The Recall Desk
HighCPSC·15155·Announced 2015-06-02

A.O. Smith Recalls John Wood Oil-Fired Water Heaters for Fire Hazards

A.O. Smith is recalling John Wood oil-fired water heaters because a misaligned combustion chamber can cause fires and burns.

What this means for you

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a risk-of-harm product (fire and burn hazards) where no injuries have been reported, which corresponds to a High severity score of 3.

Plain-English summary

A.O. Smith Corp. is recalling John Wood brand 50- and 70-gallon oil-fired water heaters. The recall involves approximately 250 units sold from January 2014 through March 2015 for between $1,500 and $2,500. The 50-gallon units have model number JW517 and serial numbers from 1349A021678 through 1503A016643. The 70-gallon units have model number JW717 and serial numbers from 1421M001517 through 436M000040. The heaters are gray with "John Wood" printed in blue and white near the top.

The water heaters' combustion chambers can be misaligned, causing them to heat the exterior walls instead of the water. This can cause combustible material near the outside of the water heater to catch fire, posing fire and burn hazards. No injuries have been reported.

Consumers should immediately turn off and stop using the recalled water heaters. They should contact A.O. Smith toll-free at (866) 880-4661 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit www.johnwoodwaterheaters.com and click on Recall Notices for a free inspection and replacement of misaligned units.

The recalled product

Product
John Wood oil-fired water heaters
Manufacturer
A.O. Smith Corp., of Milwaukee, Wis.
Category
Consumer Product — Water Heaters
Hazard
Affected units
250

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

Related recalls

Same manufacturer · A.O. Smith Corp., of Milwaukee, Wis.

See all →

Same hazard · fire

See all →