Portable Space Heater Recalls Issued Due to Fire Hazard

About 110,000 portable space heaters have been recalled by two different companies due to bad electrical connections that could pose a fire hazard. 

On Tuesday, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced recalls for Lasko portable electric heaters and PD Sixty Distributor portable space heaters.

The space heater recalls came after Lasko received 36 reports of overheating with 18 resulting in minor burn damage to carpets and floors. PD Sixty received one report of overheating that caused the heater to catch fire and resulted in minor fire damage. There have been no injuries reported in connection to the defective heaters.

In both cases, the space heaters are overheating due to loose or defectively designed electrical connections. In the case of the Lasko heaters, the CPSC reports that there is an electrical connection in the base of the heater that can overheat. The defective electrical connection causes the bottom of the heater to melt and exposes the electrical connection, creating a risk of fire. The PD Sixty heaters overheat due to loose electrical connections.

The Lasko heater recall affects 107,500 portable electric heaters sold under the Lasko or Air King brand names, which will be located on the top, center of the front cover. The heaters are dark grey towers with silver front covers and black vent slats. The recall includes the Lasko Model 5540 and the Air King Model 8540 portable electric tower heaters made in 2002. The affected units will have a four digit date code that begins with a “2” and is located on a label on the bottom of the unit. The units are 20.5 inches tall, 8.25 inches wide and 9.25 inches deep.

The PD Sixty Distributor recall affects about 3,000 Creative Heating Solutions brand portable space heaters with model numbers CH-750, CH-750FC, CH-1500 or CH-1500FC. Three sides of the heater are made out of wood and one side is made of metal. The front of the heater has a vent, a clear plastic cover plate and six black buttons. The model number is located on a white label on the rear metal panel and some will have “Creative Heating Solutions” stamped into the rear metal panel.

The Lasko Model 5540 was sold at Sam’s Club and other retail stores for $39 to $49 from September 2002 into early 2004, while the Air King Model 8540 was mainly sold through W.W. Grainger, Inc. from late 2002 through 2004 for about $80.

The Creative Heating Solutions heaters were sold at Hancock Fabrics stores nationwide and through direct marketing by America’s Sewing Machine Company from October 2008 through March 2009. They cost between $380 and $480.

If consumers have either portable heater they should stop using it immediately and contact the manufacturers for a free replacement heater. Lasko customers can go to www.Laskoproducts.com for more information and PD Sixty customers can go to www.CHSrecall.com.