The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereCPSC·14166·Announced 2014-04-30

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

White-Rodgers is recalling about 740,000 digital thermostats in the U.S. and 403,000 in Canada because leaking batteries can cause a fire. Consumers should check for a battery icon on the screen to see if their unit is affected.

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 burn damage and minor property damage, which aligns with the rubric criterion for 'significant injury/property-damage reports' under the Severe (4) classification.

Plain-English summary

White-Rodgers is recalling four models of digital home heating and cooling thermostats sold in the United States and Canada. The thermostats are white with blue lighted screens and may bear brand names such as ComfortSentry, Dico, Emerson, Frigidaire, Maytag, Nutone, Partners Choice, Rheem, Ruud, Unico, Water Furnace, Westinghouse, White-Rodgers, or Zonefirst. The recalled units do not display a battery icon on the left side of the blue lighted screen. Approximately 740,000 units were sold in the U.S. and 403,000 in Canada between January 2006 and December 2013 for about $30 to $70.

The recall is due to a fire hazard. The alkaline batteries used in the thermostat can leak onto the circuit board, posing a risk of fire. The company has received seven reports of burn damage to the thermostat, including two instances involving minor property damage. No injuries have been reported.

Consumers should check their thermostats for a battery icon on the left side of the blue lighted screen. If the icon is not shown, the thermostat is part of the recall. Affected consumers should contact White-Rodgers to receive a free repair or a replacement thermostat. White-Rodgers can be reached 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.

The recalled product

Product
Home Heating and Cooling Thermostats
Category
Consumer Product — Thermostats
Hazard
Affected units
740,000

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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