Two Important Recalls - Certain Types Refrigerators & Heating Vent Pipes

August 26, 2009

Two recalls that may be of interest: Review and see if either may pertain to you. The first is for a Refrigerator recall, a few models are included and the second for vent system. Read for additional information and serial numbers. The second is a product that has to do with heating vent pipes. If you know someone that has this product please forward this information to them so that they can take appropriate action

1. Maytag Expands Recall of Refrigerators Due to Fire Hazard <http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09322.html>

2. CPSC, Goodman Manufacturing Co. Announce Changes to 1998 Recall Program to Replace Dangerous Home Heating Vent Pipes <http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09323.html>

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1. Maytag Expands Recall of Refrigerators Due to Fire Hazard

NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 25, 2009
Release # 09-322

Firm's Recall Hotline: (866) 533-9817
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

Maytag Expands Recall of Refrigerators Due to Fire Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product.

Name of Product: Maytag(r), Magic Chef(r), Performa by Maytag(r) and Crosley(r) brand refrigerators

Units: About 46,000 (1.6 million units were previously recalled March 2009)

Manufacturer: Maytag Corp., of Newton, Iowa

Hazard: An electrical failure in the relay, the component that turns on the refrigerator's compressor, can cause overheating and pose a serious fire hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: Maytag has received 23 additional reports of refrigerator relay ignition, including 4 reports of property damage ranging from smoke damage to extensive kitchen damage.

Description: The recall includes certain Maytag(r), Magic Chef(r), Performa by Maytag(r) and Crosley(r) brand side-by-side and top freezer refrigerators. The affected refrigerators were manufactured in black, bisque, white and stainless steel. They have model and serial numbers printed on a label located on the top middle or left upper side of the refrigerator liner and have the following model and serial number combinations:

Side by Side Refrigerators

Serial Numbers ENDING with: CN, CP, YY, YZ
AND
Model Numbers BEGINNING with: MZ

Top Freezer Refrigerators

Serial Numbers ENDING with: CA, CC, CE, CG, ZB, ZD, ZF, ZH
AND
Model Numbers BEGINNING with: CT15G4, CTB152, CTL151, CTM152, CTN151, MTB195, MTB215, MTB245, MTF195, MTF215, PTB155, PTB175, PTB195, PTB215

Refrigerators with freezers on the bottom are not included in this recall.

Sold at: Department and appliance stores and by homebuilders nationwide from September 2000 through May 2004 for between about $350 and $1,600.

Manufactured in: United States

Remedy: Consumers should immediately contact Maytag to determine if their refrigerator is included in the recall and if so, to schedule a free in-home repair. Consumers should not return the refrigerator to the retailer where it was purchased.

Consumer Contact: For more information, contact Maytag toll-free at (866) 533-9817 anytime, or visit the firm's Web site at www.repair.maytag.com

To see this recall on CPSC's web site, including pictures of the recalled product, please go to: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09322.html

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2. CPSC, Goodman Manufacturing Co. Announce Changes to 1998 Recall Program to Replace Dangerous Home Heating Vent Pipes

NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 25, 2009
Release #09-323

Firm's Recall Hotline: (800) 394-8084
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

CPSC, Goodman Manufacturing Co. Announce Changes to 1998 Recall Program to Replace Dangerous Home Heating Vent Pipes

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The CPSC and Goodman Manufacturing Company, of Houston, TX, are urging consumers who have not yet responded to the previously-announced 1998 recall to do so immediately. After October 1, 2009, the remedy consumers receive will change to be identical to modifications recently announced for a related recall.

The recall included about 10,000 Plexvent and Ultravent HTPV pipe systems attached to certain Goodman mid-efficiency furnaces manufactured from October 1988 to July 1994 (models GUP, GDP, GUPS, GDPS, GUPI, GDPI, GUPX, GDPX, GMP and GMPV for the following brands manufactured by Goodman: Janitrol, GMC, Hamilton Electric, Franklin, Liberty and Sears/Kenmore). The HTPV pipe used for these vents could be susceptible to corrosion, cracking and joint separation, which could result in the release of carbon monoxide (CO) into living areas, posing a danger to consumers. Goodman did not manufacture the HTPV pipe.

The following table describes the different remedies available to consumers with qualifying furnaces that use the two leading brands of HTPV pipe - Plexvent and Ultravent.

Valid claims initiated on or before October 1, 2009, with remediation completed and required documentation submitted by January 1, 2010.

Plexvent owners AND Ultravent owners: Will receive a new, professionally-installed venting system free of charge or a new, high-efficiency Goodman furnace and suitable vent for the manufacturer's price (of just the furnace), with no charge for labor, associated materials or dealer markup.

Valid claims initiated after October 1, 2009

Plexvent owners: A rebate up to $400 toward either an HTPV replacement system, or a new, high-efficiency furnace from Goodman that does not require HTPV.
Ultravent owners: A rebate up to $250 toward either an HTPV replacement system, or a new, high-efficiency furnace from Goodman that does not require HTPV.

Consumers who register after October 1, 2009 and who choose to repair their systems will be responsible for up-front payment of parts, labor and permits, and will be responsible for arranging to have the work performed.

Consumers should determine whether they have a recalled HTPV pipe system by checking the vent pipes attached to their natural gas furnace. Vent pipes subject to this recall can be identified as follows:

* the vent pipes are plastic;

* the vent pipes are colored gray or black;

* "Plexvent," "Plexvent II" or "Ultravent" is stamped on the vent pipe or printed on stickers placed on pieces used to connect the vent pipes; and

* the vent pipes are located on furnaces and the pipes go through the sidewalls of structures.

Other plastic vent pipes, such as white PVC, are not included in the recall.

Owners of Goodman furnaces that are vented with HTPV pipe should immediately call Goodman at (800) 394-8084 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT Monday through Friday. CPSC reminds all consumers to have fuel-burning appliances professionally inspected each year to check for cracks or separations in the vents that could allow CO to leak into the home. In addition, CPSC recommends that every home should have at least one CO alarm.

To see this recall update on CPSC's web site, please go to: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09323.html



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CPSC is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about it: https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard or can injure children. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270. To join a CPSC email subscription list, please go to www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

___________________________________________________________________________________________ Blog Information August 26, 2009 - Localism for Comal County Texas, New Braunfels & Canyon Lake Texas