Space Heater and Water Heater Recalls

Sunbeam Products of Boca Raton, Fla., is recalling about 151,600 Holmes ceramic heaters.

The ceramic heaters can overheat, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

The firm has received 132 reports of units that unexpectedly stopped working and/or overheated, resulting in 1 report of smoke inhalation and 10 reports of property damage involving burned flooring.

This recall involves Holmes oscillating ceramic heaters sold in black, purple, red, blue and white. The rectangular heaters included in the recall are about 12 inches tall, 8 ½ inches wide and 5 ½ inches deep and have model number HCH1823M printed on a label on the bottom of the product.

The “Holmes” logo is on the bottom front of the unit and two knobs controlling the fan and the thermostat are on the top. The heater adjusts between a high and low heat setting and a fan only setting.

The heaters, manufactured in China, were sold at Fred Meyer, Target, Walmart and other retailers nationwide from August 2013, to March 2014, for about $30.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled heater, unplug it and contact Sunbeam Products, for instructions on how to obtain a full refund.

Consumers may contact Sunbeam Products at (800) 834-0056 anytime.

Dyson Inc., of Chicago is recalling about 393,000 portable electric heaters in the U.S. and Canada.

The heaters can develop an electrical short and overheat, posing a fire hazard.

Of a million heaters sold globally, the company said it is aware of 82 incidents worldwide of the recalled heaters short-circuiting and overheating, including four reports of heaters with burned or melted internal parts. No injuries or property damage has been reported.

“Around the world, we have seen four cases of heaters with contained burning. Although there have been no instances of personal injury or damage to property, it’s four too many. We ask owners to visit www.dysonrecall.com to register their machine, which will be fixed, cleaned, serviced and returned to them, with a new two year parts and labor warranty, free of charge,” said Max Conze, Dyson CEO.

This recall is for all Dyson Hot heaters and Dyson Hot+Cool heaters with model number AM04, and all Dyson Hot+Cool heaters with model number AM05. The heaters are 23 inches tall with a round base and an upper body shaped like an elongated ring.

The heaters have no external fan blades. They are made of plastic and were available in the colors silver, black and silver, blue and gray, gray and silver, pink and gray, purple and gray, and white and gray. Each heater came with a remote control.

The model number is found above the Dyson logo on the product information sticker on the underside of the heater’s base.

The heaters, manufactured in Malaysia, were sold at Bed Bath & Beyond, Best Buy, Costco, Fry's, Kohl's, Lowe's, Macy's, Sears, Target and other retailers nationwide, and online at Abt.com, Amazon.com, Dyson.com, Groupon.com, HSN.com, QVC.com and Walmart.com from September 2011, to March 2014, for about $399.

Consumers should immediately stop using and unplug the recalled heaters and contact Dyson for a free repair.

Consumers may contact Dyson toll-free at (866) 297-5303, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Twin-Star International of Delray Beach, Fla., is recalling about 31,000 Duraflame electric space heaters.

The heater can overheat and cause the units to melt, catch fire and ignite nearby items, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers.

The company has received 32 reports of heaters burning or melting, including 8 reports of the units catching fire, one of which resulted in minor property damage. No injuries have been reported.

This recall involves Duraflame-branded electric space heaters, model DSF-220, sold in three colors, black, red and white. The heaters' flame effect resembles a fireplace and works with or without heat. The heaters measure about 14.5-inches high, 13-inches wide and 8-inches deep. The on-off switch and the high/low heat settings are located on the upper left back side of the unit. The Duraflame logo appears on the front of the unit. The model number can be found on a white label located on the heater's back panel.

The space heaters, manufactured in China, were sold by Farmer's Furniture, Meijer, QVC, R.C. Willey, Ross and other retailers nationwide and online at Maxtool.com between August 2013, through January 2014, for about $60.

Customers should immediately turn off and unplug the electric space heater and contact Twin-Star for a full refund.

Consumers may contact Twin-Star toll-free at (855) 884-9651 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

Optimus Enterprise of Anaheim, Calif., is recalling about 355,000 portable Infrared Radiant Quartz electric space heaters.

The heater design can fail to prevent ignition of nearby combustible materials that come in contact with the unit, posing a fire hazard to the consumer. No incidents or injuries have been reported.

This recall involves two models of Optimus Infrared Quartz Radiant heaters with model numbers H-5210, produced in 2011 and H-5211, produced in 2012. The model number and the year of production appear on a label on the back of the heater. The recalled heaters are white and are approximately 12-inches wide by 13-inches tall by 6-inches deep. “Optimus” is printed on the top left of the heater. The control knob is located on the top right side of the heater.

The heaters, manufactured in China, were sold at Best Buy Market Place, Family Dollar, Heartland, Northern Tool, Rite Aid and other stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com, ebay.com and Walmart.com from October 2011 through December 2012 for between $25 and $30.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled heaters and contact Optimus to request a free replacement heater. Consumers have the option of a comparable ceramic heater or new model quartz radiant heater, model H-5510, which will be available after August 2013.

Consumers may contact: Optimus Enterprise toll-free at (888) 672-5832 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or by email at return.optimus@gmail.com.

Meijer Distribution of Grand Rapids, Mich., is recalling about 4,560 Touch Point portable baseboard convection heaters.

The heaters can overheat, posing a fire hazard to consumers. The company has received two reports of overheating incidents, including one report of a fire that resulted in minor property damage. No injuries have been reported.

This recall involves Touch Point brand portable, electric baseboard convection heaters with model BBC-1500 and date code 0611. “Touch Point” can be found on the front of the product and the model and date code can be found on a silver sticker on the back side of the product. The heaters, manufactured in June 2011, are black and measure approximately 30-inches long by 6-inches deep by 12-inches high.

The heaters, manufactured in China, were sold exclusively at Meijer stores from September 2011, through February 2013, for about $50.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled heaters and return them to a Meijer customer service desk for a full refund.

