Holmes® Oil-Filled Electric Heaters
CPSC Recall #07-168 — April 25, 2007
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 07-168 |
| Recall Date | April 25, 2007 |
| Remedy Type | Replace |
| Units Affected | About 300,000 |
| Manufactured In | China |
Where It Was Sold
| Discount department stores |
| hardware stores and other retailers from September 2005 through February 2007 for between $40 and $50. |
Product
Holmes® Oil-Filled Electric Heaters
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), The Holmes Group, of Milford, Mass., is voluntarily recalling about 300,000 Holmes® Oil-Filled Electric Heaters. A poor electrical connection within the heater can lead to overheating. This poses fire and thermal burn hazards.Name of product: Holmes® Oil-Filled Electric HeatersUnits: About 300,000Distributor: The Holmes Group, of Milford, Mass.Hazard: A poor electrical connection within the heater can lead to overheating. This poses fire and thermal burn hazards.Incidents/Injuries: The Holmes Group has received reports of 59 incidents involving the recalled heaters. There were 12 reports of minor injuries including four reported burns. There were 36 reports of property damage including four fires that caused between $41,000 and $200,000 in damage.Description: The recall involves Holmes oil-filled electric heaters with model number HOH2505 and HOH2520. The model number and "Holmes®" are printed on the side of the unit near the bottom.Sold at: Discount department stores, hardware stores and other retailers from September 2005 through February 2007 for between $40 and $50.Manufactured in: ChinaRemedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled heaters and contact the Holmes Group to receive a free replacement heater.Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact The Holmes Group at (800) 306-2471 anytime, or visit the firm's Web site at www.holmesoilfilledheaterrecall.com.
Hazard
A poor electrical connection within the heater can lead to overheating. This poses fire and thermal burn hazards.
Incidents & Injuries
The Holmes Group has received reports of 59 incidents involving the recalled heaters. There were 12 reports of minor injuries including four reported burns. There were 36 reports of property damage including four fires that caused between $41,000 and $200,000 in damage.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled heaters and contact the Holmes Group to receive a free replacement heater.
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.