Air Exchangers

CPSC Recall #11-240 — June 6, 2011

Recall Summary

Recall Number11-240
Recall DateJune 6, 2011
Remedy TypeRepair
Units AffectedAbout 1,400 in the United States
ManufacturerVenmar Ventilation Inc., of Quebec, Canada
Manufactured InCanada

Where It Was Sold

Heating
plumbing and building supply distributors nationwide from January 1996 through December 2001 for between $350 and $850.

Product

Air Exchangers

Description

This recall involves air exchangers sold under different brands that are used to circulate air in and out of the home. The metal air exchangers are painted blue or grey. Air exchangers included in the recall were manufactured from 1996 through 2001 and have brand and model information printed on the unit's rating plate or on the side of the unit. The following brand names and model numbers are included in the recall: Brand Model Venmar EA 20XXX, 41005, Air Exchanger Venmar AVS 4100X vanEE 1601510 Flair 41XXX Hush 1601510 Guardian by Broan AE60

Hazard

The motor in the air exchangers can overheat, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

Incidents & Injuries

The firm has received nine reports of overheating incidents resulting in fires and property damage outside of the United States. No incidents have been reported in the United States.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should immediately turn off and stop using their air exchangers. Consumers should contact Venmar Ventilation to request a free inspection and repair by a Venmar field technician.

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.