Activators Fuel Sentry thermostat controls
Check against the official notice below — it lists the full affected range.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warned consumers on October 15, 1979 to stop using two types of energy-saving thermostat control devices that pose a fire hazard. Approximately 20,000 "Automatic Day/Night" controls made by Fuel Sentry Corporation and 19,500 "Home Energy Saver" controls made by Fuel Gard Corporation were sold nationwide in hardware and department stores for $20 to $25. These devices consist of a small heater designed to mount on walls beneath thermostats and an electric timer that plugs into household outlets. The heaters contain integral carbon resistors that may overheat and start fires, and the devices have caused at least 17 instances of sparking or flaming since July 1977, with two cases where the adhesive backing melted causing the heater to fall onto combustible materials. No injuries have been reported.
Consumers who own Fuel Sentry "Activator" units manufactured between September 1976 and August 1977, or between November 1977 and May 1978 with specific date codes and brown-colored carbon resistors visible through the back keyhole slot should return them to retailers for refunds or replacements. Owners unable to obtain refunds or replacements from retailers should contact CPSC's toll-free Hotline at 800/638-2772. The record does not specify what consumers with Fuel Gard units should do beyond the warning to stop using them.
Written by software from the official notice below. Not reviewed by a lawyer.
Fire & Fire-Related Burn
Energy-Saving Devices Warned NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 15, 1979 Release # 79-058 Consumers Warned On Dangerous Energy-Saving Devices WASHINGTON, D.C. (Oct. 15) -- Citing the critical need for consumers to save energy safely, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission today warned consumers to stop using two types of faulty energy-saving devices which regulate home thermostats. Approximately 20,000 "Automatic Day/Night" thermostat controls were manufactured by the Fuel Sentry Corporation of Mt. Vernon, New York. An additional 19,500 "Home Energy Saver" thermostat controls were manufactured by the Fuel Gard Corporation of Glastonbury, Connecticut. Both types of potentially hazardous devices consist of a small rectangular heater and an electric timer. The heaters were designed to be mounted on the wall beneath the thermostat and connected to the electrical timer which plugs into a household socket. At predesignated times, the heater warms the thermostat, causing it to shut off the home furnace. The heaters were manufactured with integral carbon resistors which may overheat and start fires. The defective heaters have caused at least 17 instances of sparking or flaming since July, 1977. In two instances, the adhesive backing of the heater melted, causing the heater to fall to the floor onto combustible materials. No injuries have been reported. CPSC staff believes the timers can be used safely with other appliances. The thermostat controls were sold nationwide in hardware and department stores for retail prices ranging from $20 to $25 Some of the Fuel Gard units were given away for promotional purposes. Details Of Fuel Sentry Alert The potentially hazardous Fuel Sentry heaters were manufactured between September, 1976 and August, 1977, and between November, 1977 and May, 1978. They are labeled "Activator" on the front and display a date code on the back which falls within the following ranges: 396 through 526; 017 through 327; 437 through 527; and 018 through 218. In addition, only "Activators" containing a brown-colored carbon resistor (visible through the key-hole slot in the back) are potentially hazardous. Units with resistors of another color are believed to be safe, even though they may carry one of the date codes listed above. Fuel Sentry announced a recall of their product in 1978, but fewer than half the units were returned by consumers. The company since has filed for bankruptcy and is no longer repairing the devices. Owners of affected Fuel Sentry thermostat controls should return the products to their retailers, many of whom are offering refunds or replacements. Owners of Fuel Sentry units who cannot obtain a refund or replacement unit from retailers should contact CPSC's toll-free Hotline at 800/638-2772. Fuel Gard Alert The Fuel Gard heaters were manufactured with a simulated wood finish and were labeled "Fuel Gard" in raised lettering. CPSC staff is working to develop a corrective program with Fuel Gard to enable consumers to return defective units; details will be announced in a subsequent press release. Save Energy Safely CPSC staff warns consumers that energy-conservation devices which are improperly installed, designed or manufactured can result not only in fire hazards, but also in carbon monoxide poisoning, electrical shocks or explosions. CPSC staff will continue to monitor the marketplace to detect defective products which should be recalled, but urges consumers to be alert to the potential safety problems of devices such as furnace vent dampers, flue gas recirculators, clothes dryer exhaust diverters and other modifications to existing energy equipment and appliances.
Official record: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission ↗
Republished from the official source above; details can change — the source record controls.