Atomi Smart Tower Heater Recalled Due To Fire Hazard
Product Recalls - July 23, 2024
Atomi Issues Recall For Smart Tower Heaters Due to Fire and Burn Hazard
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (July 23, 2024) – Atomi has issued a recall for its Smart Tower Heaters because they pose a fire and burn hazard.
The recall was issued on July 11, 2024. Around 99,400 affected units were sold, including 10,700 sold in Canada.
Many different models were part of the recall, including tower models AT1323, AT1481, AT1520 and AT1632; tabletop models AT1482 and AT1521.
A wall heater with model number AT1635 was also part of the recall. The issue with the recalled heaters is that they can turn on without user input, which creates a fire and burn hazard.
No injuries have been reported thus far. The Atomi space heaters were sold at a number of online and physical retail outlets, including Amazon, Ace Hardware, Best Buy, Home Depot, and Sam’s Club.
Liability For Space Heater Fires
Portable space heaters are very popular, but they can also be very dangerous and are involved in many residential fires every year. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, “CPSC estimates that portable heaters, including electric space heaters, were involved in an average of 1,700 fires per year, resulting in an average of 70 deaths and 160 injuries annually from 2017 to 2019.” There are a number of common causes of residential fires involving space heaters.
- Proximity To Flammable Materials: By their very nature, space heaters are portable. When these devices are left next to flammable materials such as curtains, bedding, or furniture, these materials may catch fire.
- Overloading Electrical Circuits: When space heaters are plugged into power strips or extension cords, this can overload circuits and cause overheating and electrical fires.
- Lack of Safety Features: Space heaters that lack safety features such as automatic shut-off in the event of overheating are more likely to cause fires.
Companies that manufacture space heaters have a legal obligation to make sure that they are reasonably safe and free from defects. To that end, companies must ensure that their devices are compliant with all guidelines set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. If a space heater is inherently dangerous due to some design defect, the manufacturer could be held strictly liable through a product liability claim. Companies that manufacture these devices should take a number of measures in order to prevent fires.
- Manufacturers should ensure that their space heaters have automatic shut-off features.
- Manufacturers should ensure that their space heaters have cool touch exteriors to prevent overheating.
- Manufacturers should ensure that their space heaters have a stable base design to minimize tip-over risk.
- Manufacturers should ensure that their space heaters have clear instructions and warnings.
The vast majority of space heater fires are preventable. They tend to involve space heaters that were never very safe to begin with. Many of these devices lack basic safety features like automatic shut-off. Sadly, though, the companies that make these products will often do everything in their power to deny responsibility if their device causes a residential fire. Any person injured in an accident involving a space heater may be able to seek some measure of justice through a civil claim.
Getting Legal Help For Space Heater Fires
We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates were deeply concerned to hear about the safety issues with the Atomi Smart Tower Heaters. It is our sincere hope that all affected devices will be recalled and that no residential fires occur. There needs to be a thorough investigation into how these heaters were allowed to be sold in the first place.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a fire involving a space heater? You may have legal recourse. Our team of product liability attorneys is here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.