General Electric, Sharp Recalls GE Air Conditioning and Heating Units Due to Fire Hazard

NEWS from CPSC


U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 14, 2011

Release #11-247 Firm's Recall Hotline: (866) 918-8771

CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772

CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908



General Electric, Sharp Recalls GE Air Conditioning and Heating Units Due to Fire Hazard

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. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.



Name of Product: GE Zoneline Air Conditioners and Heaters



Units: About 90,600



Distributor: GE Appliances and Lighting, of Louisville, Ky.



Manufacturer: Sharp Corp., of Osaka, Japan



Hazard: An electrical component in the heating system can fail, posing a fire hazard to consumers.



Incidents/Injuries: General Electric and Sharp have received four reports of incidents involving smoke and/or fire with the air conditioning and heating units. In two of the reported incidents, fire extended beyond the air conditioning and heating unit, resulting in property damage. No injuries have been reported.



Description: This recall involves GE Packaged Terminal Air Conditioners (PTAC) and packaged terminal heat pumps manufactured between January 2010 and March 2011, and are most often used in apartment buildings and commercial space. The GE logo is affixed to the control panel door. Serial and model are printed on the rating plate. Consumers will need to remove the front panel to locate the model and serial information. The following models and serials are included in this recall:



Brand Model Number (Begins with) Serial Number (Begins with)

GE AZ41, AZ61 AT, DT, FT, GT, HT, LT, MT, RT, ST, TT, VT and ZT



AV, DV and FV



Sold by: General Electric authorized representatives and HVAC distributors nationwide from March 2010 through March 2011 for between $1,000 and $1,200.



Manufactured in: China



Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the air conditioning and heating units in the heat mode and contact General Electric to schedule a free repair.



Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact General Electric toll-free at (866) 918-8771 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's website at www.geappliances.com/products/recall











---



The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (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 your experience with the product on www.saferproducts.gov



CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $900 billion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.



Under federal law, it is illegal to attempt to sell or resell this or any other recalled product.



To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, go online to: www.saferproducts.gov, call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain this news release and product safety information at www.cpsc.gov. To join a free e-mail subscription list, please go to https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx.