Voluntary Product Recall: Evantair Heaters

25 August 2009
Media Release

Notice Of Voluntary Product Recall

The Warehouse today announced the recall of Evantair CH-2000A Basic and Turbo model convection heaters purchased by customers between January 2005 and December 2007.

The two recalled models have Barcode Product Descriptions as follows:

• 9417648400979 Heater Convection Basic 2000W (CH-2000A BAS) – retailed at $49.99
• 9417648400962 Heater Convection Turbo 2000W (CH-2000A TUR) – retailed at $69.99

Following a customer complaint on 3 August 2009 regarding an Evantair Basic Convection Heater, which was fire-damaged when left switched on overnight, The Warehouse immediately retrieved the heater from the customer’s house for comprehensive independent testing to determine the cause of the incident.

The investigation found that some of the plastic on this particular heater appeared not to be the flame-retardant type, despite The Warehouse instructing the supplier to ensure this product complied with relevant safety standards to approve it for sale. It is therefore possible that others of these particular two models of heaters supplied for sale may not have met the relevant safety standards, as required, during the original product testing.

Based on the outcome of this investigation, The Warehouse has decided, as a precautionary measure, that there is a potential safety concern and has chosen to publicly recall the Evantair Basic Convection Heater. The recall also applies to the Evantair Turbo Convection Heater, purchased in the same time period. Both these models were supplied through a large NZ-based company, which has not supplied any heaters to The Warehouse since 2005.

It is only these two models, purchased by customers between 2005 and 2007, that are being recalled. These heaters may be unsafe, especially if left unattended or switched on overnight, and customers are warned not to use these particular models of heaters.

The Warehouse’s CEO, Ian Morrice, says, “We took this customer’s complaint extremely seriously, as ensuring the safety of our customers is always a top priority. We therefore ask all customers who own these models of heaters to stop using them immediately and return them to any branch of The Warehouse for a full refund.”

“We independently test our heaters to ensure their specifications meet the stringent national safety standards, however, it has become apparent in this case that some of these heaters may have been supplied to us with a different plastic component than was specified. We have addressed this matter as thoroughly and efficiently as possible, and we are placing press advertisements nationally on Thursday to communicate this recall to customers who may have bought these heaters.

“Those customers who have purchased any other heaters from us should not be concerned, provided they use them correctly. We would like to take this opportunity to remind all customers that, as a matter of general safety, heaters should never be left switched on unattended or overnight, unless the instructions specifically state it is safe to do so,” says Morrice.

All customers who present heaters with the stated barcodes will receive a full refund, with or without a receipt. Customers are advised to call 0800 422 274 during business hours for more information, or contact any branch of The Warehouse.

ENDS

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