FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 7, 1998
Release # 99-004
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Company Phone Number: (888) 347-2757
CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: name, (301) 504-7058
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CPSC, Royal Centurian/Sovereign Announce Recall of Portable Heaters
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission (CPSC), Royal Centurian Inc. and its affiliate
Royal Sovereign Corp., both of Englewood, N.J., are voluntarily
recalling about 39,300 portable heaters. The mechanism which
rotates the heater side-to-side can wear through the insulation
of electrical wiring inside the heater's base. In addition, some
of the connections between the electrical wires and other
components inside of the heater may be faulty. Either of these
conditions can result in a fire.
Royal Centurian/Sovereign have received 13 reports of fires
involving the heaters, which may have caused the fires. The fires
resulted in about $70,000 in property damage. No injuries have
been reported.
Only Royal Sovereign model RST-1200 portable heaters with
serial numbers beginning with 92, 93, 94, 95 or 96 are being
recalled. These heaters use a fan to force the heated air into
the room, and they rotate side-to-side to distribute the heated air
throughout the room. These units are constructed of black
plastic in a cylindrical shape with a diameter of 7 inches and a
height of 13 inches. The units are labeled in part, "RS...CERAMIC
HEATER AUTO THERMOSTAT CONTROL...120v, 60 hz, 1500 w...MODEL NO.
RST-1200 ...Royal Sovereign Corp...UL LISTED AIR HEATER...MADE
IN KOREA." The serial number is located underneath the heater's
base.
Home building supply and discount stores nationwide,
including Hechingers, Builders' Square, Walmart and Montgomery
Ward, sold the heaters from January 1992 through September 1997
for about $99.
Consumers should stop using these heaters immediately and
call Royal Centurian Inc. toll-free at (888) 347-2757 between
9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EDT Monday through Friday for instructions on
returning the heaters for free repair.
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