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Recall: Fiesta to Repair Gas Grills Due to Fire, Burn Hazards

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Name of Product: Blue Ember Gas Grills
Units: About 88,000 units in the United States (47,000 gas grills were previously recalled in October 2008) and 25,000 in Canada
Importer: Fiesta Gas Grills, of Dickson, Tenn.
Manufacturers: Unisplendor Corp., of China and Keesung Corp., of China
Hazard: The hose of the gas tank can get too close to the firebox and be exposed to heat, posing a fire hazard to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: Fiesta has received 161 reports of grill fires, resulting in nine injuries, including two incidents of major burns on different parts of the body, six incidents of minor burns, and an incident involving temporary hearing loss.

Description: This recall involves Blue Ember liquid propane (LP) outdoor grills with model and serial numbers listed below. The cabinet style grill has two doors and is silver and black or silver and gray. “Blue Ember” is printed on the grill’s hood. The model and serial numbers are printed on a rating plate label on the rear of the grill.

MODEL NUMBERS SERIAL # RANGES
FG50045
FG50057
FG50069
07000003 thru 07010912 07057153 thru 07060224
07015613 thru 07018300 07062217 thru 07062344
07064221 thru 07064604
07029021 thru 07031580 07065373 thru 07065500
07032093 thru 07038876 07039261 thru 07039743 07067165 thru 07073548
07039837 thru 07039964 07074189 thru 07074316
07040221 thru 07042332 07074573 thru 07074828
07043013 thru 07043112
08K000001 thru 08K000640
07046416 thru 07046465 07049362 thru 07050897 07056257 thru 07056896 mnorman@fiestagasgrills.com or visit the company’s Web site at www.blueembergrills.com

Note: Health Canada’s press release is available at http://209.217.71.106/PR/recall-retrait-e.jsp?re_id=807

Grill Safety for the 4th and all Summer Long

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Summer, the Fourth of July and barbecue, they all come together to create happy memories. Don’t let an accident spoil your summer fun; read these tips from HPBA (Hearth, Patio, Barbecue Association) and be prepared for a great Holiday and summer.

* Read the owner’s manual.
Always read the owner’s manual before using your grill and follow specific usage, assembly, and safety procedures. Contact the grill manufacturer if you have specific questions. (Be sure to locate your model number and the manufacturer’s consumer inquiry phone number and write them on the front page of your manual.)

* Grills are for outside, only.
Barbecue grills are designed for outdoor use, only. Never barbecue in your trailer, tent, house, garage, or any enclosed area because carbon monoxide may accumulate and kill you.

* Use in well-ventilated area.
Set up your grill in an open area that is away from buildings, overhead combustible surfaces, dry leaves, or brush. Be sure to avoid high traffic areas and always barbecue in a well-ventilated area. Be aware of wind-blown sparks.

* Keep grill stable.
When using a barbecue grill, be sure that all parts of the unit are firmly in place and that the grill is stable (can’t be tipped over).

* Follow electric codes.
If electrically-operated accessories are used (rotisseries, etc.), be sure they are properly grounded in accordance with local codes. Electrical cords should be placed away from walkways or anywhere people can trip over them.

* Use long-handled utensils.
Use barbecue utensils with long handles (forks, tongs, etc.) to avoid burns and splatters.

* Wear safe clothing.
Wear clothing that does not have hanging shirt tails, frills, or apron strings that can catch fire, and use flame-retardant mitts when adjusting hot vents.

* Keep fire under control.
To put out flare-ups, either raise the grid that the food is on, spread the coals out evenly, or adjust the controls to lower the temperature. If you must douse the flames with a light spritz of water, first remove the food from the grill.

* Be ready to extinguish flames.
Use baking soda to control a grease fire and have a fire extinguisher handy. A bucket of sand or a garden hose should be near if you don’t have a commercial extinguisher.

* Consider placing a grill pad or splatter mat beneath your grill.
These naturally heat resistant pads are usually made of lightweight composite cement or plastic and will protect your deck or patio from any grease that misses the drip pan.

* Never leave a grill unattended once lit.

