Faulty heaters are often cited as the reasons for house fires. Even when West Virginia homeowners follow safety regulations and take preventative measures to prevent a fire, injury can still occur. In many cases, fires and other injuries are due to defective household products that were allowed on the shelves of retail stores for consumers to use in their homes.
Sunbeam has recently recalled roughly 34,000 of their space heaters that are sold under the Holmes label. The heaters plug into the wall and are filled with oil. Reportedly, the heaters may spray out some of that oil, which is very hot and can cause burn injuries, as well as property damage.
So far, there have been approximately 40 different reports of this issue from consumers. All of the reports included damage to property. Luckily, there have not been any reports of physical injuries at this time.
The heaters were available in white or black. They are almost two feet tall and were sold for roughly $50 at Target and other department stores. Individuals with one of these defective space heaters should unplug the heater immediately and get in touch with Sunbeam for a full refund.
Space heaters can be dangerous products to have in the home even when they are in perfect working order. However, when their innate danger is combined with product defects, the danger increases dramatically. When a person in West Virginia has been injured or killed as a result of defective household products, including space heaters, it may be possible to file a product liability suit against the manufacturer to hold it responsible for its faulty product. With solid evidence and a strong case, it may be possible to receive compensation for injuries that were sustained as a result of the defect.
Source: ABC News, “Sunbeam Recalls Holmes Space Heaters That Can Spray Hot Oil“, Jan. 29, 2015
