CPSC, Royal Centurian/Sovereign Announce Recall of Portable Heaters

Recalled October 7, 1998 · CPSC recall 99004 · Royal Centurian/Sovereign

Hazard

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.

Remedy

Consumers should stop using these heaters immediately and call Royal Centurian Inc. for instructions on returning the heaters for free repair.

Units

About 39,300

Incidents / injuries

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.

Description

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.

What to do

Consumers should stop using these heaters immediately and call Royal Centurian Inc. for instructions on returning the heaters for free repair.

Contact

Consumers may call Royal Centurian Inc. toll-free at (888) 347-2757 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EDT Monday through Friday.

Product

Royal Sovereign model RST-1200 portable heaters

Distributed by

Royal Centurian Inc. and its affiliate Royal Sovereign Corp., both of Englewood, N.J.

Retailers

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.

Made in

South Korea

Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Official recall notice on cpsc.gov →