3M Recalls Filtrete Room Air Purifiers Due to Fire Hazard

News provided by

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Mar 26, 2013, 05:16 ET

WASHINGTON, March 26, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Consumers should stop using this product, which is being recalled voluntarily, unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20030904/USCSCLOGO)

Recall Summary

Name of Product: Filtrete™ room air purifiers

Hazard: The ion generator in the air purifiers can overheat, posing a fire hazard.

Remedy: Replace

Consumer Contact: 3M Company; at (800) 388-3458 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or online at www.filtrete.com/roomairpurifiers and click on the link FAP00-RS recall for more information.

Recall Details

Units: About 10,000
Description: This recall involves 3M air purifiers branded Filtrete. The air purifiers are white, made of plastic and plug into the wall. They measure about 19 inches tall by 8 inches wide with a 13 inch tall by 4.5 inch wide air filter. They have a two-speed fan knob with Filtrete embossed on the top. The two recalled models are Ultra Quiet, number FAP00-RS, and Maximum Allergen, number FAP00-L, which was sold only at Lowe's stores. The products serial numbers begin with E, F, G, H, I or J and the model and serial numbers are located on the bottom of the product.

Incidents/Injuries: 3M has received two incident reports: one of an air purifier overheating and another of an internal room air purifier filter catching fire. No injuries or property damage reported.

Remedy: Consumers should immediately unplug the recalled air purifier and contact 3M to obtain a prepaid shipping box to return the product for a free replacement.

Sold at: Ultra Quiet at Ace Hardware, Bi-Mart, Do It Best, Fred Meyer, Handy Hardware Wholesale, Nuthouse, Orchard Supply, Orgill Bros., Petco, Rite Aid, Strosniders, Theisen Farm & Home, True Value Hardware stores nationwide, and online at Amazon.com and others. Maximum Allergen sold only at Lowe's stores. The FAP00-RS model was sold from November 2008 through January 2013, and the FAP00-L model was sold from October 2012 through January 2013, both for about $60.

Importer: 3M Company, of St. Paul, Minn.

Manufactured in: Taiwan

Photos available at http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2013/3M-Recalls-Filtrete-Room-Air-Purifiers.

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.

Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain news release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov, on Twitter @OnSafety or by subscribing to CPSC's free e-mail newsletters.

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SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission