The incident escalated to a serious fire hazard, necessitating an emergency power shutdown and repairs.
Product Details
Incident Overview
On December 4, 2025, a consumer purchased a Better Homes & Gardens space heater from Walmart. According to the incident report, shortly after beginning use, the space heater caused the electrical outlet to overheat significantly. The overheating was severe enough to burn and melt both the outlet and the electrical wiring behind the wall, exposing live wires. This dangerous situation led to sparking and, disturbingly, electric shock even after the heater was unplugged. Recognizing the immediate and severe fire hazard, the consumer was forced to shut off the main power to their home and seek emergency electrical repair services. The consumer has stated they possess photo evidence of the extensive damage caused by the incident.
Safety Concerns
This incident highlights several critical safety concerns associated with the reported product:
- Immediate Dangers: The primary and most severe risks are electrical fire and electric shock. The melting of outlets and wiring, accompanied by sparking, indicates a high potential for a structural fire that could rapidly spread, endangering occupants and property. Electric shock, even after the product is unplugged, suggests a failure within the electrical system itself, which could be life-threatening.
- Long-Term Risks: Even if an immediate fire is averted, damage to household wiring can create hidden hazards. Melted insulation or compromised connections behind walls can lead to intermittent power issues, continued overheating, or future electrical fires, often without obvious warning signs until it’s too late.
- Who Might Be Affected: Anyone in the vicinity of the faulty product, including adults, children, and pets, is at risk of injury or death from fire or electric shock. Emergency responders, such as firefighters, are also put at risk when responding to such incidents.
- Property Damage Potential: The damage described, including burned outlets and wiring, signifies potential for significant property damage. In the worst-case scenario, this could lead to the complete loss of a home or extensive repair costs for electrical systems and structural components.
What Consumers Should Do
Consumers who own a Better Homes & Gardens space heater, particularly those purchased from Walmart, should take immediate precautions:
- Discontinue Use Immediately: If you own a Better Homes & Gardens space heater, especially if it exhibits any signs of overheating, unusual smells, sparking, or malfunction, cease using it immediately.
- Unplug Only if Safe: If the outlet or cord is hot or sparking, do NOT attempt to unplug it directly. If it is safe to do so, unplug the heater. If not, immediately shut off power to that circuit or the entire home at the main electrical panel.
- Inspect Your Product and Outlets: Carefully inspect your space heater for any signs of damage, melting, discoloration, or burning. Also, inspect the electrical outlets you use for space heaters for similar signs of damage.
- Prevention Measures: Always plug space heaters directly into a wall outlet; never use extension cords or power strips. Ensure the outlet is rated for the heater’s wattage. Keep space heaters away from flammable materials (curtains, furniture, bedding) and supervise their use.
- Report Incidents: If you experience a similar incident or any malfunction with a Better Homes & Gardens space heater, report it immediately to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) at SaferProducts.gov. Also, contact the manufacturer, Midea America Corporation, to report the issue.
Manufacturer’s Response
Midea America Corporation has not yet provided a response to this incident report.
Legal Help Available
If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective product or suffered property damage due to a product malfunction, you may be entitled to compensation. The experienced product liability attorneys at Farzan Law understand the complexities of defective product cases and can help you navigate the legal process.
Contact us today for a free consultation: 424-325-3112
Our legal team has successfully represented clients in product liability cases involving defective appliances, automotive defects, medical devices, and consumer products. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay unless we win your case.
Note: This information is based on incident reports provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. If you find information that is incorrect, please contact us immediately so we can correct the post to reflect accurate information.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is not intended to be legal or medical advice. This article is based on publicly available incident reports. The incidents mentioned have not necessarily been independently verified or adjudicated.