Consumers may contact Meijer at (800) 927-8699 anytime.

Family Dollar Services of Matthews, N.C., is recalling about 19,640 Optimus Tower Quartz Heaters.

The heaters can overheat, posing a fire hazard. The company says it has received 10 reports of overheating, including some reports of temperature knobs melting, but no reports of injury, fire or property damage.

Optimus Tower Quartz Heaters are portable electric tower heaters that are about 10 inches wide, 25 inches tall and 9 inches deep. The heaters have a white metal casing with a white plastic top, a wire cage protecting the heating elements and vent slits at the bottom.

The front section of the top has the brand name Optimus, a power light, a caution light and two dials. One dial turns the heater on or off and selects the power of either 750 watts or 1500 watts. The other control knob selects the heat range between high and low.

The rear section of the top has fire, high temperature and shock warnings and diagrams of the heater being used in 750 watt mode and 1500 watt mode. Model number “H-5232” is on a silver sticker on the bottom of the heater below the words “Optimus” and “Quartz Heater.”

The heaters, manufactured in China, were sold exclusively at Family Dollar Stores from September 2012 ,through December 2012, for about $35.

Consumers should immediately unplug and stop using the heaters and return the product to any Family Dollar Stores location for a full refund.

Consumers may contact Family Dollar Stores at (800) 547-0359 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

After my parents got tired of the fast-paced nature that makes New York City both exciting and annoying, our family moved to nearby Connecticut where the winters were always a few degrees colder than the five boroughs.

Growing up, a lot of our time was spent in the basement of the house, which my dad converted into a very cozy family room. There was one problem though: It was always extremely chilly down there, especially between the months of November and April.

Like many households, very strict temperature rules were set in place by my dad for us kids, and none of us were ever brave enough to touch the thermostat in fear of a mean look, a long lecture or worse -- so we just toughed it out by putting on a sweater or sweatshirt. But after a while, we finally got a space heater and all was perfect with the world and definitely a bit more comfortable.

Since that time in the mid-80s, space heaters have come a long way. From the old kerosene types that had hazard written all over them, to the small rectangular electrical heaters that have the three orange burning rods, it seems like it’s hard for consumers to really determine what’s safest, most efficient and most economical when it comes to buying a space heater.

Among the newer space heaters on the market today are the EdenPUREs, and according to some of our readers, the heaters haven’t been giving consumers a very warm feeling when it comes to performance.

Quartz elements

First, a little bit about the EdenPure: The heaters come in a few different models and the company says it provides "safe, clean, economical heat by using Infrared Quartz Elements,” which many space heaters use nowadays.

So what seems to be the main difference with the EdenPure compared to other heaters?

The look of it seems to be far superior to a lot of other models currently on the market, as it resembles a small and subtle piece of furniture -- like an ottoman or a mini-fridge -- and doesn’t heat-up on its surface, staying cool to the touch.

In fact, the company’s website shows a picture of a family sitting around the heater, with a baby touching it, a child kneeling next to it, and a cat sitting on top of it, to show the coolness of the surface. Man, talk about overkill.

EdenPure also says its heaters provide "natural outdoor heat" -- whatever that is -- inside your home, since it’s supposed to produce the same type of safe infrared rays the sun produces -- giving you a more even and comfortable kind of warmth, says the company.

Prices for the space heaters range from $175 for the EdenPURE Gen 3 1000, $197 for the EdenPURE Gen 2, and $397 for the Gen 4 1000. That's quite a bit more than you would pay for similar heaters at your local Walmart or Target store.

Not many stars

Currently, there are 85 reviewsof the space heaters in our comments section, and overall the EdenPURE received only 1 ½ out of 5 stars in the ConsumerAffairs satisfaction rating.

Many consumer grievances deal with the issue of the heaters not working properly after a year or so of use. Our readers report that some of the EdenPUREs tend to blow cold air after a period of time, and some have just stopped working all together.

Many of the heaters had to be returned, and a good portion of our readers said exchanging the product was a hassle, others sent it was pain-free. But arguably one of the worst cases with the heating mechanism was experienced by Barb of Indiana, who said her heater started giving off horrible smells shortly after purchase.

“I used the heaters last winter during the mild winter we had in Indiana,” she wrote. “I turned my heat down to 62 and ran two EdenPure Gen 3 and 4 heaters during the evening. When I would go to bed, I left one on all the time when I was home. About a month later, I started to smell something but could not find the cause.

“About two weeks later, the heater I ran in the nighttime started to put off this smell all the time,” Barb added. “I thought it might be burning off newness. Then all of a sudden, the heater overwhelmed me with this toxic type smell. I started choking and gagging, I could not breathe very well.

"So I took the heaters out of my house. I called EdenPURE and as you know I could not talk to the company about the issues. I have tried to reach them many times but to no avail,” she said.

ConsumerAffairs reached out to EdenPURE and spoke with a company rep by the name of Ana, and she told us she’s never heard of Barb’s case where one of its products produced an odor.

“Unless the filter wasn’t cleaned,” Ana said. “There may be an odor from that.”

We also asked Ana if there was a chance EdenPURE could assist Barb with the cleaning of her home, or do something for her to get rid of the toxic smelling odor, because having Barb just return the heaters isn't going to get rid of the bad smell in her home.

“We can definitely get with the manufacturer on that. That’s definitely an option,” she said. We are trying to get Barb and EdenPURE together to see if the issue can be resolved.

Kind of fragile?

A common issue is the EdenPUREs seem to break down and the exchange process is cumbersome. 

Of course each case is different, and a lot of consumers may be completely satisfied with the heater, but EdenPURE certainly has its share of negative reviews.  There are lots of brands to choose from and it's often better to buy a known brand from a major retailer that will take it back if it isn't satisfactory.

On the issue of saving money, the only way a space heater will save you money is if you can turn down your thermostat so that most of your home gets colder, while the space heater warms up a room or two.

Space heaters are not inherently more efficient than your furnace, so unless you're going to huddle together in one room, it's probably a better bet to use the money you would spend on a space heater on insulation, storm windows ... or, to take a page from my father's book, a sweatshirt.

About 70,000 portable space heaters sold by Big Lots are being recalled. The heaters can overheat and melt, posing a fire or electric shock hazard.

Big Lots has received four reports of the product overheating and melting. There are no reports of injury, fire or property damage.

This recall is of two models of 1500 watt Climate Keeper ceramic heaters. Both models have a fan, two dials on top, a wire mesh panel in front and the name “Climate Keeper” and a label on the bottom with the model number and ETL 3130679. Model #FH107A has grey plastic housing. Model #PTC-902T is an oscillating heater with silver-grey plastic housing, a molded handle on top of the heater and a small extra button between the two dials which controls the oscillation.

The heaters were sold at Big Lots stores nationwide from September 2010 through March 2012 for about $20 for Model #FH107A and $25 for Model #PTC-902T. They were made in China.

Consumers should stop using the recalled product immediately and return it to a Big Lots store for a full refund.

For additional information, contact Big Lots toll-free at (866) 244-5687 between 9 a.m. through 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s website at www.biglots.com

Honeywell is recalling about 19,000 Surround Select Portable Electric Heaters sold under the Honeywell name but manufactured by Ningbo SMAL Electrics Co. Ltd., of China.

The heater’s internal housing, including the fan, heating element and circuitry, can detach, posing a burn hazard to consumers.

This recall includes Honeywell Surround Select Series portable electric heaters with model numbers HZ-420, HZ-430, and HZ-440 and five-digit date codes that have 11 as the last two digits. The heaters are black or white cylinders with a handle on top. The model number is stamped into the plastic on the bottom of the heater. The date code is located on the metal prongs of the heater’s electrical plug. “Honeywell” and “Surround Heat” are printed on the front of the heaters. This heater was distributed by Kaz USA under license from Honeywell.

Best Buy, Meijer and Walmart stores sold the heaters nationwide from July 2011 through December 2011 for between $50 and $70.

Consumers should immediately unplug and stop using the heaters and contact Kaz for a full refund.

For additional information, contact the distributor, Kaz USA Inc., at (800) 370-8137 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s website at www.kaz.com/recall

Navien is recalling about 13,000 Instantaneous or Tankless Water Heaters. 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.

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.

Wholesale distributors sold the heaters to in-home installers nationwide from February 2008 through March 2009 for between $1,500 and $2,100. They were made in South Korea.

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

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.

Wal-Mart is recalling about 2.2 million electric heaters sold under the Flow Pro, Airtech, Aloha Breeze & Comfort Essentials brand names. The heaters can malfunction resulting in overheating, smoking, burning, melting and fire.

Wal-Mart has received 21 reports of incidents, which included 11 reports of property damage beyond the heater. Injuries were reported in four incidents, three of which required medical attention for minor burns and smoke inhalation. The remaining incidents included smoke irritation, sparking or property damage beyond the heater.

This recall involves Flow Pro, Airtech, Aloha Breeze and Comfort Essentials 1500 watt heaters. The heaters are grey with a metal handle on the top with vents and grey control knobs on the front. The model number is 1013 and can be found on a label on the lower left corner of the back panel of the heater.

Walmart stores sold the heaters nationwide from December 2001 through October 2009 for about $18. They were made in China.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled heater and return the product to any Walmart store for a full refund.

For additional information, contact Wal-Mart toll-free at(800) 925-6278 between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's website atwww.walmart.com

An inoperative water heater means cold showers until you can get it repaired or replaced. Often it can be a frustrating experience.

Emily, a consumer in San Dimas, California, said she bought a 50 gal, nine-year warranty, Whirlpool Ultra Low Nox Gas Water Heater from Lowes in November 2007. On November 22 this year, she said the control valve failed.

"We returned to Lowes and were told they could do absolutely nothing for us, that we needed to contact Whirlpool and be without hot water for who knows how long in the process," she told ConsumerAffairs.com. "This morning I contacted Whirlpool and after being placed on hold for nearly 15 minutes they hung up on me. I then decided to take a look at Lowes' website and saw that it was riddled with comments from unhappy customers who purchased these hot water heaters. It is obvious to me that Lowes knows that these products are defective yet they continue to sell them to unsuspecting customers such as myself."

The Whirlpool water heater has drawn hundreds of complaints from consumers over the years, and the company settled a class action lawsuit earlier this year, but it is by no means the only water heating device giving consumers a case of heartburn.

Ludwig, of Palmdale, California, bought a GE water heater at Home Depot last June. He said it worked fine for about a week.

"Suddenly the water heater burner was smothering. After carefully following the troubleshooting instructions it said that if the water heater kept on turning off, then I had to call the gas company for inspection," he told ConsumerAffairs.com.

Ludwig said the gas company inspected his water heater and told him it was defective. Not only that, it was not to be turned on again, the technician said, because it was dangerous.

What followed, Ludwig says, was an excruciating and frustrating run-around by GE.

Other brands have also caused consumer headaches. Two years ago Delta Combination Water Heaters were recalled because the burner plate and flue hood seal on the water heaters could fail due to an improper seal causing a leak of flue gases and carbon monoxide.

Most water heaters are powered by either electricity or gas, which is used to heat metal elements in a tank of water. It's a fairly simple device, but in recent years seems to have become more troublesome for some reason.

Though no scientific studies have been done on the subject, it seems from complaints received at ConsumerAffairs.com that gas heaters have more problems than electric ones. That may have to do with gas heaters' venting requirements and other safety features.

Now, GE is turning to the sun to provide hot water. The company last month announced it is developing a line of solar water heaters.

"GE re-entered the water heating business about ten years ago," said Kevin Nolan, Vice President Technology for GE Consumer & Industrial. "GE has recently driven changes in water heating technology by developing both tankless gas and hybrid electric water heater products the first to meet newly established Energy Star standards. Using solar energy to heat water for the home is the logical next step in the evolution of waters heaters."

