CPSC Warns of Carbon Monoxide Gas Hazard for Mobile Home Furnaces

WASHINGTON, DC -- Roof vent caps on certain HOME or MILLER brand gas-fired furnaces installed in mobile homes are being replaced free of charge by Lear Siegler, Inc., as a precaution against accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.

In voluntary cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the HOME Division of Lear Siegler, Inc., of Holland, Michigan, has initiated a program to replace the roof jack (vent) caps on as many as 250,000 gas-fired furnaces. The program covers furnaces manufactured prior to May 1979. Mobile home owners should first check their liquid propane (LP) or natural gas furnaces for the HOME or MILLER brand name on the furnace door. If you believe the furnace was installed prior to May 1979, consumers should call the company's toll-free hotline at 1-800-225-4168 for information about free replacement of the roof vent cap. Michigan residents should call Lear Siegler collect at 1-616-394-0024.

In the 24 years since these furnaces were first produced, there have been 27 fatalities resulting from carbon monoxide poisoning where roof jack damage may have been a factor.

There have been no reports of incidents involving caps manufactured after 1975. However, for ease of 'identification, because the caps look . the same from the outside, and as a precautionary measure, Lear Siegler is including in this program the caps used on all gas-fired MILLER and HOME brand furnaces manufactured by the HOME Division of Lear Sieqler, Inc., and installed prior to May, 1979. The firm has agreed to replace the subject roof jack (vent) caps at no cost to the consumer.

There are two roof jack (vent) cap designs which look similar from the outside involved in this program. The roof jack (vent) caps on pre-1976 MILLER or HOME brand MMG, MGC, and AGC model gas-fired furnaces are being replaced because failure to detect roof jack cap corrosion or other damage may lead to blockage of the vent system creating a potential carbon monoxide hazard for the mobile home occupants. In total, approximately 250,000 furnaces manufactured from 1962 through, May 1979 are involved in this program, although it is unlikely that all of the furnaces still are furnaces and roof jack (vent) caps either as original equipment or as functional because of their age. The were sold for use in mobile homes replacement appliances.

CPSC reminds homeowners that all furnaces require periodic inspection and maintenance by qualified personnel to detect malfunctioning equipment, including roof vent tips which may corrode over a period of time. Consumers should contact their local heating contractor to arrange. such inspections.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission hotline number is 800-638- CPSC. A teletypewriter number for the hearing-impaired is (800) 638-8270.
  

FROM THE U.S. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION, WASHINGTON, D.C. 20207

February 1987

Under laws administered by CPSC, an estimated 325 million potentially hazardous products have been called back from the marketplace and consumers since 1973 (when CPSC was created). Most of these were voluntarily recalled by manufacturers who established programs to repair or replace the products, or to refund the purchase price.​

To avoid a possible carbon monoxide poisoning problem, mobile home owners should check their liquid propane (LP) or natural gas furnace for the Home or Miller brand name on the furnace door. If you believe the furnace was installed prior to May 1979, consumers should call the company's toll-free hotline at l-800-225-4168 for information about free replacement of the roof vent cap. Michigan residents should call Lear Siegler collect at l-616-394-0024. The CPSC toll-free hotline number is 800.638.CPSC. A teletypewriter number for the hearing-impaired is (800) 638-8270.

The firm has agreed to replace the subject roof jack (vent) caps at no cost to the consumer.

In the 24 years since these furnaces were first produced, there have been 27 fatalities resulting from carbon monoxide poisoning where roof jack damage may have been a factor.