The batteries in these thermostats can leak on to the circuit board, posing a fire danger.
Name of product
Home Heating and Cooling Thermostats
Hazard
The alkaline batteries used in the thermostat can leak onto the circuit board posing a fire hazard.
Units
About 740,000 in the United States and 403,000 in Canada
Description
This recall involves four models of White-Rodgers digital thermostats. The thermostats are white with blue lighted screens and have one of the following names printed on the front of them: “COMFORTSENTRY,” “DICO,” “Emerson,” “Frigidaire,” “Maytag,” “Nutone,” “Partners Choice,” “Rheem,” “Ruud,” “Unico,” “Water Furnace,” “Westinghouse,” “White-Rodgers” or “Zonefirst.” The thermostats have a battery door on the top left corner. There are three or four buttons to the right and also below the thermostat screen. Recalled thermostats do not show a battery icon on the left side of the blue lighted screen.
Incidents/Injuries
The firm has received seven reports of burn damage to the thermostat, including two involving minor property damage. No injuries have been reported.
Remedy
Consumers should check thermostats for battery icon on the left side of the blue lighted screen, if the battery icon is not shown, contact White-Rodgers to receive a free repair or a replacement thermostat.
Sold at
Heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment manufacturers and distributors and at hardware retailers nationwide from January 2006 through December 2013 for about $30 to $70.
Distributor
White-Rodgers of St. Louis, Mo., a division of Emerson Climate Technologies.
Manufactured in
China