Venmar Ventilation Recalls Air Exchangers Due to Fire Hazard

WASHINGTON, June 7, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.  It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

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Name of product: Air Exchangers

Units: About 1,400 in the United States

Manufacturer: Venmar Ventilation Inc., of Quebec, Canada

Hazard: The motor in the air exchangers can overheat, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received nine reports of overheating incidents resulting in fires and property damage outside of the United States. No incidents have been reported in the United States.

Description: This recall involves air exchangers sold under different brands that are used to circulate air in and out of the home. The metal air exchangers are painted blue or grey. Air exchangers included in the recall were manufactured from 1996 through 2001 and have brand and model information printed on the unit's rating plate or on the side of the unit. The following brand names and model numbers are included in the recall:

Sold by: Heating, plumbing and building supply distributors nationwide from January 1996 through December 2001 for between $350 and $850.

Manufactured in: Canada

Remedy:  Consumers should immediately turn off and stop using their air exchangers. Consumers should contact Venmar Ventilation to request a free inspection and repair by a Venmar field technician.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact the Venmar Ventilation toll-free at (866) 441-4645 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's website at www.venmar.ca.

CPSC is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product.  Please tell us about it by visiting www.saferproducts.gov.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction.  Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $800 billion annually.  CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals – contributed to a significant decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

Under federal law, it is illegal to attempt to sell or re-sell this or any other recalled product.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov, call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain this news release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov. To join a free e-mail subscription list, please go to www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx.

Firm's Recall Hotline: (866) 441-4645
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission