Immersion water heaters pose an 'imminent danger' of fires, safety agency charges
Consumers are being warned about an "imminent hazard" posed by some immersion water heaters – portable devices that are often used to heat water quickly.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today filed an imminent hazard action against the manufacturer and seller of Lakkzoom immersion water heaters, saying the devices can overheat and catch fire within minutes when energized either completely or partially out of water.
At the same time, CPSC is urging consumers to immediately stop using the heaters, which have been associated with numerous reports of fires.
The filing marks the Commission’s first use of its Section 12 imminent hazard authority in nearly four decades.
“Congress enacted Section 12 to ensure that the Commission could seek swift judicial relief when products present an imminent hazard,” said Acting Chairman Peter Feldman, in a news release. “While the Commission has historically relied primarily on other enforcement authorities, Section 12 provides an important complementary tool when expedited action is warranted.”
Consistent with the Administration’s priority of protecting American families from dangerous foreign imports and holding overseas manufacturers accountable, CPSC established a Section 12 Task Force to identify appropriate cases and develop Section 12 into a meaningful component of the Commission’s enforcement program.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, CPSC is working more closely than ever with the Department of Justice and our other federal partners to ensure that every available enforcement tool is brought to bear against dangerous products,” Feldman said.
