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Electric In-Wall Heater

CPSC Recall #96-102 — April 14, 1996

Recall Summary

Recall Number96-102
Recall DateApril 14, 1996
Remedy TypeRefund
Units AffectedApproximately 80,000

Product

Electric In-Wall Heater

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - CPSC, Square D Company of Palatine, Ill., is announcing a voluntary recall of approximately 80,000 electric in-wall heaters. A rubber grommet, which holds the heater's fan in place, may deteriorate over time, causing the fan to stop blowing. If this occurs, the heater coils can overheat to cause burning or scorching of the wall or nearby house furnishings. Square D Company has received about 50 complaints or claims of in-wall heaters overheating, including fourteen claims of property damage. The involvement of the in-wall heaters in the reported incidents has not been confirmed. This recall involves electric in-wall "TW" heaters sold between 1970 and 1986 with brand names Square D and Nelco Corporation. Model numbers include TW 2422, TW 2022, and TW 1222; Series A or B. To identify the heaters, consumers must remove the grill of their in-wall heater and look for the identification label located on the left side of the heater just below the blower wheel. To prevent the potential for fire or injury, consumers should immediately turn off the power to the affected heaters and stop using them until they are replaced. Square D no longer sells these heaters. The Company is offering to reimburse consumers 25% of the cost for replacement heater(s). To obtain 25% of the cost for replacement heater(s), the consumer should purchase replacement heater(s) from a retailer and submit a copy of the purchase receipt and the model identification labels from the recalled heaters. The reimbursement can be obtained only for the purchase of the same number of heater(s) of equal or less physical size and wattage. The consumer should contact Square D Company, now known as Schneider Electric at (877) 202-9046 between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, to obtain further information. This is the second voluntary recall announced in a week by CPSC and Square D. The earlier program was on 920,000 Square D and Nelco Corporation brand baseboard heaters sold between 1970 and 1986. For more information on the prior recall, consumers should call (877) 202-9046 between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

Hazard

 A rubber grommet, which holds the heater's fan in place, may deteriorate over time, causing the fan to stop blowing. If this occurs, the heater coils can overheat to cause burning or scorching of the wall or nearby house furnishings.

Incidents & Injuries

Square D Company has received about 50 complaints or claims of in-wall heaters overheating, including fourteen claims of property damage. The involvement of the in-wall heaters in the reported incidents has not been confirmed.

Remedy Instructions

Square D no longer sells these heaters. The Company is offering to reimburse consumers 25% of the cost for replacement heater(s). To obtain 25% of the cost for replacement heater(s), the consumer should purchase replacement heater(s) from a retailer and submit a copy of the purchase receipt and the model identification labels from the recalled heaters.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund 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 (Refund) 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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