DIY Life

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Paslode, has announced a voluntary recall of about 86,000 "Tall Red" Fuel Cells. The fuel cells, used to power cordless framing nailers, can leak fuel, posing a fire hazard.

Manufactured in the United States, and sold from February 2008 through April 2008 by construction supply and home center stores and dealers for between $11 and $14, the "Tall Red" fuel cells are for use in Paslode cordless framing nailers. Please see the CPSC press release for date and manufacture codes.

Consumers are advised to immediately stop using the fuel cells, and to return them to the place of purchase for credit or a full refund. For more information, contact Paslode at (800) 222-6990, visit their website at www.paslode.com (PDF), or email the firm at productsupport@paslode.com.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Maple Chase Company, has issued a voluntary recall of about 280,000 FireX branded 10000 series carbon monoxide alarms and 12000 series CO/ smoke combo alarms.

Prior to going into full alarm sound, the recalled alarms can sound a "double chirp"/fault alarm when CO is present. The owners manual instructs consumers to take the alarm out of service when they hear the double chirp. Consumers could then be exposed to hazardous level of CO and suffer injury or death.

The recalled alarms were manufactured in Mexico and sold by commercial electrical distributors and electrical contractors and builders for installation into new home construction, and by Menards from June 2007 through February 2008 for about $20 for the 10000 series alarm and $30 for the 12000 series alarm. Please see the CPSC press release for more information.

Consumers are advised not to take the alarms out of service until they receive a replacement alarm. To make arrangements to return the recalled alarm and to receive a free comparable replacement alarm, contact Maple Chase at (888) 879-3906, or visit their website at www.firexsafety.com.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with The Wenzel Co., has issued a voluntary recall of about 3,900 car charging units. The batteries in the unit can overheat and cause the unit to burst, posing an injury hazard to consumers. Although no injuries or property damage has been reported, The Wenzel Company has received one report of the batteries in the car charging unit overheating and bursting.

The car charging units, included with all LL Bean Raised Insta-Beds, were manufactured in China and sold at L.L. Bean Stores nationwide and catalog from June 2007 through August 2007 for about $150. Please check the CPSC press release to see the model number and the recalled car charging unit.

Consumers should stop using the unit immediately and contact L.L. Bean anytime at (800) 555-9717 for instructions on how to receive a free replacement car charging unit, or contact them at www.llbean.com.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Deere & Company of Moline, IL, have announced a voluntary recall of about 5,400 John Deere Compact Utility Tractors. The forward drive pedal can get stuck, posing a loss of control and injury risk to the user and bystanders. Although no injuries have been reported, Deere and Company have received 7 incident reports.

The compact utility tractors were manufactured in the United States and sold nationwide by John Deere dealers from September 2005 through December 2007 for about $15,500. Recalled tractors have the 3203 model number, which is painted on the tractor's side. Please check the CPSC press release to see if you have a tractor with the recalled serial numbers.

Stop using the recalled tractors immediately and contact your John Deere dealer for a free repair. For additional information, you may contact Deere & Company at (800) 537-8233 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. ET, or between 9 am and 3 pm ET on Saturday. You may also contact them at their website, www.johndeere.com.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and L G Sourcing, Inc. have announced a recall of approximately 90,000 Portfolio Incandescent Torcherie Lamps, due to the fact that a short circuit in the lamps' wiring poses a fire hazard. Although no injuries have been reported, L G Sourcing has received two reports of lamp fires.

The recalled lamps were manufactured in China and sold exclusively by Lowe's retail stores nationwide from March 2005 through October 2007 and sold for $17. Please check out the CPSC press release to see if you have a recalled lamp.

Stop using the recalled lamp immediately and take it back to any Lowe's retail outlet to get a full refund. For more information, you may contact L G Sourcing toll-free at (866) 916-7233 or visit www.lowes.com.

RSI Home Products and the U.S. Consumer Safety Product Commission have announced the recall of 8,600 medicine cabinets, due to the fact that the medicine cabinet's mirrors can separate and break, posing a serious laceration hazard. Although no injuries were reported, RSI received two reports of mirrors detaching and breaking.

Manufactured in the United States and sold by Lowe's and Home Depot from August 2007 to October 2007, there are three different styles of bathroom medicine cabinets being recalled. Check out the CPSC press release to see if you have the recalled medicine cabinet.

If you happen to have one of the recalled medicine cabinets, immediately and safely dispose of it. You may contact RSI toll-free at (888) 774-8062 between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.estatebath.com, www.insigniacabinets.com, www.masterbath.com to receive a free replacement mirror.

American Honda Motor Corp., in cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, has issued a voluntary recall of approximately 167,000 Honda walk-behind lawnmowers, due to a potential laceration hazard. The company states that the cutting blades could rotate under power when the control lever is released and the spinning blade poses a laceration risk to the user. No injuries have been reported.

The model numbers for the walk-behind lawnmowers, manufactured in the United States and sold by Home Depot and Honda Lawn and Garden dealers, are HRB217HXA, HRX217HXA and HRX217HMA. You can find the model and serial numbers on the upper rear of the mower deck on the red and gray lawnmowers. The lawnmowers were sold nationwide from January 2003 through November 2007.

Stop using the lawnmower immediately and contact any Honda Lawn and Garden dealer for a free repair. You can also contact Honda at (800) 426-7701 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.hondapowerequipment.com.

In response to possible fuel tank leakage, Billy Goat Industries Inc. has voluntarily recalled Billy Goat MultiVac outdoor vacumms. The manufacturer indicates that the fuel tanks on the machines can crack, leading to possible fuel leakage near hot engine parts creating the hazard of fire or explosion. No incidents have been reported to date. The recall affects approximately 1,600 units.

If you have a Billy Goat which is black and green with the product name printed on the collection bag, you can locate the product model number on a label located directly below the height adjustment crank on the left side of the vacuum. To find out if your Billy Goat is affected by this recall you can reference a list of the appropriate model numbers on the original Consumer Product Safety Commission press release.

Please discontinue using your Billy Goat and contact the manufacturer for a fuel tank replacement. You may contact Honda at (800) 426-7701, or you can visit the company website at www.hondapowerequipment.com.

Back to Basics Products in conjunction with the Consumer Products Safety Commission has announced a voluntary recall of approximately 10,000 home ice tea brewers stating that the units pose a risk of fire, however no incidents have yet been reported.

The units which were manufactured in China, were sold through Bon Ton department stores, the JC Penney catalog and also through hardware stores and Internet retailers. The company states that the problematic tea makers were sold April 2007 through July 2007 and carry the model number # IT400.

Back to Basics is asking that all affected ice tea makers be returned for exchange or refund. You may contact the manufacturer at www.backtobasicsproducts.com or e-mail the firm at IT400recall@btbproducts.com .

I just got an email from the U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission listing the top five home safety hazards. A couple of them were to be expected but there was a surprise or two. You can see the full list and information in the press release but I have paraphrased it here.

Some of the numbers of injuries or deaths may seem small, but in my opinion, one death is too many if it is a direct result of something that can be easily prevented.