Kidde Recalls Dual Sensor Smoke Alarms; Can Fail to Warn of a Fire

WASHINGTON, D.C. – 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: Kidde Model PI2000 Dual Sensor Smoke Alarms

Units: About 94,000

Manufacturer: Walter Kidde Portable Equipment Inc., of Mebane, N.C.

Hazard: An electrostatic discharge can damage the unit, causing it not to warn consumers of a fire.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received two reported incidents of smoke alarm malfunctions involving electrostatic discharge during installation. No injuries have been reported.

Description: This recall involves Kidde dual sensor smoke alarms model PI2000. The alarms can be identified by two buttons, “HUSH” and “PUSH AND HOLD TO TEST WEEKLY,” which are located on the front/center of the alarm. The model number and date code are on the back of the smoke alarm. Only date codes 2008 Aug.01 through 2009 May 04 are included in this recall.

Sold at: Retail, department, and hardware stores and through electrical distributors nationwide from August 2008 through May 2009 for between $30 and $40.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should contact Kidde immediately to receive a free replacement smoke alarm.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Kidde toll-free at (877) 524-2086 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.kidde.com

CPSC is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about it by visiting https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx

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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. 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 decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC’s Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC’s teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270. To join a CPSC e-mail subscription list, please go to https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain recall and general safety information by logging on to CPSC’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – 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: Wolf Appliance Gas Ranges

Units: About 24,000

Manufacturer: Wolf Appliance Inc., of Madison, Wis.

Hazard: Delayed ignition of gas in the 18-inch oven can cause a flash of flames to be projected at a consumer when the range door is opened, posing a burn hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: Wolf has received 97 reports of units experiencing delayed ignition, including 15 minor burns. There have been no reports of fires or property damage.

Description: This recall involves the following Wolf Appliance 48-Inch gas ranges with model numbers: P48, PS48 and R48. The gas ranges are stainless steel with a double oven. A “Wolf” appliance logo is on the front of the larger oven door.

Sold at: Home builders and appliance stores nationwide from January 1998 through June 2008 for between $5,000 and $9,000.

Manufactured in: United States

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled gas range 18-inch oven and contact the manufacturer to schedule a free, in-home repair. The large oven and all cooktop burners are not affected and may be used.

Consumer Contact: For more information, consumers can contact Wolf Appliance toll-free at (866) 643-6408 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.wolfappliance.com

As Home Inspectors we do not check model #s and try to keep abreast of all recalls. Nonetheless, this caught my eye, and may be of interest and/or use to many readers.  For further information, and a photo of the Stove/appliance in question please visit the US Consumer Product Safety Commission link under the blogroll area. Once there see the recalls, and product safety news section, then click on September 2008.

Now that we have your attention, we want to illustrate that there is more than meets the eye to flipping a light switch. We came to realize that this post’s approach may be helpful after reading a post over at Silicon Valley Moms Blog.

Clearly the electrical system is an extremely important aspect of any home inspection. The action of turning on a light switch and looking at the fixture may appear simple to most, however, much like in the natural world there are background complexities that are not immediately apparent. The operation of the humble light switch calls upon several of the home inspector’s physical senses including sight, touch, smell, and sound to identify clues that could indicate problems with the electrical system.

Some examples of what home inspectors check for while operating a light fixture are:

• 1) The switch plate cover was installed and in good shape. This is a good thing.  A missing   switch plate is dangerous for several reasons. One example would be someone touching the         exposed wiring and being electrocuted.
• 2) The light responded immediately. Clearly desirable.
• 3) There was no sparking at the switch or light fixture. Sparks in these locations are never good. Obviously this type of problem would need immediate correction.
• 4) No other lights within view of the room dimmed or flickered. This is a condition that if occuring would need further evaluation and possible correction.
• 5) The switch was not loose and the light fixture did not appear loose. A loose switch or fixture could pose a safety hazard.
• 6) The switch was not hot to the touch. A hot switch would need further evaluation by qualified others beyond the scope of a typical Home inspection.
• 7) No odor was noticed like smoke or electrical wiring burning. Clearly something needing immediate attention/review by appropriate professionals and correction.
• 8) No “buzzing” was heard at the switch when operated. Buzzing is scary it’s right up there with a Rattle Snake “rattling” call a qualified electrician for immediate further evaluation.

As shown by the examples above several mental check lists are implemented by the home inspector to consciously eliminate several clues that could indicate problems. Similar processes hold true for most aspects of a home inspection as well, like operating faucets or testing electrical outlets.

In a perfect world if nothing was verbalized or reported to the clients about a given system it would indicate that negative clues were not observed by the inspector during normal operation of that system.

We hope this post’s approach illustrated that the gathering of valuable information can be accomplished with seemingly simple actions on the inspector’s behalf. Don’t be shy about asking the inspector what they are looking for beyond the obvious. However be warned! You may encounter a lonely inspector who will bury you with an avalanche of information.

To learn about some common items that homeowners fail to maintain or that sellers often fail to correct before a home inspection go to www.beattheinspector.com

The humble light switch