Heat Recovery Ventilators Recalled for Fire Hazard

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Washington, D.C./March 29th - Release #07-143

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.

Name of product: Heat Recovery Ventilators

Units: About 75,000

Distributor: Venmar Ventilation Inc., of Quebec, Canada

Hazard: The motors in these units can overheat, posing a fire hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: Venmar Ventilation has received four reports of ventilator motors overheating resulting in fires causing extensive property damage. One incident in Michigan reportedly resulted in about $1 million in damages.

Description and Models: Heat Recovery Ventilators are designed to exchange air between the inside and outside of a home in order to provide fresh air. The recall covers units made from 1991 through 2001, and have the following brand names and model numbers:

Brand: Models

Venmar: AEXX, EARC, 1XX, 30X, 40X, 40XXX

Venmar: AVS 1.X, 2.X, 30XX, 55XX

Flair: 30, 30XX, 55, 55XX, 85115

Vane: 10, 1XX, 100X, 20, 20XX, 30XX, 90

Conformax: 300, 350, 400

NuTone: NUTR130

Carrier Bryant:VXXXXXXXXX, ERVXXXXXXX or HRVXXXXXXX

Payne Day & Night: VXXXXXXXXX

Heil: HEILXXXXX

York: 5263554XXXX

Sears Brand: OPTIMUM

Guardian by Broan: 100X, 200X

Rheem, Ruud, Protech, Weatherking: 84-ERV100, 84-ERV200, 84-HRV100, 84-HRV200

The model numbers are written on a silver or black label on the outside of panel. The "X" digit used in the model numbers can be either a letter or a number.

Sold by: Heating, plumbing and building supply distributors nationwide from January 1991 through December 2001 for between $700 and $2,500.

Manufactured in: Canada

Remedy: Consumers should immediately turn off and unplug their ventilators, and contact Venmar to receive instructions on how to participate in the recall. Venmar will provide a free safety device that

will shut off the ventilator if the motor overheats.

Consumer Contact: For more information, contact Venmar Ventilation toll-free at (866) 441-4645 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, 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 product, 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.