Energy-Saving Devices On Heating Units Recalled by Intermatic

Energy-Saving Devices On Heating Units Recalled by Intermatic NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 16, 1979 Release # 79-040 Energy-Saving Devices Recalled WASHINGTON, D.C. (Aug. 16) -- Intermatic, Inc., a manufacturer and supplier of electrical products in Spring Grove, Illinois, is voluntarily recalling the heating units from approximately 53,000 automatic temperature setback controls, the Consumer Product Safety Commission today announced. The units are being called back because of an integral carbon resistor which may overheat and start fires. Approximately 3,000 of the units are believed still to be in consumers' possession despite the firm's attempts to recall the product since October, 1978. The setback controls were sold as a two-piece kit under Intermatic's private label, "Temperature Tender." The kit includes the heating unit and an electric timer, which enable residential heating and cooling systems to operate automatically at pre-set temperatures in order to conserve energy. They were sold at retail prices of approximately $20 to $25 nationwide. Commission staffers have been informed of 14 unit failures causing 11 minor fires in similar thermostat control devices. In conversations with CPSC staff, Intermatic officials have said that they are aware of one fire resulting from failure of their product. No injuries have been reported. Subject to the recall are the models FSl00 and FSl "Temperature Tender" heating units. The units are an off-white color and measure approximately 1% by 3 inches. They were manufactured between September, 1976 and August, 1977, and between November, 1977 and May, 1978. The faulty units bear a manufacturer's date code within the following range: 396 through 526, 017 through 327, 427 through 527, or 018 through 218. A date code of 396, for example, designates manufacture during the 39th week of 1976. The date code and model