Borg-Warner, Luxaire, Fraser-Johnson, and Moncrief "Heatpipe" furnaces
CPSC Recall #94-004 - October 31, 1993
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 94-004 |
| Recall Date | October 31, 1993 |
| Remedy Type | Replace |
| Units Affected | Approximately 4,000 |
Product
Borg-Warner, Luxaire, Fraser-Johnson, and Moncrief "Heatpipe" furnaces
Description
PRODUCT: Approximately 4,000 Borg-Warner, Luxaire, Fraser-Johnson, and Moncrief "Heatpipe" furnaces manufactured and sold by York International Corporation between 1984 and 1988. PROBLEM: Parts of the furnace and vent system may fail prematurely. Failure of vent components could allow potentially hazardous carbon monoxide (CO) gas to leak into the home. WHAT TO DO: Owners of affected furnaces should call York at 1-877-874-7378 to obtain a free replacement furnace. York is providing a $200 allowance toward the cost of installing the replacement furnace. WASHINGTON, DC -- CPSC today announced that York International Corporation of York, PA has voluntarily offered to replace all Borg-Warner, Luxaire, Fraser-Johnson, and Moncrief "HeatPipe" furnaces. York initiated this warranty enhancement program because certain parts of the furnace and vent system may fail prematurely. Failure of certain furnace and vent components could allow potentially hazardous carbon monoxide (CO) gas to leak into the home. York manufactured approximately 10,000 HeatPipe furnaces between 1984 and 1988 under the brand names Borg-Warner, Luxaire, Fraser-Johnson, and Moncrief. These mid-efficiency furnaces can be identified by the following model numbers: Luxaire/Frasier- Johnson/Moncrief (models PAUT-LD08N073, PAUT-LD12N073, PAUT- LD12N105, and PAUT-LD16N105); Borg-Warner/York (models P1NUD08N06301, P1NUD12N06301, P1NUD12N08901, and P1NUD16NO8901). York estimates approximately 4,000 HeatPipe furnaces remain in use. Under York's warranty program, HeatPipe furnace owners may obtain a free replacement furnace of similar capacity and efficiency to their HeatPipe. Replacement of the HeatPipe furnaces will require professional installation and replacement of some or all of the furnaces' venting components. York will provide a $200 allowance toward the cost of installing the replacement furnace. CPSC urges anyone with a HeatPipe furnace to participate in the HeatPipe replacement program. Consumers can call York at 1-877-874-7378 or contact an authorized York, Fraser-Johnson, or Luxaire dealer to obtain a new replacement furnace. York is sending a letter to all known HeatPipe owners explaining the warranty program. Additionally, CPSC advises all owners of furnaces and fuel-burning appliances to have a competent service technician inspect their appliances and furnaces before the heating season begins. This inspection should include checking the furnace's vent system for corrosion or openings through which carbon monoxide could leak, as well as checking to make sure the furnace is operating properly. Only a qualified service technician should perform repairs or maintenance. CPSC recommends that consumers also purchase and install carbon monoxide detectors that meet the requirements of Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Standard 2034. These detectors warn consumers before hazardous levels of carbon monoxide are present. CO is a colorless, odorless gas that can cause serious illness or death. CPSC's mission is to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with consumer products. The Commission's objective is to reduce the estimated 28.6 million injuries and 21,700 deaths associated each year with the 15,000 different types of consumer products under CPSC's jurisdiction.
Hazard
Parts of the furnace and vent system may fail prematurely. Failure of vent components could allow potentially hazardous carbon monoxide (CO) gas to leak into the home.
Remedy Instructions
Under York's warranty program, HeatPipe furnace owners may obtain a free replacement furnace of similar capacity and efficiency to their HeatPipe. Replacement of the HeatPipe furnaces will require professional installation and replacement of some or all of the furnaces' venting components. York will provide a $200 allowance toward the cost of installing the replacement furnace.
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.
Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product, whether recalled or not, you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.
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.