White-Rodgers Recalls Home Heating and Cooling Thermostats Due to Fire Hazard (14166)

Hazard

The alkaline batteries used in the thermostat can leak onto the circuit board posing a fire hazard.

Remedy

Consumers should check thermostats for battery icon on the left side of the blue lighted screen, if the battery icon is not shown, contact White-Rodgers to receive a free repair or a replacement thermostat.

Replace, Repair

Incidents & injuries

The firm has received seven reports of burn damage to the thermostat, including two involving minor property damage. No injuries have been reported.

Product description

This recall involves four models of White-Rodgers digital thermostats. The thermostats are white with blue lighted screens and have one of the following names printed on the front of them: "COMFORTSENTRY," "DICO," "Emerson," "Frigidaire," "Maytag," "Nutone," "Partners Choice," "Rheem," "Ruud," "Unico," "Water Furnace," "Westinghouse," "White-Rodgers" or "Zonefirst." The thermostats have a battery door on the top left corner. There are three or four buttons to the right and also below the thermostat screen. Recalled thermostats do not show a battery icon on the left side of the blue lighted screen.

Sold on

Heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment manufacturers and distributors and at hardware retailers nationwide from January 2006 through December 2013 for about $30 to $70.

Contact the company

White-Rodgers toll-free at (888) 624-1901 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or online at www.white-rodgers.com and click on "White-Rodgers 1F8x-04xx Thermostat Recall" at the lower left corner of the homepage for more information.