GE Zoneline® Air Conditioners and Heating Units
CPSC Recall #16-025 — November 3, 2015
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 16-025 |
| Recall Date | November 3, 2015 |
| Remedy Type | Repair |
| Units Affected | About 33,500 |
| Importer | GE Appliances, of Louisville, KY |
| Manufactured In | China |
Where It Was Sold
| GE authorized representatives and HVAC distributors nationwide from January 2010 through December 2013 for between $1 |
| 000 and $1 |
| 200. |
Product
GE Zoneline® Air Conditioners and Heating Units
Description
Moisture accumulates near the unit's heater when vent door open, along with two shorted electrical components can create an electrical ground path and arcing.
Hazard
Moisture from outdoor air can accumulate near the unit's heater when the unit is operated with the vent door continuously open. This, along with two shorted electrical components, can create an electrical ground path and arcing, posing a risk of fire.
Incidents & Injuries
GE has received three reports involving smoke and/or fire associated with the unit's heater resulting in about $30,000 of property damage. No injuries have been reported.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should contact GE to schedule a free repair. Do not operate the PTAC unit with the external vent open while awaiting a free repair. Property maintenance personnel should remove the unit's front panel and locate the vent door control lever at the left side of the Zoneline unit to ensure the lever is in the closed position.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Repair at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Repair) at no cost to you.
If the product caused a fire or burn injury, document the incident with photos and preserve the product if it is safe to do so. Report the incident to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov and to your local fire department. Contact the manufacturer to inform them of the incident — they are required to track and report injuries to CPSC. You may also want to consult a personal injury attorney, as fire and burn injuries caused by defective products can be grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer.
In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.
If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.