Note: Telephone number change

Nutone Replacement Of Defective Ceiling Fan Socket Hanger Brackets

WASHINGTON, DC -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), NuTone, Inc. of Cincinnati, OH, is announcing a voluntary corrective action plan to replace the die cast socket hangers on approximately 310,000 "NuTone" brand paddle fans. The paddle fans involved have a ball and die cast socket ceiling-mounted device. In some cases the die cast mounting bracket may crack, allowing the fan to fall.

The fans were manufactured from the Spring of 1983 through the Fall of 1984. They may include the Verandah, Hacienda, Sea Island, Decorator, and Slimline model 36" and 52" fans.

The paddle fans sold nationwide through NuTone Electrical Distributors. The CPSC was informed of these potentially unsafe fans by NuTone, Inc., which discovered the problem after receiving a broken socket hanger from a NuTone service station. NuTone reported five incidents of the die cast socket hanger breaking. No injuries were reported.

Consumers with the paddle fans are urged to discontinue use. Consumers should not attempt to disconnect or dismantle the fans themselves. NuTone will replace the die cast socket with a sheet metal bracket, free of charge. This bracket will insure that the fan will not fall.

Consumers in the continental United States with NuTone paddle fans installed prior to 1986 should call 1-513-527-5100 to receive a safety notice providing instructions and information on the identification and correction of the affected paddle fans. Consumers can also write: NuTone, Madison and Red Bank Roads, Cincinnati, OH 45227, Attention: Paddle Fans. Consumers should specify their name, address and telephone number plus the words "Paddle Fan Corrective Action" in the letter. NuTone will provide a safety notice instruction and the name of a local service organization which will install the replacement bracket free of charge.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is announcing this repair program as part of its mission to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with consumer products. The Commission's objective is to reduce the estimated 28.5 million injuries and 21,600 deaths associated each year with the 15,000 different types of consumer products under CPSC's jurisdiction.