CPSC announces Billy Goat and Venmar recalls

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission on December 12, 2007, announced the recall of about 1,600 Billy Goat MultiVac outdoor vacuums because of a fire and burn hazard. And on December 13, 2007, the CPSC announced the recall of about 1,100 Venmar heat-recovery ventilators because of a fire hazard.

The fuel tank on the Billy Goat vacuum (shown), made in the United States by Billy Goat Industries Inc, of Lee's Summit, Missouri, could crack and leak fuel.

The vacuum ($1,500 to $1,850) was sold at outdoor-power-equipment and rental dealers nationwide from June 2007 through November 2007.

The black-and-green vacuum has a red motor housing and the words Billy Goat appear on the vacuum bag; it is powered by a Honda engine. Affected models are the MV650H and MV650SPH, with the following serial numbers: 061107xxx, 061807xxx, 062507xxx, 070907xxx, 072407xxx, 073007xxx, 080607xxx, 081307xxx, 082007xxx, 082707xxx, 090407xxx, and 091007xxx.

If you own a recalled vacuum, stop using it immediately and contact a Billy Goat or Honda Lawn and Garden dealer for a free fuel-tank replacement. For more information, call Honda (800-426-7701) from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, or visit the company's recall page.

On the Venmar heat-recovery ventilators (shown), the thermal protector units can fail, posing a fire hazard.

The ventilators ($700 to $2,500), made in Canada by Venmar Ventilation Inc., of Quebec, were sold at heating-, plumbing-, and building-supply distributors nationwide from January 1991 through December 2001. A number of different brands and models are affected. Go to the CPSC's recall page to see if your heat-recovery ventilator is affected.

If you own a recalled model, turn off and unplug the unit and stop using it immediately. Venmar will provide you with a free safety device that will shut off the ventilator if the motor overheats. Contact the manufacturer (866-441-4645) from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, for more information or go to the company's recall page.