NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
| Office of Information and Public Affairs |
Washington, DC 20207 |
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
CONTACT: Ken Giles |
| February 16, 1999 |
(301) 504-0580 Ext. 1184 |
| Release # 99-061 |
|
CPSC, Rheem Manufacturing Announce Recall to Repair Electric Furnaces and
Air Handlers
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC), Rheem Manufacturing Co., of Fort Smith, Ark., is recalling
about 135,000 electric furnaces and air handlers for repair. The heating
elements in the electric furnaces and air handlers can disintegrate, and expel
small particles of molten metal through the duct system and into the living area
of the residence. The molten metal particles can ignite nearby combustibles,
presenting a fire hazard to consumers.
Rheem has received 16 reports of fires resulting in minor to serious property
damage, including one report of a total house fire. No injuries have been
reported.
Only certain down flow and horizontal installations are involved in this recall.
Specifically, only Rheem RBEA, UBEA, WBEA, and WBEMA model electric furnaces and
Rheem RBHA, UBHA, WBHA, and WBHMA model electric air handlers with date codes
between 3592 and 4595 are part of this recall. The model and date code are on an
identification plate affixed to the front of the unit. The date code is the four
digits following the letter "M" in the unit's serial number. The first
two digits of the date code specifies the week and the last two digits specifies
the year. The recalled units have cabinets, which are constructed of sheet steel
painted beige or platinum, that house a circulating air blower, electric heating
elements, mechanical controls, and an air filter. The physical dimensions of the
units are 35 inches in length, 22 inches in depth and in varying widths of 14,
17.5, 21 or 24.5 inches, depending on model size.
Rheem sold the furnaces and air handlers nationwide from August 1992 through
December 1995 to distributors who, in turn, sold them to heating, ventilating,
and air conditioning dealers. The furnaces and air handlers reportedly were sold
to consumers for about $600 to $950.
Consumers with recalled furnaces and air handlers should call Rheem's toll-free
number (877) 749-6035, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Rheem will
provide information on how to arrange to have a qualified service technician
repair the unit by installing a new blower assembly, which contains a heating
element with improved reliability. Rheem will pay for the new part, as well as
provide a labor allowance for its installation.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission protects the public
from the unreasonable risk of injury or death from 15,000 types of consumer
products under the agency's jurisdiction. To report a dangerous product or a
product-related injury and for information on CPSC's fax-on-demand service, call
CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270. To
order a press release through fax-on-demand, call (301) 504-0051 from the
handset of your fax machine and enter the release number. Consumers can obtain
this release and recall information or report product hazards to info@cpsc.gov.
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