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Wallpaper Steamers

CPSC Recall #97-096 — April 6, 1997

Recall Summary

Recall Number97-096
Recall DateApril 6, 1997
Remedy TypeReplace, Repair
Units AffectedAbout 44,000

Where It Was Sold

Hardware and home supply stores nationwide sold the steamers from July 1994 through February 1997 for about $70.

Product

Wallpaper Steamers

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Wagner Spray Tech Corp. of Plymouth, Minn., is repairing about 44,000 wallpaper steamers sold under the brand name "Wagner Power Steamer" (model 700). Under certain conditions, steam and hot water can forcefully escape from the unit when the filler cap is opened. Consumers can be burned by the hot water and steam. Wagner has received 5 reports of first- and second-degree burn injuries to consumers' hands, arms, legs, and feet from forcefully escaping steam and hot water. The plastic steamer is mainly gray and black with a round 1-gallon water container measuring 6.5 inches in height by 9.5 inches in diameter. The steamer has an 11.5-foot hose that connects the steamplate to the steamer. The filler cap is yellow and is attached to the end of the hose that connects to the spout of the water container. The water container and the steamplate both have yellow labels displaying model number 700 and brand name "Wagner Power Steamer." Model 700 steamers have serial numbers beginning with K and ending with N, beginning with L and ending with N, or beginning with M and ending with N. The serial number is printed in blue ink on the bottom of the water container. The steamer was packaged in a carton labeled in part, "WAGNER POWER STEAMER...Wallpaper Remover...MODEL 700." The carton displays various pictures of the steamer. Labeling on the carton is written in English, Spanish, and French. Hardware and home supply stores nationwide sold the steamers from July 1994 through February 1997 for about $70. Consumers should immediately stop using the steamers and call Wagner at (800) 686-8525 or write to the company at 1770 Fernbrook Lane, Plymouth, Minn. 55447 to receive a free replacement hose/filler cap. The steamer is to be repaired at home by replacing the old hose/filler cap with the new one.

Hazard

Under certain conditions, steam and hot water can forcefully escape from the unit when the filler cap is opened. Consumers can be burned by the hot water and steam.

Incidents & Injuries

Wagner has received 5 reports of first- and second-degree burn injuries to consumers' hands, arms, legs, and feet from forcefully escaping steam and hot water.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should immediately stop using the steamers and call Wagner at (800) 686-8525 or write to the company at 1770 Fernbrook Lane, Plymouth, Minn. 55447 to receive a free replacement hose/filler cap. The steamer is to be repaired at home by replacing the old hose/filler cap with the new one.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Replace, 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 (Replace, 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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