500,000 Kidde Smoke Detectors Recalled Because They Cannot Sense Smoke
500,000 Kidde Smoke Detectors Recalled Because They Cannot Sense Smoke
You’d think the basic criterion for a product to be called a “smoke detector” would be that it is able to sense smoke or sense a fire. Consumers who have Kidde smoke detectors in their homes are finding out today that might not be necessarily true. Kidde is recalling 500,000 smoke detectors, which may have a defect that could prevent them from sounding and alerting users to the presence of a fire or smoke in their home, putting consumers in danger.
Recall Details
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), a yellow cap left on during the manufacturing process can cover one of the two smoke sensors and compromise the product’s ability to detect smoke. This poses the risk of consumers not being alerted to a fire in their homes.
The two products affected by the recall are the Kidde dual-sensor smoke alarms, models P12010 and P19010. The smoke detectors were sold at Menards, The Home Depot, Wal-Mart and other stores nationwide as well online on Amazon.com, shopkidde.com and other websites between September 2016 and January 2018. They cost between $20 and $40.
What Should Consumers Do?
If you have one of these recalled smoke detectors at home, remove the alarm from the wall or ceiling and visually inspect it through the opening on the side of the alarm for the presence of a yellow cap. Do not try to take apart the alarm or attempt to remove the cap if it is present. If you see the yellow cap, contact Kidde right away to get instructions and request a free replacement smoke alarm. Those who find a yellow cap should remove and discard the item, but only after they receive the replacement alarm. If you do not see a yellow cap, reinstall the smoke alarm. No further action is needed. So far, no incidents or injuries have been reported as a result of this manufacturing defect.
If you or a loved one has been injured or has suffered property damage as a result of this recall, contact an experienced product defect attorney who can help you assess your legal rights and options. Injured victims can seek compensation for their losses, as can those who have lost loved ones due to defective products. In some defective product cases, consumers may also be able to file a class action lawsuit.
