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Consumer Q's - February 22, 2007

February 22, 2007        Contact:  Teresa Jenkins
(404) 656-3645
1-800-282-5852

CONSUMER Q’s
Prepared by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Office of Public Affairs
Tommy Irvin, Commissioner
Call Consumer Q’s Hotline at 1-800-282-5852

Consumer Alert/Recall:  Tankless Water Heaters Recalled for Repair Due to Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Hazard

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.   Name of product:   Power Vent tankless water heaters; Units:   About 42,200; Importers:   Water Heating Division of Rheem Sales Company Inc., of Montgomery, Ala. and Paloma Industries Inc., of Oxnard, Calif.  Hazard:   Components inside the water heater may shift during transit, causing an air filter door switch to operate improperly.   If the switch fails and the air filter door is out of place, the water heater could continue to operate and dust and lint could build up, posing a carbon monoxide poisoning hazard.  Incidents/Injuries:   None reported.  Description:   The recall involves indoor models of the Power Vent 199,900 BTUH tankless water heaters.   The brands and model numbers included in this recall are listed below and are located on the front of the unit and the rating plate.   The water heaters have a cream jacket or gray jacket enclosure with the piping on the top and bottom of the unit.   The rating plate is a silver label located the front of the unit, in the lower right hand corner.

 

 

Sold by: Retailers nationwide and through plumbing wholesale distributors to plumbers, contractors and consumers from May 2004 through December 2006 for between $800 and $1,300.   Manufactured in: Japan; Remedy:   Consumers with the recalled water heaters should stop using them immediately, if the air filter door is not in place.   Consumers, who have not already been contacted by an authorized contractor, should immediately contact their installer or Rheem Manufacturing Company to arrange for a free, on-site repair. Consumers are reminded to use the air filter door for these water heaters to avoid a carbon monoxide hazard.  Consumer Contact:   For more information, contact Rheem toll-free at (866) 369-4786 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. CT Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. CT Saturday and Sunday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.tankless-recall.com

Note: Regardless of the type of water heater that is used, every home should have a CO alarm outside all sleeping areas, and consumers should ensure that their CO alarms have working batteries

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My pest control company has treated my home for termites twice in the last year.   Now, I have termites again.   Should I withhold my annual renewal fee until they resolve this situation?

No.   A termite contract or bond is like an insurance policy for your home.   If you do not pay the renewal fee, your coverage will lapse and your home will not be covered under the terms and conditions of the contract.   Pay your renewal fee and notify your pest control company of your latest infestation.   To verify that your pest control company is in compliance with our rules and regulations covering termite treatments, one of our investigators will be contacting you to schedule an inspection of your home.

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When my home is inspected for termites, how can I be sure that my pest control company is doing it properly?

Complete inspection of your entire home should be performed at least once a year.   The inspection should include a visual inspection as well as probing of the wooden members of the structure.   An inspection for an average size home should take at least one hour.   If you have an inspection program on your home, your contract will tell you how often the company will inspect.   Before your home is inspected, you should pull stored objects away from walls in the garage and basement areas.

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I am a wedding planner and want to provide my clients with bouquets and corsages.  Do I need a license from the Department of Agriculture to do this?

No, as long as you are working with purchased, cut flowers you will not need a live plant license from our office of Plant Protection.

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If you have questions or problems with products or services regulated by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, you may write the Office of Public Affairs, Room 224, 19 Martin Luther King Drive, Atlanta 30334 or call (404) 656-3645 Atlanta or 1-800-282-5852 (state wide).