The solar water heating industry is currently very small. Total deliveries in 2007 were only 12,000 units as compared with 9,000,000 of other types of water heaters, according to statistics from the Solar Rating & Certification Corporation, Rheem, and the Gas Appliance Manufacturer's Association. There are estimates that 17,000 solar water-heating units will be sold in 2008.

Solar water heaters typically consume between 50-70 percent less energy than a standard gas or electric tank water heater, according to GE, and are on average three times more efficient than comparable electric tank water heaters.

But are they more reliable and trouble free than their traditional counterparts? We'll see.

Consumers with Whirlpool water heaters sold at Lowe's have about two months to file claims in the settlement of a class action lawsuit that alleged the water heaters were defective.

More than 1,000 consumers have filed reports with ConsumerAffairs.com saying the thermocouple in their Flame Lock or Flame Guard Whirlpool water heaters continuously breaks down leaving them without hot water -- sometimes for days.

"Less than two years ago I purchased a Whirlpool Flame Lock water heater at Lowe's, paid to have it installed and thought my problems were solved," Chris of Hammond, Ind. wrote "However, I have had to change the thermocouple at least six times, on average about once every three to four months.

"Whirlpool reimbursed me for the part the first time, but that is it," Chris continued. "While I am not a professional mechanic or technician, I am mechanically inclined and replacing this thing is a real hassle. The part is only about $14 but the labor and repeated inconvenience is really aggravating."

Safety device

The thermocouple is a safety device that cuts off the flow of gas should the pilot light go out thereby preventing gas from leaking out, said Richard Doherty, one of the lawyers who defended consumers in the class action lawsuit.

These water heaters, which Whirlpool started selling in 2000, incorporated a new safety standard, the flammable vapors-ignition-resistance standard, which gas water heater manufacturers voluntarily implemented in conjunction with the Consumer Product Safety Commission February 2000.

"This was a new technology," Doherty said. "The old style with the open flame at the bottom has been done away with because there was the possibility of gas leaks. Now you have a sealed combustion chamber."

But the combustion chamber in these Whirlpool-branded water heaters, which were actually manufactured by the American Water Heater Company, collected a considerable amount of dust and lint which eventually restricted oxygen to the flame.

"Things would get clogged underneath the hot water heater and fire needs oxygen and the flame is reaching to get oxygen basically away from where the flame is designed to be because it's not getting enough oxygen," Doherty said. "As it gets over toward the thermocouple it trips it."

Design updated

ConsumerAffairs.com first reported on this apparent defect almost two years ago and soon after, Whirlpool and the American Water Heater Company updated their design, Doherty said.

They "upgraded the manifold door assembly with a resettable thermal cutoff switch," Doherty said. "The original ones were called single-use so if that thing went you had to get a new one. The new one is resettable like a fuse in a fusebox."

While consumers who have purchased Flame Lock and Flame Guards since 2007 have not shared the frustrations of older customers, anyone who purchased one of the models between 2000 and 2006 is eligible for the upgraded parts, according to the settlement's website, www.waterheatersettlement.com.

Those consumers are entitled to the upgraded manifold door assembly shipped free to them or receive reimbursement for any previously upgraded manifold door assembly and shipping costs previously incurred.

The settlement does not cover installation costs.

Consumers who paid for replacement thermocouples can be reimbursed up to $15 per thermocouple up to $30. Consumers who experienced more than three thermocouple failures and then replaced their water heater are eligible for $150.

Class members must postmark their claims by June 28, 2008. Claim forms can be downloaded at www.waterheatersettlement.com.

The defendants in the case, Whirlpool, Lowe's and A.O. Smith, which purchased American Water Heater Company, have never admitted the water heaters were defective, Doherty said.

The defendants did not return multiple calls for comment.

May 1, 2008    
QVC is recalling about 28,000 SoleusAir space heaters. The unit can overheat, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

The firm has received nine reports of flames inside or coming out of the heaters, and 70 additional reports of smoking, overheating, sparking, melting, and/or emitting burning odors. No injuries have been reported.

The recalled heater is a 1,500 watt, black or charcoal-colored, canister-shaped space heater with three heat settings. The unit is about 25" high x 10" in diameter (not including the wheels). The words "SoleusAir 360 Micathermic Heater" are printed on a label located on the front of the unit.

The heaters, made in China, were sold through QVC's televised shopping programs, its Web site, and in QVC's Studio, employee and retail stores from December 2007 through March 2008 for between $65 and $80.

Consumers should immediately stop using the heater and unplug it. Consumers who purchased the heater through a QVC television program or QVC.com were mailed instructions on how to receive a refund. Consumers who have not received an information packet should contact QVC. Consumers who purchased the heater at a QVC store should return the heater to any QVC store to receive a full refund.

For further information, contact QVC at (800) 367-9444 between 7 a.m. and 1 a.m. ET any day, or visit the firm's Web site at www.qvc.com.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

August 30, 2007
Berko Electric is recalling about 84,000 Toe-Space electric heaters because of a fire hazard. If the fan stops working and the heater continues to run, the unit can overheat.

Berko, now known as Marley Engineered Products, has received 29 reports of fires resulting in property damage. No injuries have been reported.

The recall involves electric, toe-space heaters typically installed in kitchens and bathrooms at floor level in the recessed space under cabinets. The recall includes Berko Electric catalog numbers TS, TS-1 and TS-1A and Emerson Electric "Chromalox Comfort Heating" and "Environmental Products" catalog number KSH2000.

The heater is controlled by a wall thermostat or a thermostat mounted on the front of the heater. The heater has a removable, black metal grille that measures 23 1/2 -inches wide and 3 1/2 -inches tall with five sets of openings, each with seven horizontal louvers.

The heaters were sold by Berko Electric wholesale distributors nationwide from 1972 through February 1985 and Emerson Electric wholesale distributors from 1980 through February 1985 for between $70 and $170.

