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Recall: Honeywell Electric Baseboard and Fan Heater Thermostats Due to Burn Hazard

July 28, 2011 By 1 Comment

Name of Product: Electric Baseboard and Fan Heater Thermostats

Units: About 77,000

Importer: Honeywell International Inc., of Morris Township, N.J.

Hazard: The thermostats can overheat, causing them to melt and smoke. This poses a burn hazard to the consumer.

Incidents/Injuries: Honeywell has received 16 reports of thermostats melting. There have been no reports of injuries.

Description: The recalled thermostats are rectangular, white, programmable thermostats used to control electric baseboard and fan heaters. “Honeywell” or “Cadet” is printed on the front of the thermostats that come in various sizes. The model number and four-digit date code are printed on a label inside the front cover of the thermostat. The model numbers listed below are included in this recall. Only models with date codes beginning with 00, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05 or 06 are included.

Brand Name/ Model Number
Honeywell/ CT1950A1003
Honeywell/ CT1950B1002
Honeywell/ CT1957A1008
CADET/ T4700B1030
CADET/ T4700A1040
Honeywell/ T4700B1014
Honeywell/ T4700A1016

Sold at: Home improvement stores, HVAC and electrical stores, and contractors from January 2000 to December 2007 for between $80 and $300.

Manufactured in: Singapore

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled thermostats by setting the thermostats to 45 degrees or turning them off. Only models with a “B” in the model number have an off switch. Consumers should contact Honeywell for a free replacement installed by Honeywell.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Honeywell toll-free at (888) 235-7363 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT. Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s website at http://www.yourhome.honeywell.com/T4700

Filed Under: Features, Heating and Cooling, Household, News, Recalls, Safety Tagged With: , , , , ,

Recall – Again: Additional Retail Sales Prompt CPSC and Meijer to Reannounce Touch Point Heater Recall; Fire Hazard Posed

July 18, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Name of Product: Touch Point Oscillating Ceramic Heaters

Units: About 13,000 units (6,700 originally recalled in November 2010)

Importer: Meijer Inc., of Grand Rapids, Mich.

Hazard: The oscillating mechanism in the heaters can short out, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: Meijer has received two reports of incidents involving fires that resulted in property damage. No injuries have been reported.

Description: This announcement involves previously recalled Touch Point oscillating ceramic heaters with model number PTC-902. The grey/silver color heaters are about 10-inches tall, have a black screen across the front and controls on the top. The model number and UPC code 7-60236-58339 are printed on a metal label/plate on the bottom of the heater. Some models have an additional digit in the UPC code, making it a 12-digit code. In addition, some heaters will have a UPC code 7-13733-29222 sticker on the bottom of the packaging box.

Sold at: Meijer stores in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio from October 2009 through April 2011 for about $25. Discount retailers, dollar stores, flea markets and retail liquidators nationwide sold the heaters from November 2010 through April 2011 for various prices. The heaters were sold after the original recall was announced in November 2010.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled heaters and return them to the nearest Meijer retail store for a full refund of the purchase price. Consumers who purchased heaters from other retailers should contact Meijer to arrange a refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Meijer at (800) 927-8699 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s website at www.meijer.com

Filed Under: Features, Heating and Cooling, Household, News, Recalls, Safety, Small Appliances Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Viking Range Corporation Agrees to $450,000 Civil Penalty for Failing to Report Defective Refrigerators

July 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that Viking Range Corporation, of Greenwood, Miss., has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $450,000. The penalty agreement has been provisionally accepted by the Commission.

The settlement resolves CPSC staff allegations that Viking Range Corporation was aware for years of a defect involving its refrigerator door hinge support mechanisms that resulted in incidents and injuries to consumers; yet the firm failed to report immediately to CPSC as required by federal law. Viking reported the safety defect to the Commission in April 2009, and the firm agreed to a recall in June 2009. Subsequent investigation conducted by CPSC staff uncovered that by that time the firm was aware of at least 10 reports of injuries involving Viking refrigerator hinge failures going back over several years.

CPSC and Viking Range Corporation announced a recall of more than 45,000 Viking refrigerators in June 2009. The hazard identified with the refrigerators is that refrigerator hinges and hardware that attach the doors to the refrigerator box can loosen, sag and detach, posing an impact injury hazard to consumers if the door detaches. Viking sold the refrigerators through appliance and specialty retailers from July 1999 through April 2006.

Federal law requires manufacturers, distributors and retailers to report to CPSC within 24 hours after obtaining information reasonably supporting the conclusion that a product contains a defect which could create a substantial product hazard, creates an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death, or fails to comply with any consumer product safety rule or any other rule, regulation, standard or ban enforced by CPSC.

