As temperatures start to rise throughout the United States, many people are turning their air conditioners on for the first time in months to beat the heat. Unfortunately, in doing so, some individuals may be inadvertently be putting themselves at risk of serious injury. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has just announced a major air conditioner recall; read on to discover if yours could be putting you in harm’s way. And for some products you’re better off returning, If You're Using This to Make Coffee, Stop Immediately, Experts Warn.
Multiple air conditioner and heat pump brands are subject to the recall.
Shutterstock/ZikGOn April 28, the CPSC announced that multiple packaged terminal air conditioners (PTACs), room air conditioners (RACs), and packaged terminal heat pumps (PTHPs) had been recalled. The recall affects products from Amana, Bryant, Carrier, Century, Comfort-Aire, Fast, Energy Knight, Goodman, GE, and York International. And for the latest recall news delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
All of the recalled air conditioners were refurbished and resold by two companies.
Shutterstock/SorbisAll of the air conditioners and heat pumps subject to the April 28 recall were devices that had previously been recalled between 2004 and 2018. They devices were subsequently refurbished and resold by PTAC Crew and PTAC USA between May 2019 and Dec. 2019. The CPSC recommends that anyone in possession of the recalled air conditioners or heat pump stop using them immediately.
Using the air conditioners may present a serious risk.
Shutterstock/ThichaaAll of the air conditioners and heat pumps subject to the recall can all pose a fire or burn risk due to a wide variety of defects. The Goodman-manufactured Amana, York International, Energy Knight, and Goodman-branded PTAC/Heat Pump units originally sold between Jan. 2010 and Feb. 2018 have fan motors that can overheat. The Bryant, Carrier, and Fast-branded PTAC and PTHP units originally sold between 2002 and 2009 may have faulty power cords that may overheat; the same is true for Goodman-manufactured Amana, Century, Comfort-Aire, and Goodman-branded PTAC and RAC units and York International-branded PTAC units originally sold between Jan. 2007 and June 2008.
GE PTAC and heating units originally sold between Jan. 2010 and Dec. 2013 may have moisture and electrical issues; GE heating and cooling units originally sold between March 2010 through March 2011 may have faulty electrical components. Goodman-manufactured Amana, Comfort-Aire and Century-branded PTAC/heat pump units originally sold between Jan. 1996 and March 2003 may have filter issues that lead to overheating, and the same companies’ units sold between Feb. 2007 and June 2008 may have faulty power cords. And for more safety hazards you’re better off avoiding, If You Take This Popular Vitamin, Stop Immediately, FDA Warns.
Some of the air conditioners can be repaired, but others need to be replaced.
Shutterstock/Nor GalOnly the Bryant, Carrier, and Fast-branded PTAC and PTHP units originally sold between Jan. 2002 and Dec. 2009 need to be replaced in full. All other air conditioners and heat pumps can be replaced. Those with Bryant, Carrier, or Fast units can contact Carrier at 800-761-8492 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m ET on weekdays or via the company website.
Those with Amana, Century, or Comfort-Aire units can contact Amana from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT on weekdays or through the company’s recall page. Those with GE units can contact GE at 866-723-2697 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET on weekdays or via the company’s recall page. Those with Goodman units can contact Goodman at 800-729-6122 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. CT on weekdays or via the Amana recall page.
Customers can also get in touch with PTAC Crew at 888-458-7822 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m on weekdays or online and can get in touch with PTAC USA during the same hours at 866-617-0985 or via the company’s website. And for more popular products that could be putting you at risk, If You Have These Bowls at Home, Get Rid of Them Now.
