Rheem Recalls to Repair Water Heaters Due to Fire and Burn Hazards; Sold Exclusively at Home Depot

WASHINGTON, May 26, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2016/Rheem-Recalls-to-Repair-Water-Heaters/

Recall Summary

Name of Product: Rheem electric water heaters

Hazard: The control panel on the water heaters can overheat, posing fire and burn hazards.

Remedy: Repair

Consumers should immediately turn off and stop using the recalled water heaters. Consumers should contact Rheem to request a free repair by a Rheem field technician.

Consumer Contact: Rheem toll-free at 866-369- 4786 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT Monday through Saturday and from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. CT on Sunday or online at www.rheem.com and click on Recall Information for more information.

Recall Details

Units: About 54,000

Description: This recall involves Rheem brand "Performance Platinum" electric water heaters in 40, 50 and 80 gallon capacities. The recalled water heaters are gray and have the "Performance Platinum" Rheem logo decal on the front above the thermostat control panel. The water heaters have a rating plate near the bottom of the unit with the model number, date of manufacture and serial number. Recalled water heaters have the following model number and have a serial number within the following ranges:

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received 296 reports of  control panels overheating, including one report of a fire which resulted in $5,800 in property damage. No injuries have been reported. 

Sold exclusively at: The Home Depot stores nationwide and online from January 2014 through April 2016 for between $450 and $720. 

Distributor/Manufacturer: Rheem Sales Company Inc., of Montgomery, Ala.

Manufactured in: U.S. and Mexico

About U.S. CPSC:
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction.  Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion 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 40 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 @USCPSC or by subscribing to CPSC's free e-mail newsletters.

CPSC Consumer Information Hotline
Contact us at this toll-free number if you have questions about a recall:
800-638-2772 (TTY 301-595-7054)
Times: 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. ET; Messages can be left anytime
Call to get product safety and other agency information and to report unsafe products.

Media Contact
Please use the phone numbers below for all media requests.
Phone: 301-504-7908
Spanish: 301-504-7800

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20030904/USCSCLOGO

SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Related Links

http://www.cpsc.gov