We get asked about home warranty companies often. We do not rate nor recommend any company unless we have personal experience with using it, no matter the type of vendor. However, we do hear feedback from time to time from happy or unhappy clients and agents who have experience with them. Here is a link to a recent consumer advocate group who did research and posted their findings:
Excel Inspections
Thomas Lighting Flush Mount Light Fixture
NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Ceiling Mounted Light Fixtures Recalled by Thomas Lighting Due to Fire and Shock Hazards.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.
Name of product: Thomas Lighting ceiling flush mount light fixtures.
Units: About 83,750
Manufacturer: Thomas Lighting, of Elgin, Ill; part of Philips Consumer Luminaires Corporation, of Elgin, Ill.
Hazard: The fixture’s socket wire insulation can degrade, leading to charged wires becoming exposed, causing electricity to pass to the metal canopy of the fixture.
This poses a fire and electric shock hazard to consumers.
Specific Recall Information
Product equipment and appliance safety recalls are not part of a normal inspection. More specific recall information can be obtained at www.cpsc.gov/index.html .
Recall of the GE Zoneline HVAC/Heating Unit
A recent recall has been issued for the GE Zoneline Air Conditioners and Heaters. This is not a unit we see very often in inspections, but if you would like further info, you can follow this link.
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pr
Recall of Safety Drain Cover For Pools/Spas
This recall includes information concerning Pool/Spa Safety Drain covers that were incorrectly rated to handle the flow of water through the cover. This could pose a possible entrapment hazard to swimmers and bathers. No injuries have currently been reported.
For more information contact the Drain Cover Recall Hotline at 1-866-478-3521 anytime. You can also visit the Drain Cover Recall website at www.apsp.org/draincoverrecall.
Name of Product: Pool and spa drain covers
Units: About 1 million
Manufacturers: A&A Manufacturing, of Phoenix, Ariz.; AquaStar Pool Products Inc., of San Diego, Calif.; Color Match Pool Fittings, of Surprise, Ariz.; Custom Molded Products, of Tyrone, Ga.; Hayward Pool Products, of Elizabeth, N.J.; Pentair Water Pool and Spa, of Sanford, N.C.; Rising Dragon USA, of E. Sweetwater, Tenn.; and Waterway Plastics, of Oxnard, Calif.
Remedy: Pool owners/operators and consumers who have one of the recalled pool or spa drain covers should immediately contact the manufacturer to receive a replacement or retrofit, depending on their make and model. Except for kiddie pools, wading pools and in-ground spas, retrofit or replacement of installed covers are not required in pools with multiple drain systems or gravity drainage systems or for covers installed before December 19, 2008.
Lennox Gas Log Recall
This recall involves gas burners sold with Lennox brand Shadowdance natural gas log set burner assemblies. The product is used in a wood-burning fireplace or a ventless firebox enclosure. The assemblies were sold under model numbers LSVFSD-18, LSVFSD-24 and LSVFSD-30, and include a burner and ceramic-fiber log set. Replacement gas burners also were sold separately under model number LSVFSD-NG. Burners included in this recall have serial numbers that begin with 6407, 6408, 6409 and 6410A through 6410G. The burner’s model and serial numbers are printed on a metal identification plate attached to the burner.
Siemens Circuit Breaker Recall
Siemens Recalls Circuit Breakers Due to Fire Hazard: This recall involves Siemens and Murray 15 through 50 AMP single and double pole circuit breakers, load centers (circuit breakers that come with an electrical panel), and meter combos (contain a load center and a meter socket). “Siemens” or “Murray,” date codes 0610 or 0710 and the catalog number are printed on a label on the side of the circuit breakers.
GE Dishwasher Recall
GE has ordered a recall on GE dishwashers: GE Profile™ and GE Monogram® Dishwashers sold between 2004-2006.
For more information/model numbers go to: www.geappliances.com/recall
Maytag Dishwasher Recall
NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 3, 2010
Release #10-255 Firm’s Recall Hotline: (800) 544-5513
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7601
Maytag Recalls Dishwashers Due to Fire Hazard
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.
