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Furnances
Rheem Electric
Furnances
Furnaces,
Vents, Pipes
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CPSC, Rheem Manufacturing Announce Recall to Repair Electric
Furnaces and Air Handlers
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission (CPSC), Rheem Manufacturing Co., of Fort Smith,
Ark., is recalling about 135,000 electric furnaces and air handlers
for repair. The heating elements in the electric furnaces and
air handlers can disintegrate, and expel small particles of molten
metal through the duct system and into the living area of the
residence. The molten metal particles can ignite nearby combustibles,
presenting a fire hazard to consumers.
Rheem has received 16 reports of fires resulting in minor to
serious property damage, including one report of a total house
fire. No injuries have been reported.
Only certain down flow and horizontal installations are involved
in this recall. Specifically, only Rheem RBEA, UBEA, WBEA, and
WBEMA model electric furnaces and Rheem RBHA, UBHA, WBHA, and
WBHMA model electric air handlers with date codes between 3592
and 4595 are part of this recall. The model and date code are
on an identification plate affixed to the front of the unit. The
date code is the four digits following the letter "M" in the unit's
serial number. The first two digits of the date code specifies
the week and the last two digits specifies the year. The recalled
units have cabinets, which are constructed of sheet steel painted
beige or platinum, that house a circulating air blower, electric
heating elements, mechanical controls, and an air filter. The
physical dimensions of the units are 35 inches in length, 22 inches
in depth and in varying widths of 14, 17.5, 21 or 24.5 inches,
depending on model size.
Rheem sold the furnaces and air handlers nationwide from August
1992 through December 1995 to distributors who, in turn, sold
them to heating, ventilating, and air conditioning dealers. The
furnaces and air handlers reportedly were sold to consumers for
about $600 to $950.
Consumers with recalled furnaces and air handlers should call
Rheem's toll-free number (877) 749-6035, available 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week. Rheem will provide information on how to arrange
to have a qualified service technician repair the unit by installing
a new blower assembly, which contains a heating element with improved
reliability. Rheem will pay for the new part, as well as provide
a labor allowance for its installation.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission protects the public
from the unreasonable risk of injury or death from 15,000 types
of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. To report
a dangerous product or a product-related injury and for information
on CPSC's fax-on-demand service, call CPSC's hotline at (800)
638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270. To order
a press release through fax-on-demand, call (301) 504-0051 from
the handset of your fax machine and enter the release number.
Consumers can obtain this release and recall information or report
product hazards to info@cpsc.gov.
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