The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereCPSC·04128·Announced 2004-04-28

White-Rodgers Recalls Gas Water Heater Temperature Controls Due to Fire Hazard

White-Rodgers is recalling 88,000 LP and convertible gas water heater temperature controls because they can cause soot buildup and fire damage.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).

The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a fire hazard with reported minor fire damage, which aligns with the rubric criterion for 'significant injury/property-damage reports' under the Severe (4) classification.

Plain-English summary

White-Rodgers, a division of Emerson Electric Co., is recalling approximately 88,000 LP and convertible gas water heater temperature controls. The recall involves specific model numbers (37C55U 658, 37C57U 602, 37C72U 520, 37C72U 546, 37C72U 547, 37C72U 548, and 37C72U 676) with date codes ranging from 0240 to 0329. These controls were installed in gas water heaters manufactured by brands including AO Smith, Apollo, Crosley, Energysense, Freedom, Intertherm, Kenmore, Maytag, Mission, Myers, Penfield, President, Reliance, Sentry, and State.

The hazard exists because the temperature controls can gradually open instead of snapping open to full flow. This malfunction can cause soot to build up on the water heater burner, presenting a fire hazard. White-Rodgers has received 12 reports involving soot build-up, eight of which included minor fire damage. No injuries or deaths were reported in the source text.

Consumers should contact White-Rodgers to arrange for a qualified service technician to replace the recalled control free of charge. The controls were sold and installed by retail distributors and independent servicers from October 2002 through March 2004. Consumers can check the serial numbers of potentially affected water heaters at www.regcen.com/tempcontrolrecall or call the White-Rodgers Special Project Office at (800) 633-6709.

The recalled product

Product
LP and Convertible Gas Water Heater Temperature Controls
Manufacturer
White-Rodgers, a division of Emerson Electric Co., of St. Louis, Mo.
Category
Consumer Product — Gas Water Heater Accessories
Hazard
Affected units
88,000

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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