If you forgot to check your smoke alarm batteries during the recent daylight savings time change, here is another good reason to check your smoke alarm this weekend! Popular smoke alarm manufacturer, Kidde, is voluntarily recalling over 450,000 of its Dual Sensor Smoke Detectors after a report that the alarm’s ability to alert owners to a fire could be compromised.
The recall on the US Consumer Product Safety Commission website reads “A yellow cap left on during the manufacturing process can cover one of the two smoke sensors and compromise the smoke alarm’s ability to detect smoke, posing a risk of consumers not being alerted to a fire in their home.”
The Kidde dual-sensor (photoelectric and ionization) smoke alarms – models PI2010 and PI9010 was sold at Menards, The Home Depot, Walmart and other department, home and hardware stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com, ShopKidde.com and other websites from September 2016 through January 2018 for between $20 and $40 according to the CPSC website. The date can be found as indicated in the above image.
According to the CPSC a yellow cap left on during the manufacturing process can cover one of the two smoke sensors and compromise the smoke alarm’s ability to detect smoke, posing a risk of consumers not being alerted to a fire in their home.
The CPSC also advises “Consumers should remove the alarm from the wall/ceiling and visually inspect it through the opening on the side of the alarm for the presence of a yellow cap. Consumers should not attempt to take apart the alarm, open the casing, or otherwise remove the yellow cap themselves. If a yellow cap is present, the consumer should immediately contact Kidde to receive instructions and request a free replacement smoke alarm. They should remove and discard the recalled smoke alarm only after they receive and install the replacement alarm. If no yellow cap is present, consumers should reinstall the smoke alarm and no further action is needed.”
Share this story to help make sure your friends and family members are safe. And don’t forget to change your smoke alarm batteries!