Drybars heated clothes rack dryer banned from sale and use
Energy Safety has banned the sale and use of a model of Drybars heated clothes rack dryer, Model CR888 from 6 August 2010.
The clothes dryers, marked with the serial numbers (batch codes) 912, 921 and 932, are potentially unsafe because of a manufacturing defect resulting in at least two house fires in recent weeks.
“Energy Safety is concerned about the large number of potentially defective clothes dryers currently being used. They can be loaded with a large amount clothes and left unattended causing a potential fire danger, especially when left on overnight while people are sleeping,” Mark Wogan, Operations Manager, Energy Safety said.
‘We have acted to ban the sale and use of these products for public safety, and to reinforce any action taken by the supplier.”
The clothes dryers have been sold directly through the Drybars website, various trade shows and also through Mitre 10 stores nationally.
Energy Safety believes the batches of faulty clothes dryers have been sold during 2009 through to mid-July 2010.
“Energy Safety’s advice is if you own one of these drying racks to unplug it immediately and to stop using it. Consumers should contact the supplier they bought the clothes dryer from, or the importer/supplier The Heated Clothes Rack Company Limited, for more information,” says Mark Wogan.
The Heated Clothes Rack Company has informed Energy Safety that it is undertaking a voluntary product recall of the affected appliances.
Under the Consumer Guarantees Act consumers are entitled to a refund, replacement or compensation if a product is unsafe.
Only the clothes dryers fully meeting the description given in the Prohibition Notice issued by Energy Safety are banned from sale and use.
Energy Safety is part of the Ministry of Economic Development.
The Heated Clothes Rack Company Limited can be contacted on 07 866 4429 or by email at: orders@drybars.co.nz.