* Stay away from hot grill.
Don’t allow anyone to conduct activity near the grill when in use or immediately following its use. The grill body remains hot up to an hour after being used.

* Don’t move a hot grill.
Never attempt to move a hot grill. It’s easy to stumble or drop it and serious burns could result.

Recall:Black & Decker Spacemaker Coffeemakers Due to Burn Hazard

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Name of Product: Black & Decker® brand Spacemaker™ Coffeemakers

Units: About 584,000

Distributor: Applica Consumer Products Inc., of Miramar, Fla.

Hazard: The brew basket can shift out of alignment allowing hot water to overflow. This poses a scalding and burn hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received 235 reports of hot water overflowing and contacting consumers, including 10 reports of second-degree burns.

Description: The recalled product is the Black & Decker-branded Spacemaker™ coffeemaker. The product has an under-cabinet mount, programmable digital clock/timer, removable water reservoir, and either a 12-cup glass carafe or an 8-cup thermal carafe. Only model numbers ODC440, ODC440B, ODC450 and ODC460 are included in the recall. The model number can be located on the back of the coffeemaker.

Sold at: Major retailers nationwide, including K-Mart, Kohl’s, Target, Wal-Mart, Bed, Bath & Beyond, and Amazon.com, from March 2006 through March 2009 for between $60 and $70.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled coffeemaker immediately and contact Applica for a free replacement brew basket.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Applica toll-free at (866) 668-4442 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.acprecall.com

CPSC is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell them about it by visiting https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx

Recall: Viking Range Corporation Built-In Refrigerators Due to Injury Hazard; Doors Can Detach

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Name of Product: Viking Built-In Side-by-Side Refrigerator/Freezers and Refrigerators with Bottom Freezers

Units: About 45,000

Manufacturer: Viking Range Corporation, of Greenwood, Miss.

Hazard: The refrigerator’s doors can detach, posing an injury hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: Viking has received about 57 reports of doors detaching, including four reports of injuries involving bruises, broken toes/fingers, and strains. Also, several incidents of minor damage to floors and counters have been reported.

Description: This recall involves Viking built-in 48-inch wide side-by-side refrigerator/freezers and the built-in 36-inch wide refrigerators with bottom freezers with model and serial numbers with date codes listed below. The refrigerators come in stainless steel and various colors and wood finishes and are built into the kitchen cabinetry. “Viking” is written on the front of the refrigerator. The model and serial numbers are located either behind the produce drawer or on the ceiling of the interior of the refrigerators. The 42-inch wide or freestanding refrigerators are not included in this recall.

Model Numbers Starting With Date Codes
VCSB481, VCSB482, DDSB482, DFSB482
DTSB482, DDBB362, VCBB360, VCBB362
DFBB362, DTBB362, DTBB363 All units
VCSB483, DDSB483, DFSB483, DTSB483 Date codes before 030104
VCSB483D, DDSB483D, DFSB483D Date codes before 030105
VCBB363 Date codes before 102005
DDBB363 Date codes before 112305
DFBB363 Date codes before 041006

The first six numbers in the serial number are the manufacture date of the unit in [mm][dd][yy] format, e.g., serial number 051903G0000000375 was manufactured on May 19, 2003 and serial number F01250210170 was manufactured on January 25, 2002.

Sold by: Appliance and specialty retailers nationwide from July 1999 through April 2006 for between $4,725 and $6,400.

Manufactured in: United States

Remedy: Consumers with recalled refrigerators should contact Viking immediately to schedule a free in-home repair. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled refrigerator if the door isn’t sealing properly, is sagging, or fails to open and close properly. If the door is functioning properly, consumers may continue to use the refrigerator until it has been repaired.

Consumer Contact: For more information, contact Viking toll-free at (888) 345-2650 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit Viking’s Web site at www.vikingrange.com

Recall: Starbucks Barista Blade Coffee Grinders Made by Tsann Kuen

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Name of Product: Starbucks Barista® Blade Grinders and Seattle’s Best Coffee® Blade Grinders

Units: About 530,000

Importer: Starbucks Coffee Co., of Seattle, Wash.

