Rinnai Wall Furnaces Recalled for C.O. Hazard

[hausdok]

Washington, D.C./February 21, 2008 - Release #08-199

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Rinnai America Corp., of Peachtree City, Ga. , today announced a voluntary recall of approximately 52,000 Rinnai direct-vent wall furnaces, Models RHFE 431 and RHFE 556 that are either natural gas or LP gas (propane) fueled.

A gasket in the unit can fail, posing a risk of poisonous carbon monoxide gas leaking into the home. Rinnai has received 11 reports of carbon monoxide leaking from these furnace. However, so far, no injuries have been reported.

The following model numbers are included in therecall:

Model RHFE-431: FAIII-N, FAIII-P, WTA-N, WTA-P, WTA-72B-N, WTA-76B-N

Model RHFE-556: FAIII-N, FAIII-P, WTA-N, WTA-P

The model number is printed on the top of the rating plate located on the right side of the unit. The recall includes only those units manufactured from February 2000 through December 2007. The manufacturing date code is the first four digits of the serial number, written as YYMM, and is located at the bottom of the rating plate.

The recall includes model numbers S56A30A54 and S56A30A97, 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.

These furnaces were manufactured in Japan and sold through wholesale distributors nationwide to contractors and dealers from February 2000 through December 2007 for between $1,600 and $1,900.

Inspectors finding these furnaces should advise the homeowners to stop using the furnace immediately and contact the firm at the contact number below to arrange for the installation of a free repair kit.

For more information, contact Rinnai toll-free at (866) 746-8344 anytime, or visit the firm's Web site at www.wallfurnacerecall.com

To see this recall on CPSC's web site, including pictures of the recalled products, go to: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08199.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.