Home heating and cooling thermostats recalled due to fire hazard

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - Home heating and cooling thermostats sold under multiple brand names have been recalled because the alkaline batteries can leak onto the circuit board posing a fire hazard, according to the Consumer Products Safety Commission.

The CPSC provided the following information:

Consumer Contact White-Rodgers toll-free at (888) 624-1901 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or online at http://www.white-rodgers.com and click on White-Rodgers 1F8x-04xx Thermostat Recall at the lower left corner of the homepage for more information.

Units About 740,000 in the United States and 403,000 in Canada

Description 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.

Incidents/Injuries The firm has received seven reports of burn damage to the thermostat, including two involving minor property damage. No injuries have been reported.

Remedy 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.

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.

Distributor White-Rodgers of St. Louis, Mo., a division of Emerson Climate Technologies.

Manufactured in China

Read more:
Home heating and cooling thermostats recalled due to fire hazard