WASHINGTON, D.C. – 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: RITCHIE IMMERSION HEATERS
UNITS: ABOUT 13,000
MANUFACTURER: SPRINGFIELD WIRE INC. (SWI), OF SPRINGFIELD, MASS.
DISTRIBUTOR: RITCHIE INDUSTRIES, OF CONRAD, IOWA
HAZARD: THE OUTER COVER OF THE IMMERSION HEATER CAN CRACK AND EXPOSE THE HEATING ELEMENT TO WATER, POSING A SHOCK HAZARD TO CONSUMERS.
INCIDENTS/INJURIES: SWI HAS RECEIVED 44 REPORTS OF COVERS CRACKING. NO INJURIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED.
DESCRIPTION: THIS RECALL INVOLVES THE RITCHIE IMMERSION HEATERS WITH MODEL NUMBERS 17863 (120V/250W), 17939 (240V/250W OR 240V/325W), AND 17940 (240V/325W). THE IMMERSION HEATER IS DESIGNED TO BE SUBMERGED IN A CATTLE TROUGH TO KEEP THE WATER FROM FREEZING. THE MODEL NUMBER ALONG WITH “SWI” IS PRINTED ON ONE SIDE OF THE HEATING ELEMENT AND A STICKER READING “RITCHIE SPECIALTY PRODUCTS” IS FOUND ON THE OTHER SIDE.
SOLD BY: RITCHIE DISTRIBUTORS NATIONWIDE FROM FEBRUARY 2007 THROUGH NOVEMBER 2008 FOR ABOUT $60 TO $70.
MANUFACTURED IN: UNITED STATES (2007) AND MEXICO (2008)
REMEDY: CONSUMERS SHOULD IMMEDIATELY STOP USING THE RECALLED IMMERSION HEATER AND RETURN IT TO THE PLACE OF PURCHASE FOR A FREE REPLACEMENT HEATER.
CONTACT: FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT RITCHIE INDUSTRIES AT (800) 747-0222 BETWEEN 8 A.M. AND 4 P.M. CT, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, VISIT THE FIRMS’ WEB SITES AT WWW.SPRINGFIELD-WIRE.COM OR WWW.RITCHIEFOUNT.COM, OR CONTACT THE DEALER FROM WHICH THE HEATER WAS PURCHASED.
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