About 180,000 programmable thermostats are being recalled. The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall in the United States, and recall of 8,300 in Canada. White-Rodgers, based in St. Louis, Missouri, voluntarily recalled the product when they found that the thermostats are continually charging its backup AA batteries. These, in turn, power the clock function. This may result in leaking batteries, which would cause a fire. So far, three incidences have been reported which involved minor property damage. No injuries have been reported regarding the device, which was made in China.
According to news reports, the programmable thermostats involved in the recall have model numbers 1F88-XXX and 1f85RF-275 with date codes starting with 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, and 1001 through 1039. The model number can be found on the front pull-down panel door of the device. The date code is inside the removable front cover. “White-Rodgers” and the utility company’s names are located on the thermostat, which are controlled by power companies that participated in energy saving programs.
As a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, I urge everyone to check if their devices are the ones being recalled. Then, take out the AA batteries and call White-Rodgers at 1-888-624-1901 for a repair kit. If removing the battery causes problems with operation of the furnace, call them as well. If you were adversely affected by an unsafe device, reach a personal injury attorney Los Angeles for a consultation.