Manufacturer: Tsann Kuen (Zhangzhou) Enterprise Co. Ltd. (“TKL”), of China

Hazard: The grinder can fail to turn off or can turn on unexpectedly, posing a laceration hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received 176 reports of grinders that failed to turn off or that turned on unexpectedly, including three reports of hand lacerations that occurred when the grinders turned on unexpectedly during cleaning.

Description: This recall includes the Starbucks Barista® Blade Grinders and Seattle’s Best Coffee® Blade Grinders with the following colors and SKU numbers:

Brand Color SKU #
Starbucks Barista® Blade Grinder Stainless Steel 171884
Starbucks Barista® Blade Grinder Green 195234
Starbucks Barista® Blade Grinder Pink 195235
Starbucks Barista® Blade Grinder Orange 220623
Starbucks Barista® Blade Grinder Teal 220624
Starbucks Barista® Blade Grinder Cranberry 242275
Starbucks Barista® Blade Grinder Olive 344476
Starbucks Barista® Blade Grinder Black 454482
Seattle’s Best Coffee® Blade Grinder Brown Metallic 474881

Sold at: Starbucks and Seattle’s Best Coffee stores nationwide from March 2002 through March 2009 for about $30.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the coffee grinders and contact Starbucks to receive a free replacement grinder.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Starbucks toll free at (866) 276-2950 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. MT or visit the company’s Web site at www.starbucks.com

Recall: Wagner Spray Tech Paint Sprayers Due to Electrical Shock Hazard

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Name of Product: Wagner Paint Sprayers

Units: About 35,000

Importer: Wagner Spray Tech Corp., of Plymouth, Minn.

Hazard: The on-off switch can be dislodged from the casing, resulting in exposure of electrical connections. This can pose an electrical shock hazard to the consumer.

Incidents/Injuries: There have been no reported incidents or injuries.

Description: This recall includes the Wagner Control Spray Plus Model 0414248. This model number can be found on a white label located on the side of the motor housing. The following date codes are affected by this recall and can be found stamped on the bottom of the motor housing near the air hose connection:

Model Number Manufactured Date Code
Control Spray Plus 0414248 Y182R thru Y365R
Z001R thru Z366R
A001R thru A021R

Sold by: Major chain home centers and hardware stores nationwide from August 2007 through April 2009 for about $99.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately unplug and stop using the sprayers, and contact Wagner for a free repair.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, please contact Wagner toll-free at (888) 925-6244 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s web site at www.wagnerspraytech.com

70’s Appliances – Do You Remember Harvest Gold?

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Today stainless is still popular in kitchen remodeling, but it is slowly losing its standing to oiled bronze. Thirty years from now we will all look back at these kitchens and fondly remember them the same way we are chuckling at the kitchens of the 1970’s.

Although my mother chose the ever-so-popular Avocado Green appliances, another favorite of the era was Harvest Gold. This ad not only shows the wonder of the modern dishwasher, but also how important it was to dress appropriately for the job. Especially since this was one of the new portable dishwashers that she would be pushing around the kitchen.

Notice the stylish brown tinted glassware? My parents had something similar that I thought was the height of elegance.

Is Your Air Cleaner Cleaning the Air?

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The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) is the trade association representing manufacturers of major, portable, and floor care appliances and suppliers to the industry. Included in AHAM membership are manufacturers of portable room air cleaners. AHAM is a standards development organization for numerous technical, performance based standards for home appliances. AHAM also administers third party appliance rating verification programs which are available to members and non-members alike.
Portable Room Air Cleaner Performance Standard
In the early 1980s, AHAM developed an objective and repeatable performance test method for measuring the ability of portable household electric room air cleaners to reduce particulate matter from a specific size room. The standard, ANSI/AHAM AC-1-2006, Method for Measuring the Performance of Portable Household Electric Room Air Cleaners, is designed to evaluate portable household electric room air cleaners regardless of the particle removal technology utilized. The resulting performance metric in the standard is called the Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR). CADR is a measure of the appliance’s ability to reduce smoke, dust, and pollen particles in the 0.10 to 11 micron (ìm) size range from the air. In ANSI/AHAM AC-1-2006, CADR is defined as “the rate of contaminant reduction in the test chamber when the unit is turned on, minus the rate of natural decay when the unit is not running, multiplied by the volume of the test chamber as measured in cubic feet.”

Comparing CADR Performance
The terms “CADR” and “Clean Air Delivery Rate” are general terms used to make performance claims for many types of products other than portable room air cleaners. CADR values for other products may not have been calculated in accordance with the AC-1 definition of CADR.

Since its original development in the early 1980s, the ANSI/AHAM AC-1 test method has increasingly become the credible industry standard for evaluating portable room air cleaner particle removal performance. In 1989, the FTC confirmed that ANSI/AHAM AC-1 was a reasonable basis for measuring the degrees of reduction of airborne solid p 2 particulate matter from household rooms.

What is Not Covered by ANSI/AHAM AC-1?
Research efforts and experimental tests that have been conducted to develop the method have included only portable devices that are normally placed in a room during operation. One of the key principles of the test is that particles are not to be forced through the product – rather, the product is being tested as it is used – it is placed on a table or on the floor in the chamber in order to allow the unit’s own design and air flow patterns to dictate how many particles go into the unit. In addition, other portable room air cleaner performance characteristics such as the ability of the air cleaner to reduce gases, odors or microbiological components, or the sound and ozone emissions levels of the product are outside the scope of ANSI/AHAM AC-1-2006.

Industry Certification Program (www.cadr.org)
Since 1985, AHAM has administered a portable room air cleaner certification program based on the ANSI/AHAM AC-1standard whereby AHAM, acting as third party using an independent testing laboratory, will verify product ratings certified by program participants.

The seal provides the consumer with a simple tool to compare the performance of room air cleaners, making the purchasing decision easier. It includes the participant’s certified CADR rates for tobacco smoke, dust and pollen, and a suggested room size that is based on the tobacco smoke CADR results. Using the CADR rating seal, consumers can comparison shop, selecting the unit the meets their room size and performance needs. By knowing the size of their room, consumers can choose an effective air cleaner. Portable air cleaner models included in the program are independently tested on a periodic on-going basis to ensure that the units meet the claimed ratings. The models to be tested are randomly selected and are obtained from either the participant’s warehouse or the open market. Units that do not successfully pass the on-going verification process must be re-rated or withdrawn from the market.

Recall: Hair Dryers by Universalink International Trading Due to Electrocution Hazard

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Name of Product: Special and Narita Hair Dryers

Units: About 3,000

Importer: Universalink International Trading Inc., of La Puente, Calif.

Hazard: The hair dryers are not equipped with an immersion protection device to prevent electrocution if the hair dryer falls into water. Immersion protection devices, which prevent electrocution, are required by industry standards for all electric hand-held hair dryers.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves Special (model EX-1800) and Narita (model TE-263) hair dryers. “Special” or “Narita” and the model number are printed on the dryer. The “Special” hair dryers are brown and the “Narita” hair dryers are white and black and fold up.

Sold at: Various retail stores in California from June 2003 through October 2008 for about $15.

Manufactured in: Taiwan

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the hair dryers and return them to the store where purchased for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Universalink International Trading toll-free at (866) 997-6768 between 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or email the firm at sales@naritausa.com

Recall: HMI Industries Floor Cleaners Due to Burn Hazard

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Name of Product: “Majestic 360” Floor Cleaners

Units: About 44,000

Manufacturer: HMI Industries Inc., of Strongsville, Ohio

Hazard: The recalled cleaners’ wiring can overheat, causing electrical arcing and melting. This poses a burn hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: HMI has received 40 reports of overheating and damage to carpets. No injuries have been reported.

Description: The recalled floor cleaner is a black-colored, canister-style vacuum with a powered floor tool. The words “Majestic 360” and “FILTERQUEEN” are printed on a label located on the unit.

Sold through: Independent distributors nationwide from September 2004 through August 2006 for about $1800.

Manufactured in: United States

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled floor cleaners immediately and contact the firm to arrange for a free repair at an authorized repair center.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact HMI Industries at (800) 566-5606 between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.Filterqueen.com