Problems with heaters persist, although recall deadline's past
 |
|
||||||||||
A few weeks ago, I wrote about still another problem with Cadet-brand forced-air electric wall heaters. This time the problem was with the replacement heaters. The blowers may rub against sagging electrical wires, chafing the insulation and exposing the wiring. Yes, these problems were with the re-engineered heaters that were supposed to replace their problematic predecessors.
OK, fine. I'm willing to give a company a second or even a third chance to make things right. But in this case, nothing is being made right. Cadet has just picked up its toys and stormed out of the sandbox.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled several Cadet models in 1997 to replace defective temperature-limit switches. Cadet was to provide new switches for free (and install them in some cases).
In 2000, the safety commission sued Cadet to force a total replacement of almost every forced-air heater they have produced. (Cadet filed for bankruptcy protection in 1999.) The 2000 recall was for various deficiencies besides limit switches. This second recall represented 1.9 million heaters spread throughout five states including Washington. (Cadet is based in Vancouver.) These heaters were very popular here. If you live in a condo or apartment, or don't have central heat or baseboards in your home, you probably have Cadet forced-air heaters.
As part of the 24-month recall agreement dated Feb. 17, 2000, Cadet was to produce replacement heaters at a discount, shipped directly to the consumer, bypassing the distributors. Owners of some models were told to immediately discontinue using their heaters due to a fire risk (remember this was February).
Problem was, Cadet didn't have the production capacity for replacements, and initially told Joe Consumer that he would have to wait for a replacement heater. And that wait was often a long one. Truth is, the price of the replacements didn't amount to much of a discount over existing Cadet or competing brands already in stock and on the distributor's shelves.
Distributors had stocks of Cadet's other models, yet people had to wait for designated "replacement" heaters sold at "discounts" direct from the factory.
The 2000 recall program expired Feb. 17. Sometime before Feb. 17 a sagging-wire problem was found in the replacement heaters that could cause them to overheat and create a fire risk. A description of the needed repair was subsequently put up on Cadet's Web site.
Ten people who own the replacement heaters contacted me after reading my Feb. 24 article. None knew about the wire problem before reading the column. It was a surprise to them, as it was to me when I stumbled upon it while checking a model number on Cadet's Web site.
Sometime after Feb. 17, Cadet's Web site changed. As of last week, I could no longer find the link to the page that explains the faulty replacement heaters. So unless you read about it here, the replacement-heater problem doesn't exist. At last glance, replacement-heater wiring information was still available by manually typing in www.cadetco.com/recall/rmwarning.htm.
Many of my readers contacted Cadet about their replacement heaters and were given the cold shoulder.
In other words, the company is no longer required (according to the agreement with the safety commission) to repair or replace the faulty heaters if Cadet was not contacted prior to Feb. 17, said Hutch Johnson, Cadet's president.
When I asked Johnson what consumers are then expected to do with the replacement heaters, he suggested the owners call an electrician if they have a concern as the cost to fix the heaters is "minimal."
Despite all the publicity, probably half the older Cadet heaters produced are still in service today, with nary a replaced over-limit switch.
What should you do? Replace it.
Don't want to go with Cadet again? Consider a new heater from King Manufacturing Co. of Seattle. "Square D," a well-respected electrical-products manufacturer, also makes quality forced-air electric wall heaters.
King builds models that will closely match every Cadet physically, and go toe to toe on wattage and voltage. Historically, King has been the second-most-popular heater in our region behind Cadet, a fact that seems to be changing. No surprise there.
Darrell Hay answers readers' questions. Call 206-464-8514 to record your question, or e-mail dhay@seattletimes.com. Sorry, no personal replies. More columns and a message board at www.seattletimes.com/columnists.