LockTop Fireplace Damper and Cap sets

CPSC Recall #95-104 — April 17, 1995

Recall Summary

Recall Number95-104
Recall DateApril 17, 1995
Remedy TypeRepair
Units AffectedApproximately 36,000

Product

LockTop Fireplace Damper and Cap sets

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- CPSC, Fireplace Technologies Inc., of Louisville, Ky., is announcing a program to provide free kits to modify approximately 36,000 LockTop Fireplace Damper and Cap sets. The vent dampers might close if soot builds up and results in chimney fire. This could force smoke and flue gasses back into the house, which may present a risk of death or injury from inhalation of smoke and carbon monoxide. Although no injuries have been reported, CPSC is aware of two incidents in which the vent closed during chimney fires, potentially exposing consumers to hazardous smoke and carbon monoxide. The box-shaped LockTop Fireplace Damper and Cap is 8 inches tall and has a hollow square, cast aluminum base ranging in size from 8 inches by 8 inches to 17 inches by 17 inches, depending on the model. The product's collapsible sides are connected to a solid cast aluminum lid. The device can be permanently mounted to the top of a chimney and functions as both a damper and a chimney cap. The products were sold through chimney sweeps and wood fuel appliance contractors from December 1989 to the present. Consumers who have a LockTop Fireplace Damper and Cap sets should contact the chimney sweep or contractor who installed the unit or call Fireplace Technologies at (800) 737-1067 for a free retrofit kit. The retrofit kit will be installed at no cost to the consumer and will prevent the vent from closing during chimney fires. All new LockTop Fireplace Damper and Cap sets purchased after May 15, 1995 will have the kit permanently incorporated into the unit.

Hazard

The vent dampers might close if soot builds up and results in chimney fire. This could force smoke and flue gasses back into the house, which may present a risk of death or injury from inhalation of smoke and carbon monoxide.

Incidents & Injuries

Although no injuries have been reported, CPSC is aware of two incidents in which the vent closed during chimney fires, potentially exposing consumers to hazardous smoke and carbon monoxide.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers who have a LockTop Fireplace Damper and Cap sets should contact the chimney sweep or contractor who installed the unit or call Fireplace Technologies at (800) 737-1067 for a free retrofit kit. The retrofit kit will be installed at no cost to the consumer and will prevent the vent from closing during chimney fires.

What Should You Do?

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