In agreeing to the settlement, Viking Range Corporation denies CPSC staff allegations as to the existence of a defect or hazard or that it violated the law.

Filed Under: Features, Kitchen, News, Recalls, Refrigerators and Freezers, Safety Tagged With: , , ,

Recall: Hamilton Beach Toasters Due to Fire Hazard

July 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Name of Product: Hamilton Beach® classic chrome 2-slice toasters

Units: About 300,000

Importer: Hamilton Beach Brands Inc., of Glen Allen, Va.

Hazard: The heating element in these toasters can remain energized indefinitely when an item is placed in the toaster which may ignite the contents, posing a fire hazard if the toaster is near flammable items.

Incidents/Injuries: Hamilton Beach has received 15 reports of toasters that did not pop-up as intended, including three reports of minor damage to kitchen cabinets. There were no reports of injuries.

Description: The Hamilton Beach recall involves model 22600 toasters with specific series codes. These series codes begin with the letters C or D, and have the format of CXXXXBI or DXXXXBI, where XXXX is a four-digit number ranging from 0190 through 5290. The model number and series code are printed on the bottom of the toaster. The toaster has a chromed steel exterior, a front control panel with a rotary toast shade selector and function buttons arranged in an arc, a front removable crumb tray and Hamilton Beach printed across the front of the toaster.

Sold at: Mass merchandisers and department, grocery and home center stores nationwide and various online retailers from February 2008 through June 2011 for between $30 and $40.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled toasters and contact the firm to receive instructions on how to obtain a free replacement toaster.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Hamilton Beach at (800) 379-2200 anytime, or visit the firm’s website at www.hamiltonbeach.com. General toaster safety information available from Hamilton Beach at (http://tinyurl.com/43va5sd) (pdf).

Filed Under: Features, Kitchen, News, Recalls, Safety, Small Appliances Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Recall: General Electric, Sharp GE Air Conditioning and Heating Units Due to Fire Hazard

June 23, 2011 By 2 Comments

Name of Product: GE Zoneline Air Conditioners and Heaters

Units: About 90,600

Distributor: GE Appliances and Lighting, of Louisville, Ky.

Manufacturer: Sharp Corp., of Osaka, Japan

Hazard: An electrical component in the heating system can fail, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: General Electric and Sharp have received four reports of incidents involving smoke and/or fire with the air conditioning and heating units. In two of the reported incidents, fire extended beyond the air conditioning and heating unit, resulting in property damage. No injuries have been reported.

Description: This recall involves GE Packaged Terminal Air Conditioners (PTAC) and packaged terminal heat pumps manufactured between January 2010 and March 2011, and are most often used in apartment buildings and commercial space. The GE logo is affixed to the control panel door. Serial and model are printed on the rating plate. Consumers will need to remove the front panel to locate the model and serial information. The following models and serials are included in this recall:

Brand: GE
Model Number (Begins with): AZ41, AZ61
Serial Number (Begins with): AT, DT, FT, GT, HT, LT, MT, RT, ST, TT, VT, ZT,AV, DV and FV

Sold by: General Electric authorized representatives and HVAC distributors nationwide from March 2010 through March 2011 for between $1,000 and $1,200.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the air conditioning and heating units in the heat mode and contact General Electric to schedule a free repair.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact General Electric toll-free at (866) 918-8771 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s website at www.geappliances.com/products/recall

Filed Under: Features, Heating and Cooling, Household, News, Recalls, Safety Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Fire It Up Safely: CPSC Recommends Safety Check Before Grilling This Summer

June 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) urges consumers to check their grills and “fire it up safely” to prevent fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.

Before lighting the grill, do a safety check.

    Has your grill been recalled? Check SaferProducts.gov. If the grill has been recalled, contact the manufacturer and stop using it until you get a repair or replacement.

    Visually inspect the hoses on a gas grill for cracking, brittleness, holes and leaks. Make sure there are no sharp bends in the hose or tubing and that all connections are secure. Replace if necessary.

    Check for propane gas leaks. Open the gas supply valve fully and apply a soapy solution with a brush at the connection point. If bubbles appear, there is a leak. Try tightening the tank connection. If that does not stop the leak, close the gas valve and have the grill repaired by a qualified professional.

    Is the grill clean? Regularly cleaning the grill, as described in the owner’s manual, and also cleaning the grease trap, will reduce the risk of flare-ups and grease fires.

Once the safety check is complete, make sure to operate the grill as safely as possible.

    Use grills outside only in a well-ventilated area. Never use a grill indoors or in a garage, breezeway, carport, porch or under a surface that will burn. Gas and charcoal grills present a risk of fire and/or carbon monoxide poisoning that could result in injury or death. An estimated 3,800 gas or charcoal grill-related injuries were treated in hospital emergency departments in 2010. While almost all of the injuries were burns, a few of the charcoal grill injuries were related to carbon monoxide. There were an estimated average of eight CO-related deaths per year between 2005 and 2007 associated with charcoal grills that were used indoors or in enclosed spaces.

