A recall is being reissued on a previously recalled furnace over additional fire reports, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Health Canada (HC) just announced.
The recalled Coleman, Coleman Evcon, and Red T Gas Furnaces for Manufactured Homes, which are involved in this reissued recall were manufactured in the United States from 1995 to 2000 and were sold, nationwide, between 1995 and 2000 as original equipment in manufactured homes and as replacement furnaces in manufactured homes.
The manufacturer is Unitary Products Group (UPG), a division of York International Corp., of York, Pennsylvania. About 223,600 defective Coleman, Coleman Evcon, and Red T gas furnaces were sold in the U.S.; another 2,400 were sold in Canada. The previous recall notice, issued November 2004, can be accessed on the CPSC’s web site at: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml05/05047.html.
The furnace can overheat and cause the heat exchanger to crack and create openings that allow flames to be exposed. When this occurs, drywall and other nearby combustibles are exposed to the flames, which poses a fire and smoke hazard to consumers. To date, the firm has received 393 incident reports, including some reports that involved extensive property damage that could be related to these hazards; 366 of these reports were received after the November 2004 recall announcement. No injuries have been reported.
This recall involves Coleman-, Coleman Evcon-, and Red T-brand furnaces. The recalled furnaces are silver with white access panels and bear the brand names “Coleman,” “Coleman Evcon,” or “Red T” on the middle of the front access panel. The model number is written on a faceplate, which can be found by removing both front access panels. The faceplate is mounted on the left inside surface behind the lower panel. The models included in the recall are:
• DGAM075BDD
• DGAM075BDE
• DGAM075BDF
• DGAT070BDD
• DGAT070BDE
• DGAT070BDF
• DGAT075BDD
• DGAT075BDE
• DGAT075BDF
• DLAS075BDD
• DLAS075BDE
• DLAS075BDF
The firm is advising consumers to immediately stop using the defective furnace until it has been inspected and repaired. UPG should be contacted to schedule a free inspection and repair of the recalled furnaces and can be reached for information on this, as well as information about installation issues that may lead to the hazard. UPG’s toll-free number, 1.888.665.4640 is available from 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Central Time (CT), Monday through Friday, or at its web site at www.dgatprogram.com. UPG Technical Services is also conducting a comprehensive notification and communications program and is working with its distributors to locate owners.