Name of Product: Dishwashers
Units: About 1.7 million in the United States
Manufacturer: Maytag Corp. of Newton, Iowa or Maytag Corp. of Benton Harbor, Mich.
Hazard: An electrical failure in the dishwasher’s heating element can pose a serious fire hazard.
Incidents/Injuries: Maytag has received 12 reports of dishwasher heating element failures that resulted in fires and dishwasher damage, including one report of extensive kitchen damage from a fire. No injuries have been reported.
Description: The recall includes Maytag®, Amana®, Jenn-Air®, Admiral®, Magic Chef®, Performa by Maytag® and Crosley® brand dishwashers with plastic tubs and certain serial numbers. The affected dishwashers were manufactured with black, bisque, white, silver and stainless steel front panels. The brand name is printed on the front of the dishwasher. The model and serial numbers are printed on a label located inside the plastic tub on a tag near the left side of the door opening. Serial numbers will start or end with one of the following sequences.
SERIAL number STARTING with OR SERIAL number ENDING with
NW39, NW40, NW41, NW42, NW43, NW44, NW45, NW46, NW47, NW48, NW49, NW50, NW51, NW52, NY01, NY02, NY03, NY04, NY05, NY06, NY07, NY08, NY09, NY10, NY11, NY12, NY13, NY14, NY15, NY16, NY17, NY18, NY19 JC, JE, JG, JJ, JL, JN, JP, JR, JT, JV, JX, LA, LC, LE, LG, LJ, LL, LN, LP, LR, LT, LV, LX, NA, NC, NE, NG, NJ, NL, NN, NP, NR
Sold at: Department and appliance stores and by homebuilders nationwide from February 2006 through April 2010 for between $250 and $900.
Manufactured in: United States
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled dishwashers, disconnect the electric supply by shutting off the fuse or circuit breaker controlling it, inform all users of the dishwasher about the risk of fire and contact Maytag to verify if their dishwasher is included in the recall. If the dishwasher is included in the recall, consumers can either schedule a free in-home repair or receive a rebate following the purchase of certain new Maytag brand stainless-steel tub dishwashers. The rebate is $150 if the consumer purchases new dishwasher models MDB7759, MDB7609 or MDBH979; or $250 if the consumer purchases new dishwasher models MDB8959, MDB8859, MDB7809 or MDB7709. Consumers should not return the recalled dishwashers to the retailer where purchased as retailers are not prepared to take the units back.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Maytag at (800) 544-5513 anytime, or visit the firm’s website at www.repair.maytag.com
Acer Notebook Recall
CPSC Recall Notice January 7, 2010 Release # 10-103 Firm’s Recall Hotline: (866) 695-2237 CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908 Acer Recalls Notebook Computers Due to Burn Hazard WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following products. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. Name of Product: Certain Acer Aspire-series Notebook Computers Units: About 22,000 Manufacturer: Acer America Corporation, of San Jose, Calif. Hazard: An internal microphone wire under the palm rest can short circuit and overheat. This poses a potential burn hazard to consumers. Incidents/Injuries: Acer has received three reports of computers short circuiting, resulting in slight melting of the external casing. No incidents occurred in the United States. No injuries have been reported. Description: The recalled notebook computer models are the Acer AS3410, AS3410T, AS3810T, AS3810TG, AS3810TZ and AS3810TZG. The computer’s screen size is about 13.3 inches measured diagonally. Not all units are affected. Consumers should contact Acer to determine if their unit is included in the recall. Sold at: ABS Computer Technologies, D&H Distributing, Fry’s Electronics, Ingram Micro, Radio Shack, SED/American Express, Synnex Corporation, SYX Distribution, Tech Data Corporation and other retailers nationwide and Amazon.com from June 2009 through October 2009 for between $650 and $1,150. Manufactured in: China Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled notebook computers immediately and contact Acer to determine if their notebook is affected and to receive a free repair. Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Acer toll-free at (866) 695-2237 anytime, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.acer.com