February 7, 2002

Honeywell Consumer Products Announces Recall of Moveable Baseboard Heaters

Honeywell Consumer Products Inc. (HCP), of Southborough, Mass., is voluntarily recalling about 450,000 moveable baseboard heaters. The heating element in these baseboard heaters can short-circuit and ignite combustible material under the heater, posing fire and burn hazards to consumers. HCP has received 53 reports of these heaters short-circuiting, including two cases where the floor beneath the heater was damaged due to fire. No injuries have been reported.

The recalled HZ-514 HCP baseboard heaters are about 40 inches long, 8 inches tall, and 4 inches wide at their widest point. The white baseboard heaters have the name "Honeywell" printed on the front of the unit. The recalled heaters have:

a six-digit date code beginning with "97" on a sticker on the back or the bottom of the unit, or

a date code beginning with the digit "8" or "9" stamped on the flat metal prong of the electrical cord’s plug, or

a date code beginning with the digits "00" stamped on the flat metal prong of the electrical cord’s plug and "TYPE I" or nothing stamped on the bottom of the unit.

Department stores and home centers nationwide sold these baseboard heaters from October 1997 through January 2001 for between $30 and $50.

Consumers should stop using these heaters immediately, unplug them, and contact HCP at (800) 311-4204 between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. ET Monday through Sunday or log on to the company’s website at http://content.honeywell.com/yourhome/heaters/hz514.htm to determine whether their heater is part of the recall.

Consumers with recalled units will be given instructions on how to mail them back to HCP in order to receive a free replacement heater. Honeywell Media Contact: Barbara Dunlay (952) 474-8546. Baseboard heaters with "01" stamped on the metal prong of the electrical plug or "TYPE II" stamped on the bottom of the unit are not included in this recall.