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Royal Sovereign model RST-1200 portable heaters

CPSC Recall #99-004 - October 6, 1998

Recall Summary

Recall Number99-004
Recall DateOctober 6, 1998
Remedy TypeRepair
Units AffectedAbout 39,300
Manufactured InKorea

Where It Was Sold

Home building supply and discount stores nationwide
including Hechingers
Builders' Square
Walmart and Montgomery Ward
sold the heaters from January 1992 through September 1997 for about $99.

Product

Royal Sovereign model RST-1200 portable heaters

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Royal Centurian Inc. and its affiliate Royal Sovereign Corp., both of Englewood, N.J., are voluntarily recalling about 39,300 portable heaters. The mechanism which rotates the heater side-to-side can wear through the insulation of electrical wiring inside the heater's base. In addition, some of the connections between the electrical wires and other components inside of the heater may be faulty. Either of these conditions can result in a fire. Royal Centurian/Sovereign have received 13 reports of fires involving the heaters, which may have caused the fires. The fires resulted in about $70,000 in property damage. No injuries have been reported. Only Royal Sovereign model RST-1200 portable heaters with serial numbers beginning with 92, 93, 94, 95 or 96 are being recalled. These heaters use a fan to force the heated air into the room, and they rotate side-to-side to distribute the heated air throughout the room. These units are constructed of black plastic in a cylindrical shape with a diameter of 7 inches and a height of 13 inches. The units are labeled in part, "RS...CERAMIC HEATER AUTO THERMOSTAT CONTROL...120v, 60 hz, 1500 w...MODEL NO. RST-1200 ...Royal Sovereign Corp...UL LISTED AIR HEATER...MADE IN KOREA." The serial number is located underneath the heater's base. Home building supply and discount stores nationwide, including Hechingers, Builders' Square, Walmart and Montgomery Ward, sold the heaters from January 1992 through September 1997 for about $99. Consumers should stop using these heaters immediately and call Royal Centurian Inc. toll-free at (888) 347-2757 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EDT Monday through Friday for instructions on returning the heaters for free repair. Link to CPSC's provisionally accepted settlement agreement with Royal Sovereign.

Hazard

The mechanism which rotates the heater side-to-side can wear through the insulation of electrical wiring inside the heater's base. In addition, some of the connections between the electrical wires and other components inside of the heater may be faulty. Either of these conditions can result in a fire.

Incidents & Injuries

Royal Centurian/Sovereign have received 13 reports of fires involving the heaters, which may have caused the fires. The fires resulted in about $70,000 in property damage. No injuries have been reported.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should stop using these heaters immediately and call Royal Centurian Inc. toll-free at (888) 347-2757 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EDT Monday through Friday for instructions on returning the heaters for free repair.

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.

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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.

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