Killer Kerosene Heaters

[Mulboyne]

Aiming at the charcoal briquette market...


Asahi: Deaths prompt recall of kerosene heaters
12/01/2005 -- The government on Tuesday issued an emergency order to Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. to carry out a thorough recall of kerosene heaters produced as long ago as 1985 following a fatal accident last month. This is the first time the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has invoked a 1974 law on the safety of consumer goods to order a company to recall a product...Cracks in a rubber hose inside the heater apparently can lead to carbon monoxide leaks...more...

[Charles]

Jeez, reminds me of a recall incident that happened to me back in the late 1980s in LA. The S Cal Gas Co. put out an urgent recall on flexible metal hoses used to connect gas stoves since sometime in the 1960s. The hoses were deteriorating with age and starting to leak, causing fires and explosions.
The Gas Co. said the hoses were so fragile, you should not move your stove to check and see if you had the recalled metal hose because if you had one, even moving the stove a few inches would probably crack it and start a gas leak and blow up your home. You were supposed to call the Gas Co, which was so backlogged with inspection calls that it would take weeks, if not months, to check your stove.
Of course I looked anyway, and my stove had the dangerous recalled metal hose. So I went to the hardware store and got a new one for $8 and replaced it myself. BFD.

[amdg]

Jeez, reminds me of a recall incident that happened to me back in the late 1980s in LA. The S Cal Gas Co. put out an urgent recall on flexible metal hoses used to connect gas stoves since sometime in the 1960s. The hoses were deteriorating with age and starting to leak, causing fires and explosions.
The Gas Co. said the hoses were so fragile, you should not move your stove to check and see if you had the recalled metal hose because if you had one, even moving the stove a few inches would probably crack it and start a gas leak and blow up your home. You were supposed to call the Gas Co, which was so backlogged with inspection calls that it would take weeks, if not months, to check your stove.
Of course I looked anyway, and my stove had the dangerous recalled metal hose. So I went to the hardware store and got a new one for $8 and replaced it myself. BFD.

Wait a minute –] and they (b) do [something really, really stupid] and you (c) show them up for it and walk away laughing like the hero you are?

Oh - I get it, all of the pieces fall into place without needing famous people this time.

You were (a) involved with S Cal Gas Co., and they (b) produced poor hoses. But you (c) fixed it with a simple 8$ trip to the hardware store.

You must wonder why you don't get more marriage proposals.

[emperor]

...Hokkaido...About the weather, even if you don't get central heat, those kerosene deals will keep you snug as a bug, don't worry...

AKs advice is gonna get me killed.

[Charles]

[amdg]

[Big Booger]

I Figured This Shit Out Moons Ago

I can't stand kerosene. Electric heating via aircon or central air only for me thanks!

Kerosene is warm and cozy but the smell is awful even with the most high tech scrubbers and machines... It stinks, it makes me cough, and that's all she wrote.

[Greji]

I Figured This Shit Out Moons Ago

What's wrong with a couple of twenty year olds and a futon? That should keep one plenty warm!

[GomiGirl]

I Figured This Shit Out Moons Ago

What's wrong with a couple of twenty year olds and a futon? That should keep one plenty warm!

They keep stealing the covers..

[Greji]

I Figured This Shit Out Moons Ago

What's wrong with a couple of twenty year olds and a futon? That should keep one plenty warm!

They keep stealing the covers..

Not if they are being kept pre-occupied!

[Mulboyne]

Physorg.com: Matsushita to mail every Japanese in unprecedented recall

Japanese electronics giant Matsushita will take the unprecedented step of sending cards to all 60 million households and hotels in the country to recall a faulty heater, believing the media alone cannot get the message out. Matsushita Electric Industrial estimates it is spending 10 billion yen to convey the warning on defective heaters and the mass mailing will cost around another one billion yen...more...

[Mulboyne]

Asahi: 15 deaths traced to gas units

The industry ministry is investigating 15 deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning due to malfunctioning water heaters manufactured by Paloma Ltd., a leading appliance maker, officials said. The ministry had received reports on each of the incidents from gas operators but took no action until requested by Tokyo's Metropolitan Police Department earlier this month, the officials said. Deaths in connection with the appliances date back to 1985, officials said...Paloma has shipped a total of 260,000 units...to date...more...

[Big Booger]

heat pump... the only way to be comfortable in the winter and yet not die from Carbon Dioxide poisoning.

[omae mona]

heat pump... the only way to be comfortable in the winter and yet not die from Carbon Dioxide poisoning.

I had a heat pump in an apartment I rented in the New England area once. For a mere $250 or so in monthly electric bills, it kept my 1-bedroom unit as warm as a toasty 50 degrees F.

I choose carbon monoxide poisoning (or even carbon dioxide poisoning or carbon tetrachloride poisoning). It sucks less.

[Mulboyne]

Asahi:

...Paloma President Hiroaki Kobayashi told a news conference, "Paloma, including subcontractors, has not undertaken any illegal modifications." However, it was revealed over the weekend that in the late 1980s a Paloma-affiliated repair company was caught illegally tampering with safety devices on gas water heaters manufactured by a Paloma subsidiary. The illegal modifications were raised in court during a suit seeking damages after a victim in Sapporo died in 1992 of carbon monoxide poisoning caused by a faulty Paloma water heater. According to the February 2002 Sapporo High Court ruling, the heater malfunctioned as a result of an illegal modification carried out by an employee of a Paloma service shop...