Product Recalls
by Nick Gromicko and Rob London
Meijer Recalls Touch Point Fan Heaters Due to Fire, Shock Hazards
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.
Name of Product: Forced Air Heater
Units: About 6,102
Importer/Retailer: Meijer Inc., of Grand Rapids, Mich.
Hazard: Exposed and unshielded electrical components can cause the heater to overheat and melt, posing fire and electrical shock hazards.
Incidents/Injuries: Meijer received one report of a unit’s base burning, melting, and damaging the carpet beneath it. No injuries have been reported.
Description: This recall involves Touch Point brand oscillating forced air fan heaters with model number HW-218 and date code 0811. The model number and date code are on a silver sticker on the bottom of the heater. Universal Product Code (UPC) 7-13733- 30927-1 is on the bottom of the packaging. The heaters are white, 12 inches tall, 9 inches wide and 8 inches deep. They have two round control knobs and a red warning light on the top front, and a black on/off switch on the front base that controls the fan’s oscillation. The words “Touch Point” appear on the right front of the heater’s base.
Sold exclusively at: Meijer stores in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio from September 2011 through November 2011 for about $20.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled heaters and return them to any Meijer store for a full refund.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Meijer at (800) 927-8699 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s website at www.meijer.com
To see this recall on CPSC’s web site, including a picture of the recalled product, please go to:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml12/12115.html
Fire Concerns Prompt York International to Reannounce Recall of Gas Furnaces for Manufactured Homes
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.
Name of Product: Coleman, Coleman Evcon and Red T Gas Furnaces for Manufactured Homes
Units: About 223,600 in the U.S. and 2,400 in Canada (previously recalled in November 2004)
Manufacturer: Unitary Products Group (UPG), a division of York International Corp., of York, Pa.
Hazard: The furnace can overheat and cause the heat-exchanger to crack and create openings that allow flames to be exposed. When this happens, drywall and other nearby combustibles are exposed to the flames, posing a fire and smoke hazard to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received reports of 393 incidents, including some involving extensive property damage that could be related to these hazards, 366 of those reports were received after the November 2004 recall announcement. No injuries have been reported.
Description: The recall involves Coleman, Coleman Evcon and Red T brand furnaces. The furnaces are silver with white access panels. “Coleman,” “Coleman Evcon” and “Red T” brand names are located on the middle of the front access panel. The model number is written on a faceplate, found by removing both front access panels. The faceplate is found mounted on the left inside surface behind the lower panel. Models included in the recall are:
Sold by: Nationwide between 1995 and 2000 as original equipment in manufactured homes and as replacement furnaces in manufactured homes.
Manufactured in: U.S.A. between 1995 and 2000
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the furnace until it has been inspected and repaired. Consumers should contact UPG to schedule a free inspection and repair of any furnace involved in the recall.
Consumer Contact: For more information, including information about installation issues that may lead to the hazard, contact UPG toll-free at (888) 665-4640 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or visit their website at www.dgatprogram. com. UPG Technical Services is also conducting a comprehensive notification and communications program and working with its distributors to locate owners.
Note: Health Canada’s press release is available at http://cpsr-rspc.hc-sc.gc.ca/PR- RP/recall-retrait-eng.jsp?re_id=1416
To see this recall on CPSC’s web site, including pictures of the recalled product, please go to:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/ prhtml12/12102.html
Navien Recalls Tankless Water Heaters Due to Risk of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.
Name of Product: Navien Instantaneous or Tankless Water Heaters
Units: About 13,000
Importer: Navien America Inc., of Irvine, Calif.
Manufacturer: Kyung Dong Navien Co. Ltd., South Korea
Hazard: An unstable connection can cause the water heater’s vent collar to separate
or detach if pressure is applied. A detached vent collar poses a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning to the consumer.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported
Description: Navien tankless hot water heaters are white with “T-Creator” and “NAVIEN” on the front. Recalled model numbers are CR-180(A), CR-210(A), CR- 240(A), CC-180(A), CC-210(A) and CC- 240(A) manufactured in 2008. A label on the side of the water heater lists the model number along with the manufacturing year in YYYY format.
Sold by: Wholesale distributors to in-home installers nationwide from February 2008 through March 2009 for between $1,500 and $2,100.
Manufactured in: South Korea
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using and check the model and manufacture year information on their Navien water heater. Consumers with recalled water heaters should immediately contact Navien to schedule a free repair.
Navien will replace all Nylon 66 vent
collar with PVC collars. Consumers who continue use of the water heaters while awaiting repair, should have a working carbon monoxide alarm installed outside of sleeping areas in the home.
Customer contact: For additional information, contact Navien at (800) 244- 8202 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s website at www.navienamerica.com
Note: Regardless of the type of water heater that is used, every home should have a
CO alarm outside all sleeping areas and consumers should ensure that their CO alarms have working batteries.
To see this recall on CPSC’s web site, including a picture of the recalled product, please go to: