Over the last few weeks, many recalls have involved products that may pose a fire hazard. Although the weather is getting warmer, portable heaters have been on the CPSC’s recall list several times, and owners should be aware of these products that can pose a serious danger to their families and homes. Last week, Family Dollar Stores recalled 19,640 Optimus Tower Quartz Heaters due to potential overheating that could possibly result in a fire.
This week, the Optimus brand is involved in another recall of their heaters. On May 15, the CPSC announced that Optimus Enterprise Inc. is recalling approximately 355,000 of the Optimus Portable Infrared Radiant Quartz Electric Space Heaters that were sold from October 2011 through December 2012 for about $25. The recalled heaters were sold online and at retailers such as Best Buy Market Place, Family Dollar, Heartland, Northern Tool, and Rite Aid. According to the CPSC, “[t]he heater design can fail to prevent ignition of nearby combustible materials that may come in contact with the unit, posing a fire hazard to the consumer.”
Consumers are urged to identify whether or not the recall affects their heater and to immediately unplug the device. Recalled heaters, which are white with an “Optimus” label on the top left of the unit, are approximately 12-inches wide by 13-inches tall by 6-inches deep. Two models of the heaters are involved in the recall, including units produced in 2011 with model number H-5210 and units produced in 2012 with model number H-5211. Consumers can check the label on the back of the heater for the model and production information.
Owners of the recalled heaters should immediately stop use to avoid the possibility of a unit fire and contact Optimus for a free replacement heater. Optimus Enterprise Inc. can be reached via email at return.optimus@gmail.com or by phone at (888) 972-5832 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 3p.m. PT Monday through Friday.