Consumers should immediately turn off the heater at the thermostat and, if possible, at the homes circuit breaker or fuse. Consumers should contact Marley to determine if they have a recalled heater and for further instructions.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, call Marley at (800) 642-4328 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firms Web site at www.berkomep.com/ts.htm.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

August 30, 2007
"Aloha Breeze" electric heaters are being recalled because they can overheat, creating a fire hazard.

Aloha Housewares has received seven reports of heaters melting, smoking or catching fire, including one report of minor property damage. No injuries have been reported.

The recalled electric heaters are white-colored with the name Aloha Breeze printed on the front. The recall includes model number 05226 with date codes of 07/05, 08/05 and 11/05. The model number and date code are printed on the silver label located on the bottom of the heater.

About 280,000 of the heaters were sold at Wal-Mart stores nationwide from July 2005 to July 2007 for about $15. They were made in China.

Consumers should stop using the recalled heaters immediately and contact the firm for instructions on receiving a free replacement.

For additional information, call Aloha Housewares at (800) 295-4448 between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or send an e-mail to ahitexaslg@aol.com.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

June 28, 2007
About 1.2 million Lasko ceramic heaters are being recalled. The heaters cord can overheat where it enters the base of the unit, which could pose a fire hazard to consumers.

Lasko has received 28 reports of failed power cords, including six reports of minor property damage. No injuries have been reported.

This recall involves Lasko ceramic heaters manufactured in 2005. Model numbers included in the recall are: 5132, 5345, 5362, 5364, 5420, 5532, 5534 and 5566. Model numbers are located on the bottom of the unit or at the rear of the base of the heaters.

The heaters were sold at Major retailers, home centers and discount department stores nationwide from September 2005 through April 2006 for between $20 and $50.

They were manufactured in China.

Consumers should immediately stop using the heaters and contact Lasko to receive a free replacement heater.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Lasko at (800) 984-3311 anytime, or visit the firms Web site at www.Laskoproducts.com.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

February 21, 2007
Tankless water heaters sold under the Rheem, Ruud and Richmond brands are being recalled because of a carbon monoxide poisoning risk.

Components inside the water heater may shift during transit, causing an air filter door switch to operate improperly. If the switch fails and the air filter door is out of place, the water heater could continue to operate and dust and lint could build up, posing a carbon monoxide poisoning hazard.

The recall involves indoor models of the Power Vent 199,900 BTUH tankless water heaters. The brands and model numbers included in this recall are listed below and are located on the front of the unit and the rating plate. The water heaters have a cream jacket or gray jacket enclosure with the piping on the top and bottom of the unit. The rating plate is a silver label located the front of the unit, in the lower right hand corner.

The units were sold by retailers nationwide and through plumbing wholesale distributors to plumbers, contractors and consumers from May 2004 through December 2006 for between $800 and $1,300.

Consumers with the recalled water heaters should stop using them immediately, if the air filter door is not in place. Consumers who have not already been contacted by an authorized contractor should immediately contact their installer or Rheem Manufacturing Company to arrange for a free, on-site repair. Consumers are reminded to use the air filter door for these water heaters to avoid a carbon monoxide hazard.

Consumer Contact: For more information, contact Rheem toll-free at (866) 369-4786 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. CT Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. CT Saturday and Sunday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.tankless-recall.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.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

Attorney Richard Doherty filed a motion seeking class certification in the California last month against Whirlpool and the gas water heater's manufacturer, American Water Heater Company (AWHC).

The trial date is set for August 21, 2007. The lawyers in the case said they may try similar Whirlpool/AWHC class action suits in other states depending on the success of thie California case.

Over 160 complaints in the ConsumerAffairs.com database tell a similar story:

"I purchased a new 50-gallon Flame Lock water heater with a 12-year warranty," Rick Carlton of Orange, Calif. said. "Seven weeks later, I had no hot water and was told that the thermocouple had gone bad."

Even repairmen have grown tired of these water heaters.

"I am a service tech who quite often works on Whirlpool water heaters," wrote Rob of Springfield, Ohio. "I'd say about 95% of water heater service calls are for these junk heaters. We have lost several customers because of reoccurring problems every few months (and yes we clean bottom screen and do not over-tighten thermocouple). I highly recommend that you pass on these heaters, no matter how good their warranty looks, because chances are it will cost you more in the long run."

Indeed, if a consumer follows the directions in their water heater manual and the advice of Whirlpool's spokespeople, this can all be avoided. Unfortunately, if a consumer actually follows those same directions, they will spend around $600 in plumber visits and parts in one year -- well beyond the original price of the water heater.

"It would be cheaper for a consumer to buy a new water heater every year than to put up with the maintenance," said Doherty, of Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates, a Chicago law firm.

Corporate Double-Speak

Last May, Whirlpool spokeswoman Judy Lau said homeowners can prevent the thermocouple from malfunctioning by cleaning the flame-trap and combustion chamber every three months (story).

The water heater manual, however, does not specify how frequently this needs to be done. The manual simply suggests that, "At least annually, a visual inspection should be made of the venting and air supply system, piping systems, main burner, pilot burner, and flame-trap."

In May, Lau made it sound like cleaning the combustion chamber was a simple procedure that any customer could do on his or her own. However, the manual states that this 18-step process "should be performed by a qualified service technician."

"It should only take 5 to 10 minutes." Lau said.

Most consumers say it took their hired plumber well over an hour.

The procedure also requires that the gas be shut off and then turned back on. Messing with the gas can be extremely dangerous and customers should not be doing that, said Tony Burnworth, a contractor for Mann's Inc., a plumbing company in Huntington, Ind.

In almost every case the thermocouple "goes bad" within about six months.

"The thermocouple is a wire that goes between the gas valve and the pilot light," said Dan McKenzie, another Horwitz attorney. "Should the pilot light go out, the thermocouple sends a signal to the gas valve to turn off the gas."

