LG recalls air conditioner amid fire concerns

By Lee Min-hyung

LG Electronics is voluntarily recalling some of its air conditioners in the United States following reports that they are overheating and catching fire, according to a consumer electronics regulator there.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said last week the problematic devices include three models of LG portable air conditioners of 7,000 and 8,000 British thermal units (BTU) sold there between February 2011 and this August. The number of the recalled devices is about 460,000 in the U.S. and 36,000 in Canada, said the CPSC.

The recall comes amid lingering safety concerns following four reports of the models catching fire, according to the regulator, which added that those four reported incidents have caused some $380,000 (450 million won) in property damage. No casualties have been reported.

“Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled portable air conditioners and contact LG to schedule free repairs at an authorized service center,” the CPSC said in a statement.

LG Electronics attributed the reported problems to motors overloading.

“LG decided to voluntarily recall the devices after receiving reports from the four customers,” said an LG Electronics spokesman. “We are going to install fuses into recalled devices, which prevents the recurrence of similar problems.”