    Never leave a grill unattended. If a flare-up occurs, adjust the controls on the gas grill or spread out the coals on a charcoal grill to lower the temperature. If a grease fire occurs, turn off the gas grill and use baking soda and or a kitchen fire extinguisher to put out the fire.

    Keep the grill hoses as far away as possible from hot surfaces and dripping hot grease.

    Keep children away from the grill area. The outside surface of a grill can get hot and burn when touched.

Filed Under: Cooking, Features, Garage and Garden, News, Safety, _ Tips Tagged With: , , , , ,

Recall: GE Food Processors From Walmart Due to Laceration and Fire Hazard

June 3, 2011 By 1 Comment

Name of Product: General Electric® Food Processors

Units: About 255,000

Importer: Walmart Stores Inc., of Bentonville, Ark.

Hazard: The safety interlock system on the recalled food processor can fail; allowing operation without the lid secured which poses a laceration hazard. In addition, the product can emit smoke, or catch fire, posing a fire hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: Walmart has received a total of 58 incident reports: 24 reports of the food processor operating without the lid in place, of which 21 resulted in injuries to fingertips; and 34 reports of the unit smoking, including 3 reports of fires.

Description: This recall involves GE-branded digital, 14-cup food processors. The food processors are black with stainless steel trim, and model number 169203 is imprinted on the underside of the unit.

Sold exclusively at: Walmart stores nationwide and Walmart.com from September 2009 through February 2011 for a retail price of about $50.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled food processor and return the product to any Walmart for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Walmart Customer Service toll free at (877) 207-0923 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s website at www.walmartstores.com/recalls
Picture of Labeling on Recalled Food Processor

Filed Under: Features, Kitchen, News, Recalls, Safety, Small Appliances Tagged With: , , , ,

Recall: STIHL Yard Power Products Due to Burn and Fire Hazards

May 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Name of Product: Gas powered STIHL trimmers, brushcutters, KombiMotors, hedge trimmers, edgers, clearing saws, pole pruners, and backpack blowers that utilize a toolless fuel cap

Units: About 2.3 million

Manufacturer: STIHL Inc., of Virginia Beach, Va.

Hazard: The level of ethanol and other fuel additives can distort the toolless fuel cap, allowing fuel to spill, posing a fire and burn hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: STIHL has received 81 reports of difficulty installing and/or removing the fuel caps and fuel spillage. No injuries have been reported.

Description: The following yard power tools and model numbers are included in this recall:

Blower, backpack BR 500 Up to 284053456
BR 550 Up to 284053456
BR 600 Up to 284053456
BR 600 Magnum Up to 284053456

Hedge Trimmer, extended reach HL 90K Up to 284101483
HL 100
HL 100 Up to 284101483
HL 100 K Up to 284101483

Pole Pruner HT 56 C-E Up to 284398635
HT 131
HT 100 Up to 284097165
HT 101 Up to 284097165
HT 130 Up to 284097165
HT 131 Up to 284097165

Edger FC 56 C-E Up to 284180999
FC 70 C-E
FC 70 C-E Up to 284180999
FC 90 Up to 284012099
FC 95 Up to 284012099
FC 100 Up to 284012099
FC 110 Up to 284012099

Trimmer/Brushcutter FS 40 C-E Up to 284180999
FS 110 R
FS 56 C-E Up to 284180999
FS 56 RC-E Up to 284180999
FS 70 RC-E Up to 284180999
FS 90 Up to 284012099
FS 90 R Up to 284012099
FS 100 RX Up to 284012099
FS 110 Up to 284012099
FS 110 R Up to 284012099
FS 110 RX Up to 284012099
FS 130 Up to 284012099
FS 130 R Up to 284012099

Clearing Saw FS 310 Up to 284012099
FS 310

KombiEngine KM 56 RC-E Up to 284180999
KM 130 R
KM 90 R Up to 284012099
KM 110 R Up to 284012099
KM 130 R Up to 284012099

Visit STIHL’s website, www.stihlusa.com for additional photos of the power tools involved and photos of the toolless fuel cap.

Sold at: Authorized STIHL dealers nationwide from July 2002 through May 2011 for between $190 and $650.

Manufactured in: United States

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using these products and return them to an authorized STIHL dealer for a free repair. Consumers can contact STIHL for instructions on identifying these toolless fuel caps.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact STIHL toll-free at (800) 233-4729 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s website at www.stihlusa.com or e-mail to stihlrecall@stihl.us

Filed Under: Features, Garage and Garden, News, Recalls, Safety Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
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