The water heater has a couple of design flaws that eventually lead to the malfunctioning thermocouple, McKenzie said.

First, the heater has a concealed combustion chamber. The combustion chamber is where the pilot light ignites the gas that heats the water in the tank.

The combustion chamber has a vent at the bottom to fuel the ignitions and pilot light with oxygen That vent can easily become clogged with dust and lint. When that happens, the pilot light scavenges for oxygen. Where it ends up going is to the thermocouple.

This particular water heater has a special thermocouple that can melt in the middle, cutting the signal between the pilot light and the gas valve. So when the pilot light is searching for oxygen, it ends up melting that thermocouple in half, making the whole water heater useless without a replaced thermocouple.

To add to consumers' ire, they cannot replace the thermocouple with a standard one because it uses left-handed threading.

Supposedly this makes the water heater safer by only allowing the thermocouple that melts in the middle to be used. But unfortunately, this also means that this part can only be purchased through Whirlpool or Lowe's, the store that exclusively carries these water heaters.

A One-Time Fix

The warranty allows the customer to replace one part one time. So if a customer wants to get a warranted thermocouple, they have to wait for Whirlpool to ship it. If they don't want to wait about seven days for the part to ship, they have to go to Lowe's, pay about $15 and then get someone to install it.

McKenzie said AWHC offers a retrofit filter for this water heater that supposedly will increase the water heater's longevity while also making it easier to maintain.

However, there's almost no mention of it on the AWHC website and it's not on Lowes.com or Whirlpool.com. The only place it appears is on a bulletin snuggled in the AWHC website:

"An external filter is available that can be easily installed," states the bulletin. "This will greatly extend the run time of the water heater in a dirty environment and will allow for easy periodic external cleaning. Call our service assistance number found in your installation manual or on your water heater to request the filter and installation instructions."

ConsumerAffairs.com called AWHC more than 20 times over the past month but AWHC did not call back to verify the existence of this retrofit filter or to comment on the water heater's performance.

ConsumerAffairs.com called the Whirlpool Public Relations office again, over 20 times over the past month. Finally, Lau, their spokeswoman, called us back to say, "We are going to decline to comment on your story." When asked why, she responded, "Because that's the decision that we've made."

What To Do

Consumers who have had to pay for a service call, should follow the example of Rick Carlton.

After numerous e-mails and phone calls to Whirlpool went unanswered, he decided to mail copies of his receipts for the part and service to Whirlpool. Whirlpool eventually reimbursed him $132 for the service and part.

Burnworth said it is best to have a plumber select and install a residential water heater for three reasons:

• The plumber is trained to determine the proper gallon size and recovery rate based on family size.

• Plumbers are more aware of safety and ventilation requirements than most homeowners.

• Most plumbers will handle all warranty matters for the homeowner if repairs become necessary.

Consumers interested in the class action lawsuit in California should check back with ConsumerAffairs.com for occasional updates.

December 20, 2005
CFM Corp. is recalling about 10,200 Legacy propane heaters because of a carbon monoxide hazard. A non-specification gasket around the heating plaques could allow heater carbon monoxide emissions to leak into the area in which the heater is being used.

No injuries or incidents of property damage have been reported.

The heaters are propane infrared plaque space heaters sold after September 1, 2005. The units are rectangular in shape and the casing has a white finish. The heaters can be mounted on walls or stand on the floor. The name "Legacy" is centered on the front of the heater immediately below the grill. Affected units have one of the following model numbers:

• RMC-LI6LP
• RMC-LI6LP
• RMC-LI6LP
• RMC-LI6LP
• RMC-LI6LP
• RMC-LI6LP
• RMC-LI6LP

The model number is located on the right side panel of the unit. All of the heaters were listed by the Canadian Standards Association.

The units were sold by heating and hardware retailers, and HVAC dealers in the U.S. sold these heaters from September 2005 through November 2005 for between $156 and $290.

Consumers should stop using the heater and immediately contact CFM to arrange for a refund of the purchase price or replacement of the product with an equivalent unit. CFM Corporation already notified known purchasers about this recall.

Consumer Contact: For more information, contact CFM Corporation toll-free at (866) 333-4833 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, visit the firms Web site at www.cfmcorp.com or contact the retailer from which you purchased the heater.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

December 2, 2005
King of Fans Inc. is recalling more than 200,000 Maxi-Heat oil-filled radiator heaters. Welds in the heating fins can break, allowing oil to leak. This poses a burn and fall hazard to consumers.

King of Fans Inc. has received 81 reports of incidents involving leaking oil. Two minor burns were reported, along with two reports of falls in the oil.

The portable electric radiator-style heaters have seven fins, one of which has the control panel attached to it. The units are gray with a black control panel. Maxi-Heat is printed below the handle indentation on the control panel. The model number 70030 and date codes 0705 and 0805 are printed on the UL label on the lower right side of the control panel. The following purchase order numbers are located on the bottom of the radiator heaters packaging: 56199910, 56199924, 56199961, 57105731, 57105732, 57100092, 57100089, 57100086, 57105685, and 57105686.

The units were sold at Home Depot stores in the Northeast and Midwest from October 2005 through November 2005 for about $35.

Consumers should immediately stop using these heaters and unplug them. Return the recalled heaters to a Home Depot store for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact King of Fans toll-free at (866) 443-1291 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, or visit the companys Web site at www.kingoffans.com.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

March 31, 2005
Mr. Heater is recalling the Big Buddyand Tough Buddy portable propane heaters. The valve on the propane heaters can leak, posing a fire hazard.

Mr. Heater has received 26 reports of propane leaks. No injuries have been reported.

Only model number MH18B Mr. Heater Big Buddy and Tough Buddy propane heaters are included in the recall. The model number is located on the rear panel of the unit. The heaters are either black with yellow accents around the burner tiles or light gray with red accents around the burner tiles. Mr. Heater is printed in the lower right hand corner of the heaters.

