The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereCPSC·96070·Announced 1996-02-15

White-Rodgers Recalls Natural Gas Water Heater Temperature Controls

White-Rodgers is replacing specific natural gas water heater temperature controls due to a fire hazard caused by soot buildup. No injuries have been reported.

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 23 reports of charring or fire, which meets the rubric criteria for 'significant injury/property-damage reports' or high-risk products where injury has not yet been reported but property damage (fire/charring) is documented.

Plain-English summary

White-Rodgers, a division of Emerson Electric Co., is recalling approximately 1.6 million Model 37 and 37C natural gas water heater temperature controls manufactured between March 1994 and October 1994. The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The affected controls were installed by retail distributors and independent servicers starting in April 1994.

The recall is necessary because soot can build up on the water heater burner, presenting a fire hazard. White-Rodgers has received 32 reports of sooting, with 23 of those reports alleging charring or fire. There have been no reported injuries. The temperature controls resemble a small metal box located above the access panel door of the water heater, with a white label on the right side containing the model number.

Consumers should check their water heaters for signs of malfunction, such as discoloration or black soot on the lower outside surface, a pilot flame that keeps extinguishing, or an unusual burning odor. If these signs are present, consumers should use a mirror to identify the date code in the upper left corner of the back of the metal box. Controls with date codes 9412 to 9440 (12th week of 1994 to 40th week of 1994) are affected. Owners of these controls should call White-Rodgers at (800) 426-3503 to arrange for a qualified service technician to inspect and, if necessary, replace the control free of charge. Consumers are warned not to attempt to replace the control or service the water heater themselves, as natural gas may leak and catch fire.

The recalled product

Product
White-Rodgers natural gas water heater temperature controls
Manufacturer
White-Rodgers
Category
Consumer Product — Gas Water Heater Parts
Hazard

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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