White-Rodgers Recalls Home Heating and Cooling Thermostats Due to Fire Hazard

Home Heating and Cooling Thermostats

Recall Date: April 30th, 2014
Type: Thermostats
Units: About 740,000 in the United States and 403,000 in Canada
Hazards: The alkaline batteries used in the thermostat can leak onto the circuit board posing a fire hazard.
Remedies: Replace
Repair
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.

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.

Images:

Home Heating and Cooling Thermostats

Only thermostats without a battery icon require action

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 www.white-rodgers.com and click on “White-Rodgers 1F8x-04xx Thermostat Recall” at the lower left corner of the homepage for more information.

Injuries:

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

Retailers:

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.