LP and Convertible Gas Water Heater Temperature Controls
CPSC Recall #04-128 — April 27, 2004
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 04-128 |
| Recall Date | April 27, 2004 |
| Remedy Type | Replace |
| Units Affected | 88,000 |
| Manufacturer | White-Rodgers, a division of Emerson Electric Co., of St. Louis, Mo. |
| Manufactured In | Mexico |
Where It Was Sold
| Retail distributors and independent servicers have sold and/or installed water heaters with the controls from October 2002 through March 2004. |
Product
LP and Convertible Gas Water Heater Temperature Controls
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), White-Rodgers, a division of Emerson Electric Co., of St. Louis, Mo., is voluntarily recalling about 88,000 LP and Convertible Gas Water Heater Temperature Controls. 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.Name of product: LP and Convertible Gas Water Heater Temperature ControlsUnits: 88,000Manufacturer: White-Rodgers, a division of Emerson Electric Co., of St. Louis, Mo.Hazard: 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.Incidents/Injuries: White-Rodgers has received 12 reports involving soot build-up. Eight of these reports included minor fire damage.Description: 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. Sold at: Retail distributors and independent servicers have sold and/or installed water heaters with the controls from October 2002 through March 2004.Manufactured in: MexicoRemedy: Contact White-Rodgers to arrange for a qualified service technician to replace the recalled control free of charge.Consumer Contact: Call White-Rodgers Special Project Office at (800) 633-6709 or visit their website at https://climate.emerson.com/en-us/brands/white-rodgers/recall/lpwaterheater.
Hazard
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.
Incidents & Injuries
White-Rodgers has received 12 reports involving soot build-up. Eight of these reports included minor fire damage.
Remedy Instructions
Contact White-Rodgers to arrange for a qualified service technician to replace the recalled control free of charge.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Replace 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 (Replace) 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.