Electric Baseboard Heater Thermostats Revised Rating & Recall by Honeywell

Electric Baseboard Heater Thermostats Revised Rating & Recall by Honeywell NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 9, 1998 Release # 98-139 Company Phone Number: 877) 575-4533 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: Ken Giles, (301) 504-7052 CPSC, Honeywell Announce Revised Rating and Recall of Electric Baseboard Heater Thermostats WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Honeywell Inc. of Minneapolis, Minn., is revising the rating of 26,000 electric baseboard heater thermostats and recalling about 2,600 of the devices in the United States. The thermostats are used only on electric baseboard heaters. The thermostats were rated at a higher wattage than they are able to handle. If too much power runs through the thermostats, they can overheat, presenting a potential fire hazard. In the United States, Honeywell has found 10 instances of thermostats overheating when connected to baseboard heaters using over 3000 watts. In two instances, the unit ignited, resulting in fire damage to the thermostat's casing and smoke damage to the surrounding wall. No injuries have been reported. The electric baseboard heater thermostats were rated to a 3800 watt maximum, which is a higher wattage than they are able to handle. For thermostats connected to heaters above 2500 watts, Honeywell will send consumers a replacement thermostat rated to 5280 watts. For thermostats connected to heaters at 2500 watts and below, Honeywell will send consumers new labels to revise the maximum wattage to 2500 watts. The thermostat carries the Honeywell brand name with model T4600 or CT1650. The thermostat also was sold under the King Chronolux brand name with model K4600S. The brand name is stamped on front of the unit, and the model number is located underneath the unit's snap-off front cover. The unit is rectangular in shape and it i