Venmar Recalls Heat Recovery Ventilators

[hausdok]

Washington, D.C./December 13, 2007 - Release #08-136

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Venmar Ventilation Inc., of Quebec, Canada, today announced a voluntary recall of approximately 1,100 heat recovery ventilators. According to Venmar, the thermal protector in these units can fail, posing a potential fire hazard to consumers.

The ventilators were sold at heating, ventilating and air conditioning wholesale distributors, dealers and contractors, and building supply stores nationwide from October 2006 through December 2007 for between $700 and $2,500.

The recall involves heat recovery ventilators made between October 2006 and August 2007, and have the following brand names and model numbers:

Brand:.................................Models

Venmar:...............................40225

Venmar: AVS 457XX, 16016XX, 43XXX, 451XX, 45400, 45709IEH, C32042

Vane:..................................458XX, 16016XX, 43405, 43828, 45405, 45808

Rheem, Ruud, Protech:.............84-ERVXXX, 84-HRVXXX

Carrier:................................ERVCCLHU1200, HRVCCLHA1250, HRVCCSVU1200, ERVCCLHU1150,HRVCCLHA1150, HRVCCLVU1150, HRVCCLVU1200, HRVCCSVU1150

Bryant:.................................ERVBBLHU1200, HRVBBLHA1250, HRVBBSVU1200 Broan: ERV200HC, HRV200H, HRV100H

No injuries have been reported. Inspectors finding these units should advise consumers to immediately turn off and unplug their ventilators. Consumers should contact Venmar Ventilation to schedule an inspection and repair.

For additional information, contact Venmar Ventilationtoll-free at (866) 441-4645 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday throughFriday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.venmar.ca

To see this recall on CPSC's web site, including pictures of the recalled products, please click here.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $700 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard or can injure children. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

[hausdok]

Hi,

I just added photos to the post.

OT - OF!!!

M.

[ventman]

Before I have a "fix" installed, I'd be more comfortable knowing how the failure occurs, and what the exact "fix" is.

Can someone help out?

[hausdok]

I thought the bulletin was pretty clear.

Consumers should contact Venmar Ventilation to schedule an inspection and repair.

For additional information, contact Venmar Ventilationtoll-free at (866) 441-4645 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday throughFriday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.venmar.ca

OT - OF!!!

M.

[pp_314156]

This is an ongoing problem, and there are additional models that have similar problems that are not covered by the recall. My experience has been with Constructo models that have fans that fail every year or so. Sometimes they seize and get very hot, other times they just seize and stay cold. In any case, there are likely thousands of them out there that customers have no idea have failed, and many of these houses will have problems related to humidity. My analysis is here: http://nlcpr.com/VenmarWarning.php

[John Kogel]

In addition to all of the above, they ought to print a little card up that tells people what an HRV system is and why they need to clean the filter and plug it in to get any benefit from it. []