Package Terminal Air Conditioner/Heat Pump (PTAC)
CPSC Recall #04-229 — September 29, 2004
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 04-229 |
| Recall Date | September 29, 2004 |
| Remedy Type | Replace, Repair |
| Units Affected | About 875,000 |
| Manufacturer | Goodman Company, L.P., of Houston, Texas |
| Manufactured In | United States |
Where It Was Sold
| Amana |
| Trane |
| and American Standard representatives sold the PTACs to hotels/motels |
| hospitals |
| assisted living facilities |
| schools |
| and apartment complexes. Heating |
| ventilation and air conditioning distributors and resellers sold the units to commercial customers and |
| in some cases |
| homeowners. The recalled units were sold throughout the U.S. and parts of Canada between January 1996 and March 2003. |
Product
Package Terminal Air Conditioner/Heat Pump (PTAC)
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Goodman Company, L.P., of Houston, Texas is voluntarily recalling about 875,000 Package Terminal Air Conditioner/Heat Pumps. A fire hazard may result from this chain of events: filter becomes clogged due to lack of maintenance, severely restricting airflow and resulting in elevated internal temperature; this may cause two safety switches to stop working during the product's expected life; if the blower wheel then stops when the product is operated in the heating mode, a fire hazard can develop.Name of product: Package Terminal Air Conditioner/Heat Pump (PTAC)Units: About 875,000Manufacturer: Goodman Company, L.P., of Houston, TexasHazard: Fire hazard resulting from this chain of events: filter becomes clogged due to lack of maintenance, severely restricting airflow and resulting in elevated internal temperature; this may cause two safety switches to stop working during the product's expected life; if the blower wheel then stops when the product is operated in the heating mode, a fire hazard can develop.Incidents/Injuries: Goodman received 29 confirmed reports of units overheating, including eight instances where the PTAC ignited and, in some cases, caused minor property damage. No injuries have been reported.Description: These PTACs are owned mainly by commercial and institutional organizations and are used in the lodging industry, apartments, hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living facilities, schools, and government buildings. A small number of the recalled units are owned by individual homeowners. The PTACs are beige in color and are intended for through-the-wall installation. Goodman manufactured all of the recalled units, which were sold under the Amana, Trane, and American Standard brand names. Goodman and Trane/American Standard are separate, unrelated entities. The recalled PTACs consist of Amana brand units manufactured from January 1996 through March 2003, and Trane and American Standard brand units manufactured from January 1996 through August 2002, that use electric heaters rated at 3.5 kilowatts (kW) or greater. Brand NameSerial and Model NumbersAmanaSerial numbers begin with 96, 97, 98, 99, 00, 01, 02, 0301, 0302, or 0303Model numbers begin with:PTH073A35; PTH074A35; PTH093A35; PTH093A50; PTH094A35; PTH094A50; PTH123A35; PTH123A50; PTH124A35; PTH124A50; PTH153A35; PTH153A50; PTH154A35; PTH154A50; PTC073A35; PTC074A35; PTC093A35; PTC093A50; PTC094A35; PTC094A50; PTC123A35; PTC123A50; PTC124A35; PTC124A50; PTC153A35; PTC153A50; PTC154A35; PTC154A50Trane and American StandardSerial numbers begin with A96, A97, A98, A99, A00, A01, A02Model numbers begin with:PTHC0701G; PTHC0702G; PTHC0901G; PTHC0901J; PTHC0902G; PTHC0902J; PTHC1201G; PTHC1201J; PTHC1202G; PTHC1202J; PTHC1501G; PTHC1501J; PTHC1502G; PTHC1502J; PTEC0701G; PTEC0702G; PTEC0901G; PTEC0901J; PTEC0902G; PTEC0902J; PTEC1201G; PTEC1201J; PTEC1202G; PTEC1202J; PTEC1501G; PTEC1501J; PTEC1502G; PTEC1502JThe serial and model numbers are below the operating controls under the front cover assembly. To check the serial and model numbers, remove the front cover by pulling it from the bottom straight out until the clips release, then lifting it up. For some units, it is first necessary to remove two ?" screws (in the filter compartment) that secure the front cover.Sold to: Amana, Trane, and American Standard representatives sold the PTACs to hotels/motels, hospitals, assisted living facilities, schools, and apartment complexes. Heating, ventilation and air conditioning distributors and resellers sold the units to commercial customers and, in some cases, homeowners. The recalled units were sold throughout the U.S. and parts of Canada between January 1996 and March 2003.Manufactured in: U.S.A.Remedy: Free thermal safety limit switch. Commercial and institutional owners will install the replacement switch themselves. Individual homeowners can get a free repair. Contact the Goodman Hotline to receive the free replacement thermal safety switch. Inspect and clean the air conditioner/heat pump filters immediately to remove any imminent hazard. Continue to clean these filters every 30 days in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations which can be found at www.regcen.com/PTAC. Owner Contact: Call the Goodman Hotline at (800) 729-6122 between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday. Owners can submit a PTAC Recall Information Form at Goodman's website www.regcen.com/PTAC.
Hazard
Fire hazard resulting from this chain of events: filter becomes clogged due to lack of maintenance, severely restricting airflow and resulting in elevated internal temperature; this may cause two safety switches to stop working during the product's expected life; if the blower wheel then stops when the product is operated in the heating mode, a fire hazard can develop.
Incidents & Injuries
Goodman received 29 confirmed reports of units overheating, including eight instances where the PTAC ignited and, in some cases, caused minor property damage. No injuries have been reported.
Remedy Instructions
Free thermal safety limit switch. Commercial and institutional owners will install the replacement switch themselves. Individual homeowners can get a free repair. Contact the Goodman Hotline to receive the free replacement thermal safety switch. Inspect and clean the air conditioner/heat pump filters immediately to remove any imminent hazard. Continue to clean these filters every 30 days in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations which can be found at www.regcen.com/PTAC.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Replace, 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 (Replace, 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.