The heaters were sold at home centers, sporting goods, and hardware stores nationwide from September 2004 through December 2004 for between $120 and $149.

Contact Mr. Heater for instructions on receiving a replacement heater.

Consumer Contact: Contact Mr. Heater Inc. at www.regcen.com/heaterrecall or call (800) 385-2605 between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

January 26, 2005
Lakewood Co. is recalling about 70,000 of its Model 5101 oil-filled electric radiator heater. Welds can rupture, expelling hot oil that can burn nearby consumers.

Lakewood is aware of 28 reports of incidents, including one burn injury from spewing oil. An additional 14 heaters with ruptured welds have been returned to Lakewood.

The recalled heaters are portable electric radiator-style heaters with six fins, one of which has the control panel attached to it. The units are grayish-white in color and have the name Lakewood printed below the handle indentation on the control panel. The model number 5101 is printed on the UL label on the lower right side of the control panel.

The heaters were sold at retailers nationwide, including Wal-Mart and Ace Hardware, from August 2004 through November 13, 2004 for between $34 and $40.

Consumers should immediately stop using these heaters, unplug them and contact Lakewood to determine if their heater is part of the recall. Lakewood will provide a free replacement heater to each consumer who has a recalled heater.

Consumer Contact: Call Lakewood toll-free at (888) 858-3506 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or visit the companys Web site at www.lakewoodeng.com.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

August 3, 2004
About one million Vornado portable electric heaters are being recalled. A faulty electrical connection can cause the heater to overheat and stop working, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

Vornado has received 24 reports of heater fires, though no injuries have been reported.

The recalled portable electric whole room heaters are designed for indoor use and have model numbers 180VH, VH, Intellitemp, EVH, and DVH. The model numbers are located on the bottom of each unit. Each heater is about 11 inches long, 9 inches wide, and about 12 inches tall; weighs about 6 lbs.; and has the Vornado name and symbol on the front.

Retailers and distributors nationwide, as well as Vornados Web site, sold the heaters from July 1991 through January 2004 for between $50 and $120.

Consumers should stop using the recalled heaters immediately and contact Vornado to arrange for shipping and a repair, free of charge.

Consumer Contact: Contact Vornado at (888) 221-5431 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or log on to the companys website at www.vornado.com.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

April 28, 2004
White-Rodgers is recalling 88,000 temperature controls used on LP and convertible gas water heaters.

The gas water heater controls can gradually open instead of snapping open to full flow, which can cause soot to build up on the water heater burner, presenting a fire hazard. White-Rodgers has received 12 reports involving soot build-up. Eight of these reports included minor fire damage.

The temperature control is a small metal box located above the access panel door of the gas water heater. A white label with red lettering located on the right side of the control contains one of the following model numbers: 37C55U 658, 37C57U 602, 37C72U 520, 37C72U 546, 37C72U 547, or 37C72U 548, and 37C72U 676. There should be a four- digit metal stamped date code located below the label on the right side of the control.

Recalled controls will have date codes 0240 to 0329 (40th week of 2002 to 29th week of 2003). Potentially affected gas water heaters include: AO Smith, Apollo, Crosley, Energysense, Freedom, Intertherm, Kenmore, Maytag, Mission, Myers, Penfield, President, Reliance, Sentry, or State. Beginning serial numbers on these gas water heaters can be checked at www.regcen.com/tempcontrolrecall

Retail distributors and independent servicers have sold and/or installed water heaters with the controls from October 2002 through March 2004.

Contact White-Rodgers to arrange for a qualified service technician to replace the recalled control free of charge. Call White-Rodgers Special Project Office at (800) 426-3579 or visit their web site at www.regcen.com/tempcontrolrecall.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

April 20, 2004
American Standard Companies is recalling about 37,000 Trane and American Standard brand accessory electric heaters. Overheating of the wiring in the accessory heater can lead to wall thermostat fires.

There have been four reports of thermostat fires. Two of the fires resulted in several thousand dollars in property damage. No injuries have been reported.

The 240 volt accessory heaters are used to provide supplemental heat in the heat pump or electric heating system. The accessory heater - model number BAYHTR1415BRKAC manufactured between April 14, 2003 and February 6, 2004 - is located inside the air handler cabinet usually found in the basement, attic, equipment closet or crawlspace of a consumers home. The horizontally or vertically installed air handler is a painted metal cabinet with the Trane or American Standard name plate on its front. Air handler model numbers are found on the outside of the air handler door.

Consumers with one of the recalled units are being directly contacted by the independent dealer that installed it. If you had a Trane or American Standard heat pump or electric heating system installed between April, 2003 and February, 2004, and have not yet been contacted by your installer, write down your air handler model number and call your installer to see whether your air handler could contain a recalled heater. Your may also visit the firms Web sites to see whether your air handler could contain one of the recalled heaters and, if so, call your installer.

To avoid electric shock, do not open the air handler door. Only a professional installer should open the air handler door to determine if you have a recalled accessory heater.

The heaters were sold by independent Trane or American Standard dealers nationwide for about $140.

Consumers who have not yet been contacted by independent dealers should immediately contact their installer to determine if they have a recalled unit. Consumers may arrange for a free inspection and repair through their installer.

Consumer Contact: Consumers should contact their local Trane or American Standard installer, or visit www.trane.com or www.americanstandardair.com for the name of an installer near them. Consumers can call the firm toll-free at (888) 556-0125 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

March 4, 2004
Lasko Products is recalling 186,000 space heaters. The power cord connection can overheat and cause the cord to separate from the space heater. This poses a fire, burn and shock hazard.

Four consumers reported burned and detached power cords. No injuries reported.

There are two types of heaters involved in this recall. The recalled model 5500 heater is an oscillating ceramic heater with dark grey vents surrounded by a bronze trim. The model number is located on a label under the round base. The Model 5700 heater is an oil filled radiator-type heater. The model number is located on a label on the side of the heater near the right front wheel. The name Lasko is printed near the top of both heaters.

