A.O. Smith Recalls Whole House Fan Motors

[hausdok]

Editor's Note: I prepared the following alert in January of 2008 but it somehow didn't post and remained hidden in the archive so I'm re-posting it now.

Washington, D.C./January 10, 2008 - Release #08-161

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with A.O. Smith Electrical Products Co., of Tipp City, Ohio , today announced a voluntary recall of approximately 6,300 whole-house exhaust fan electric motors that can be miswired and overheat, posing a fire hazard.

The recalled electric motor is part of a residential whole-house exhaust fan that is typically mounted on the floor of an attic. The shutters of the fan are visible on the ceiling of the floor beneath the attic and must be opened and closed by the consumer. The motors were included with exhaust fans manufactured and distributed by Air Vent Inc. and Triangle Engineering of Arkansas Inc. "A.O. Smith," the model number, and the service date code are printed on the rating plate of the motor.

The recall includes model numbers S56A30A54 andS56A30A97, and service date codes 032076M - 334076M, 03207JY - 33407JY, and YB07 - YL07. Units that have a sticker indicating that the unit has been rewired are not subject to this recall.

The fans were manufactured in Mexico and the recalled motors, included with the exhaust fans, were sold at home improvement stores nationwide or by professional installers or builders from February 2007 through November 2007 for about $3,000.

Inspectors finding these fans should advise homeowners to stop using the recalled unit immediately and contact A.O. Smith to arrange for a free inspection and repair of the motor.

For more information, contact contact A.O. Smith toll-free at (866) 567-3878 between 8:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.aosmithmotors.com

To see this recall on CPSC's web site, including pictures of the recalled product, please go to: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08161.html

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.