Duracraft heaters, DeLonghi headers, Duracraft humidifiers, and Honeywell humidifiers
CPSC Recall #98-091 — April 7, 1998
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 98-091 |
| Recall Date | April 7, 1998 |
| Remedy Type | Replace |
| Units Affected | About 1.6 million Duracraft brand heaters, about 8,000 DeLonghi brand heaters, and 150,000 Duracraft and Honeywell brand humidifiers |
Where It Was Sold
| Retail outlets including discount stores |
| home centers |
| club stores and catalog showrooms nationwide sold the Duracraft heaters from January 1989 through March 1998 for about $50 to $75. The DeLonghi heaters were sold from January 1989 through December 1990. Similar retail outlets nationwide sold the Duracraft and Honeywell humidifiers from May 1995 through March 1998 for about $50 to $80. |
Product
Duracraft heaters, DeLonghi headers, Duracraft humidifiers, and Honeywell humidifiers
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Honeywell Consumer Products, of Southborough, Mass., is recalling about 1.6 million heaters sold under the Duracraft brand name, about 8,000 heaters sold under the DeLonghi brand name and 150,000 humidifiers sold under the Duracraft and Honeywell brand names in the United States and Canada. The heaters and humidifiers can overheat, presenting a fire hazard. Honeywell has received 56 reports of heaters overheating or catching fire, causing one minor injury, and six reports of humidifiers overheating or catching fire. Some of the fires relating to these heaters and humidifiers caused extensive damage. Only Duracraft model CZ-303, CZ-304, CZ-308, CZ-318, CZ-319 Heat Express and DeLonghi model CER-1 portable electric ceramic heaters are involved in this recall. The model number is located on a silver sticker on the bottom of the heater. The heater is 1500 watts and is colored black. Control knobs are located on the top or front of the unit. "Heat Express " and "Duracraft " or "DeLonghi" appear on the front of the unit. Only Duracraft model DH-950 Moisture Select™ humidifiers and Honeywell model HCW-3040 Moisture Select™ humidifiers are involved in this recall. The model number is located on the bottom of the humidifier. The humidifier is colored white and has a clear water tank that holds about two gallons. Control knobs and two output vents (one for cold moisture and one for warm moisture) are located on top of the unit. "Duracraft" or "Honeywell" appears between the two output vents on top of the unit. Retail outlets including discount stores, home centers, club stores and catalog showrooms nationwide sold the Duracraft heaters from January 1989 through March 1998 for about $50 to $75. The DeLonghi heaters were sold from January 1989 through December 1990. Similar retail outlets nationwide sold the Duracraft and Honeywell humidifiers from May 1995 through March 1998 for about $50 to $80. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled heaters and humidifiers and call Honeywell at (800) 632-9498 anytime for instructions on returning their product for a free replacement.
Hazard
The heaters and humidifiers can overheat, presenting a fire hazard.
Incidents & Injuries
Honeywell has received 56 reports of heaters overheating or catching fire, causing one minor injury, and six reports of humidifiers overheating or catching fire. Some of the fires relating to these heaters and humidifiers caused extensive damage.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled heaters and humidifiers and call Honeywell at (800) 632-9498 anytime for instructions on returning their product for a free replacement.
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.