Venmar is recalling 75,000 heat recovery ventilators manufactured between 1991 and 2001. The ventilators, designed to bring fresh air into a home, contain a motor that can overheat and catch fire. Four motors have already caught fire, with one in Michigan causing $1 million in damage.

Several brands and models contain the faulty motor. The model number will appear as a large, bold number on the first line of either a silver or black label on the ventilator’s outside panel. The affected units, from Venamar’s web site:

• Venmar: AEXX, EARC, 1XX, 30X, 40X, 40XXX
• Venmar AVS: 1.X, 2.X, 30XX, 55XX
• Flair : 30, 30XX, 55, 55XX, 85115
• vänEE: 10, 1XX, 100X, 20, 20XX, 30XX, 90
• Conformax: 300, 350, 400
• NuTone: NUTR130
• Carrier, Bryant: VXXXXXXXXX, ERVXXXXXXX, HRVXXXXXXX
• Payne Day & Night: VXXXXXXXXX
• Heil: HEILXXXXX
• York: 5263554XXXX
• Sears Brand: OPTIMUM
• Guardian by Broan : 100X, 200X
• Rheem, Ruud, Protech, Weatherking: 84-ERV100, 84-ERV200, 84-HRV100, 84-HRV200

If you have an affected model in your house, run unplug the unit and call Venmar at (866) 441-4645, or visit their web site. They will send you a safety device to prevent the motor from burning your house down. — CAREY GREENBERG-BERGER

Venmar Ventilation Inc. Recalls Heat Recovery Ventilators Due to Fire Hazard [CPSC]

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