Recall of Air
Conditioner and Heat Pump Electrical Capacitators
PDF Version of BQA 99-042
(PDF, 7 KB)
Date: July 21, 1999 -- DSL-BQA-99-042
From: Susan Schroeder, Director, Bureau of Quality Assurance
Attached [below] is a copy of the Carrier Corporation voluntary recall
program to replace electrical capacitors in packaged terminal air conditioners and
heat pumps manufactured between January, 1993, and March, 1995. We ask that you share this
information with your staff, taking whatever action is appropriate.
If you have any questions regarding this information, please call David R. Soens, P.E.,
Quality Assurance Engineer, Provider Regulation & Quality Improvement Section at (608)
261-5993.
Carrier Corporation
PTAC Customer Support Center
PO Box 4808, TR18S
Carrier Parkway
Syracuse, New York, 13221
Phone (800) 894-6449
Fax (800) 295-2391
May 27, 1999
Dear American Society for Health Care Engineering member:
We are writing to alert you to some very important safety information concerning
certain Carrier air conditioning and heat pump products that are used primarily in
(hotel/motel, health care) installations.
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Carrier
Corporation has initiated a voluntary recall program to replace electrical capacitators in
packaged terminal air conditioners (PTACs) and heat pumps manufactured between January,
1993 and March, 1995. The PTACs and heat pumps affected have model numbers beginning
with "52S" or "52E," and serial numbers ranging from 0193E00000
through 1395E99999.
The capacitators in question were sourced from an outside supplier. Under
certain conditions, these capacitators can fail, rupture and possibly ignite, spreading
fire to other components within the unit's control box. Carrier and the CPSC are
aware of eight such incidents, out of approximately 100,000 units manufactured during this
period. This ignition could escape the control box and create a safety risk.
However, there have not been any reports of personal injury as a result of these
incidents.
Carrier PTACs and heat pumps were manufactured with beige, plastic louvered front
covers. The portion of the unit located inside the room measures 42-in. (w) x 16-in.
(h). Facility owners and managers are advised to check the model and serial number
of their PTAC units by first unplugging the unit, then removing the front plastic
panel. The model and serial numbers are located on a sticker to the right of the
unit's filter.
If you have a unit that meets the criteria described above and on the attached fact
sheet [not available on the Internet], or if you have any questions, please contact
Carrier's PTAC customer support center at 1-800-894-6449, between the hours of 8:00
a.m.-6:00 p.m. (EDT), Monday through Friday.
Carrier has arranged to have an Independent Service Provider correct the problem by
removing and replacing the affected capacitators, thus eliminating the potential for
component failure and the subsequent safety risk. Parts and labor for this repair
will be provided to the customer at no charge. In addition, the new capacitator
comes with a one-year parts and labor warranty.
The recall does not affect Carrier packaged terminal units with serial numbers outside
the range, or any Carrier window/room air conditioners and heat pumps or central air
conditioners and heat pumps.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation in helping us to correct this potential
safety problem. We apologize for any inconvenience this might cause, and appreciate
your continued support.
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