Hundreds of Thousands of Harbor Freight Propane Tank Heaters Recalled Over Fire Risks

About 350,000 Harbor Freight propane heaters are being recalled following reports suggesting windy weather may cause flames to melt a safety switch, posing a potential fire hazard.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced the One Stop Gardens Tank Top propane heater recall on July 21, due to design defects which may allow a flame to blow into the rear of the heater or the tip switch safety feature; in some cases causing it to melt.

The recalled heaters are meant to be mounted on top of a standard 20 lb. propane tank, and feature an “easy start” valve with variable heat control, a high-efficiency heat reflector, and safety shutoff.

According to the recall notice, the company has received at least nine reports of the flames being blown back into the heater in windy conditions, melting some components. One of these components is the tip switch, which, if damaged, could prevent the heater from being shut off quickly. In three cases, consumers suffered minor burn injuries when trying to turn the heater off.

The recall affects the One Stop Gardens 15,000 BTU Tank Top Propane Heater, with SKU Item #63073, and the One Stop Gardens 30,000 BTU Tank Top Propane Heater with SKU Item #63072.

An estimated 350,000 recalled heaters were sold at Harbor Freight Tools stores nationwide, and online, from December 2015 to April 2021. The 15,000 BTU model cost about $45, and the 30,000 BTU model sold for about $75. The heaters were made in China and imported by Harbor Freight Tools.

The CPSC recommends consumers stop using the affected heaters immediately and return the devices to their local Harbor Freight Tools store for a full refund of the purchase price, plus applicable tax, in the form of a Harbor Freight Tools gift card.

Consumers can receive more information by visiting the Harbor Freight website at www.harborfreight.com and clicking on “Recall Safety Information” at the bottom of the page for more information. In addition, they can also call Harbor Freight Tools at 800-444-3353 or send an email to recall@harborfreight.com.