Serving
Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois
CPSC
Reminds Consumers to Check
for Recalled Cadet In-Wall
Heaters
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S.
Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSC) is urging consumers
to examine their in-wall electric
heaters to determine if they
are among the 1.9 million
Cadet and Encore brand heaters
recalled in February 2000.
Although the Cadet Manufacturing
Co. heaters were sold and
distributed primarily in California,
Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and
Washington from about 1978
through 2000, some of the
heaters were sold in other
states. A four-year old boy
died on September 14, 2002,
in Alexandria, Va., when one
of the recalled Cadet heaters
allegedly was involved in
a house fire.
CPSC strongly urges consumers
to stop using these heaters
and have them replaced if
they have one of the recalled
models. Consumers who had
their heaters repaired under
Cadet's original
program in 1997 still
need to get their heaters
replaced. Consumers are advised
to contact the Cadet informational
Hotline or visit their website
www.cadetco.com
for where to buy replacement
heaters.
The following models of Cadet
and Encore brands were involved
in the February 2000 recall:
FW, FX,
LX,
TK,
ZA,
Z, RA,
RK, RLX,
RX,
RW
and ZC
. The brand and model are
located on a label on the
front of the heat box, behind
the grill. Before removing
the grill to check the identification
label, consumers must turn
off the power supply to the
heater at the electrical panel
board (circuit breaker or
fuse box). If power is not
turned off, consumers risk
electrocution.
CPSC alleged that these Cadet
and Encore brand in-wall electric
heaters are defective and
can overheat and catch fire.
Flames, sparks, or molten
particles can spew through
the front grill cover of the
heater into the living area
of a residence, putting consumers
at risk from fires, including
burn injuries, smoke inhalation,
and property damage. The heaters
and their grills also can
become energized, creating
a risk of electric shock.
CPSC is aware of more than
320 reports of heaters that
smoked, sparked, caught fire,
emitted flames, or ejected
burning particles or molten
materials. These incidents
have allegedly resulted in
four deaths, two serious burn
injuries and property damage
claims exceeding $4.3 million,
which includes six partial
or total house fires.
In January 1999, CPSC filed
a lawsuit against Cadet to
compel it to recall the heaters.
Cadet filed for bankruptcy
the same month. Working with
the company and its creditors,
on February 17, 2000, CPSC
and Cadet announced a settlement
of the lawsuit and a recall
of the heaters. Cadet agreed
to make new heaters available
to Cadet owners at significantly
reduced prices. However, due
to Cadet's bankruptcy, the
opportunity to obtain discounted
heaters expired on February
17, 2002.
Since the heaters pose a
fire hazard until they are
replaced, consumers should
have at least one fully operational
smoke detector on every floor
of their home, especially
near bedrooms. To ensure that
the detector's batteries are
working, test the detector
every month. Consumers also
should have a well-defined
and rehearsed escape plan
and an alternate escape plan
in the event of a fire. These
recommendations and more are
covered in "Your
Home Fire Safety Checklist"
(a pdf version is also available).
You can also have a free copy
mailed to you by writing to
CPSC, Washington, D.C. 20207.
For more information about
the recall, contact Cadet's
informational Hotline at (800)
567-2613 anytime or visit
the firm's website at www.cadetco.com