The heaters were sold by retailers such as Dollar General and Sams Club stores nationwide from July 2001 through December 2003 for between $40 and $50.

Consumers should stop using the heaters, unplug them and contact Lasko Products for instructions on returning the heater to receive a free replacement heater or a product of similar value.

Consumer Contact: Consumers can call Lasko Products toll-free at (800) 233-6373 anytime or visit the firms Web site at www.laskoproducts.com/recall_heaters.html for more information and to determine if their heater is involved in the recall.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

WASHINGTON, May 7, 2002 -- Eugenio Serafin Inc., of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, is voluntarily recalling about 32,500 electric showerhead hot water heaters because they pose a danger of electrocution.

The showerhead hot water heaters are attached to the shower's water supply piping and connected to the household electrical supply source when central hot water is not available. The nozzle can be easily unscrewed, exposing the uninsulated heater coil. The heater coil's grounding screw does not sufficiently reduce the current through the water, posing an electrocution and shock hazard to the bather.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which said it had not received any reports of injuries or incidents associated with these showerhead water heaters.

The recalled showerhead hot water heaters were sold under the Corona, Corona Maxi, and Fammy model names. They are packaged in a clear plastic bag with a card that reads in part, "ducha", "HECHO EN VENEZUELA POR: TECHNI" and "MIRANDA, VENEZUELA".

Hardware stores and home improvement centers sold the recalled hot water heater components in Puerto Rico from January 1999 to March 2002 for about $18.

Consumers should stop using these showerhead hot water heaters immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a refund. For more information, consumers can contact Eugenio Serafin toll-free at (800) 981-4029 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16, 2001 -- The American Water Heater Co. is voluntarily recalling about 16,000 gas-fired water heaters to replace the gas burners. The burners could produce excess carbon monoxide (CO), posing a risk of CO poisoning to consumers.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

CPSC and the American Water Heater Co. have not received any reports of injuries or incidents relating to these water heaters. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injuries. The firm discovered the problem with the burners on these water heaters during routine testing.

Only natural gas water heaters sold under the following brand names are included in the recall: American Proline, Envirotemp, Mor-Flo, Powerflex, Premier Plus and US Craftmaster. The serial number, located on the data plate on the front of the water heater, starts with 0124 through 0127. The water heaters were sold in both short and tall profiles, and have 30, 40, 50 and 75 gallon capacities. Other model water heaters sold by the American Water Heater Co. are not included in this recall.

Home center stores and contractors sold and installed these water heaters nationwide from June 2001 through September 2001 for between $200 and $500.

Consumers should contact the American Water Heater Co. immediately to arrange for a free repair. Contact the firm at (800) 999-9515 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET on Saturday. Consumers also can reach the firm by fax at (800) 999- 5210 or by email at support@americanwaterheater.com.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17, 2000 -- Cadet Manufacturing today announced the recall of more than 1.9 million Cadet and Encore brand in-wall electric heaters, implicated in more than 320 incidents, including three deaths.

This recall announcement follows the resolution of the lawsuit filed by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) staff against the company on January 14, 1999.

CPSC alleges that the following Cadet and Encore brand in-wall electric heaters are defective and can overheat and catch fire: models FW, FX, LX, TK, ZA, Z, RA, RK, RLX, RX and ZC. The recalled heaters were distributed mainly in California, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

Flames, sparks or molten particles can spew through the front grill cover of the heater into the living area of a residence, putting consumers at risk from fires, including burn injuries, smoke inhalation and property damage. The heaters also can become energized creating a risk of electric shock.

CPSC is aware of more than 320 reports of heaters that smoked, sparked, caught fire, emitted flames, or ejected burning particles or molten materials. These incidents have allegedly resulted in three deaths, two serious burn injuries and property damage claims exceeding $1.2 million, which include five partial or total house fires.

The heaters that are part of the recall announcement are the following models of Cadet and Encore brands: FW, FX, LX, TK, ZA, Z, RA, RK, RLX, RX and ZC. The brand and model are located on a label on the front of the heat box, behind the grill. Before removing the grill to check the identification label, consumers must disconnect the power supply to the heater at the circuit breaker. If power is not disconnected, consumers risk electrocution and shock.

Cadet is offering consumers replacement heaters at a significantly reduced cost. Each heater will cost between $25 and $57, depending on the model. Consumers who already have replaced the recalled units from October 23, 1997, until today can file a claim for partial reimbursement for $25 per heater. Consumers must register to participate in this recall by February 17, 2002. To register, contact Cadet anytime at (800) 567-2613 or at www.cadetco.com/recallprogram.html.

CPSC routinely requires companies to pay the full costs associated with recalls. In this case, Cadet has recently emerged from bankruptcy and is unable to provide free replacements or full reimbursements.

In October 1997, Cadet recalled its model FW, FX, LX and ZA heaters to replace defective over-temperature black plastic limit switches. By December 1997, Cadet informed CPSC that it could no longer pay the full costs of the recall, and that the number of heaters involved were far greater than it had originally known.

While attempting to resolve the problems with the limit switch recall, the CPSC staff discovered additional problems with the heaters involved in the 1997 recall, as well as problems with some other Cadet and Encore models. In addition to the switch defect, the heating elements and internal wiring connections are defective and can fail. Even if consumers have had the heaters' switches repaired, the heaters have additional problems and need to be replaced.

CPSC strongly urges consumers to participate in this recall. Since the recalled heaters pose a fire hazard until they are replaced, consumers should have at least one fully operational smoke detector on every floor of their home, especially near bedrooms. To ensure that the detector's batteries are working, test the detector every month.

Consumers also should have a well-defined and rehearsed escape plan and an alternate escape plan in the event of a fire. You can get information about this from "Your Home Fire Safety Checklist." To obtain a free hard copy of this publication, write to CPSC, Washington, D.C. 20207.