Consumers Reminded of Air Conditioner Recall Due to Fire Hazard

The Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Goodman Company have reissued an earlier recall of the company’s air conditioner/heat pump units, which have power cords that may be defective and can overheat and catch fire.

The recall, first announced in August 2008, involves about 30,000 of the company’s Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner/Heat Pump (PTACs) units. The recall is being re-released because the company has received more reports of the power cords on the units catching fire and posing burn hazards to consumers.

When the recall was first announced more than a year ago, the company said it had received nine reports of smoke or fire associated with defective power cords on its PTACs. Since then, the company said it has received two more reports of problems with the power cords, bringing the total number to 11. There have been no injuries linked to the defective power cords, according to the CPSC recall notice.

The recall includes 5.0 kW Amana-brand, Comfort-Aire-brand and Century-brand Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner units with model numbers PTxxx3x50xx (Amana) and EKTxxx-150x (Comfort-Aire and Century) and serial numbers 0702112056 through 0804237539, the CPSC said. The model and serial numbers are located on the control board plate found under the PTAC unit’s front cover.

The recalled units were sold at Goodman and heating and cooling equipment dealers nationwide from February 2007 through June 2008 for between $700 and $1,000. They were manufactured in the United States.

Consumers who own one of the recalled air conditioner/heat pump units should contact Goodman to receive a free replacement power cord. Commercial and institutional owners will be contacted directly and will install the power cord, the CPSC said.

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