So I seem to have discovered why fans usually have a mesh over the intake (beyond trying to save peoples fingeys). My Big W heater I got doesn't have one, and because I run it as a fan most days, a lot of dust has gotten inside and all collected on the heater wire thingo. Fast forward to today when I tried to turn it on and it starts smoking (I was curious how much power it draws (bought a smart plug), not cold, before anyone asks).

And because of a combination of Big W hating repairability and not wanting to get sued cause some kid got burnt and electrocuted from touching the heating element, I can't really take the back case off to clean it out... They used a star style screw that's very deeply recessed and has uneven spacing, and appear to have melted these plastic tab things in place so I'll both fuck up the backplate and void my warranty for trying to make it not catch fire

God damn it Big W