Fireplace Wall Controls Recalled for Hazard

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CPSC Alert #08-576

Hearth & Home Technologies® in cooperation with the CPSC has voluntarily recalled some of their fireplace wall controls. Inspectors seeing these controls should warn consumers to stop using the product immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: IntelliSwitch Fireplace Wall Controls

Units: About 22,000

Manufacturer (Fireplace): Hearth & Home Technologies Inc., of Lakeville, Minn.

Manufacturer (Wall Controls): Nortech Systems Inc., of Wayzata, Minn.

Hazard: Failure in the wall control system can cause the fireplace to turn on by itself creating a risk of property damage. If the control fails and the consumer has left combustible objects directly in front of an unattended fireplace, there may also be a risk of fire.

Incidents/Injuries: Hearth & Home has received 13 reports of a fireplace turning itself on and continuing to operate, including two reports of minor property damage caused by high temperature. No fires or injuries have been reported.

Description: This recall involves WSK-300 IntelliSwitch Fireplace Wall Controls sold with Heat & Glo gas direct vent fireplaces with the following model & serial numbers:

Model Number 6000GLX-IPI-S; sold from January 2007 to January 22, 2008 - serial numbers up to 0021279289

Model Number 6000GLX-IPILP-S; sold from January 2007 to January 22, 2008 - serial numbers up to 0021279322

Model Number 6000GLX-IPI-R; sold from January 2007 to January 28, 2008 - serial numbers up to 0021281203

Model Number 6000GLX-IPILP-R; sold from January 2007 to January 22, 2008 - serial numbers up to 0021279291

Model Cerona 36; sold from January 2007 to January 22, 2008 - serial numbers up to 0021279592

Model Cerona 42; sold from January 2007 to January 23, 2008 - serial numbers up to 0021279097

The fireplaces have a serial plate located on the floor, right hand side, of the fireplace control compartment. The model code, serial number, and date of manufacture are on this plate.

The recall also includes the following wall controls sold separately:

Heat & Glo model WSK-300-HNG; sold from January 2007 to December 2007 - no serial numbers

Heatilator model WSK-300-HTL; sold from June 2007 to December 2007 - no serial numbers

Quadra-Fire model WSK-300-QF; sold from November 2007 to December 2007 - no serial numbers

Sold by: Fireplace stores and distributors nationwide from January 2007 through February 2008 for between $2,800 and $3,500. Individual wall controls were sold by fireplace stores, distributors, and installers from January 2007 through February 2008 for $180.

Manufactured in: United States

Remedy: Consumers should disable the fireplace until the repair is performed if they will be away from their residence for an extended period of time. Retailers are contacting consumers directly to inform them about the retrofit program and provide instructions on disabling the fireplace. Hearth & Home Technologies will send consumers a free replacement wall control panel for installation by the consumer or trained technician. Consumers not contacted by their retailer should contact Hearth & Home Technologies.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Hearth & Home Technologies at (800) 215-5152 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.heatnglo.com.