White-Rodgers Recalls Home Heating and Cooling Thermostats Due to Fire Hazard
Recall 14166 · Apr 30, 2014 · White-Rodgers
740,000
units affected
740,000
units affected
Facts
- Recall number
- 14166
- Date
- Apr 30, 2014
- Company
- White-Rodgers
- Units affected
- 740,000
- Product
- Home Heating and Cooling Thermostats
- Product type
- Thermostats
- Remedy
- Repair, Replacement
- Hazard
- Fire
The product
This recall involves four models of White-Rodgers digital thermostats. The thermostats are white with blue lighted screens and have one of the following names printed on the front of them: "COMFORTSENTRY," "DICO," "Emerson," "Frigidaire," "Maytag," "Nutone," "Partners Choice," "Rheem," "Ruud," "Unico," "Water Furnace," "Westinghouse," "White-Rodgers" or "Zonefirst." The thermostats have a battery door on the top left corner. There are three or four buttons to the right and also below the thermostat screen. Recalled thermostats do not show a battery icon on the left side of the blue lighted screen.
What can happen
The alkaline batteries used in the thermostat can leak onto the circuit board posing a fire hazard.
The fix
Consumers should check thermostats for battery icon on the left side of the blue lighted screen, if the battery icon is not shown, contact White-Rodgers to receive a free repair or a replacement thermostat.
Incidents and where it was sold
- Incidents
- The firm has received seven reports of burn damage to the thermostat, including two involving minor property damage. No injuries have been reported.
- Sold at
- Heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment manufacturers and distributors and at hardware retailers nationwide from January 2006 through December 2013 for about $30 to $70.
Related pages
Questions and answers
What should I do with the recalled home heating and cooling thermostats?
Consumers should check thermostats for battery icon on the left side of the blue lighted screen, if the battery icon is not shown, contact White-Rodgers to receive a free repair or a replacement thermostat.
What is the hazard?
The alkaline batteries used in the thermostat can leak onto the circuit board posing a fire hazard.
A recall means the maker found a safety problem and offers a free fix; it does not mean every unit has the problem. Units affected are as reported by the company. Popular models sell more and so have more recalls and complaints. Official public data; texts are shortened. Contact the company named above for the remedy.