These residential water heaters are being recalled due to fire hazard

Homeowners, you may want to stop what you’re doing and check your water heater right away.

A.O. Smith, a leading manufacturer of water heating systems, has recalled more than 615,000 residential water heaters due to a potential fire hazard, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced.

The company has found that the gas burner screen on these units can tear, which can produce excess radiant heat and spark a fire if the water heater is installed directly on wood or a similarly flammable surface.

The recall affects A.O. Smith’s 30-, 40- and 50-gallon Ultra-Low NOx water heater, which was sold under the American, A.O. Smith, Kenmore, Reliance, State, U.S. Craftmaster and Whirlpool brand names. The units were made between April 2011 and August 2016 and have serial numbers with the first four digits between 1115 and 1631, according to the CPSC.

They were sold at home improvement and hardware stores primarily in California.

A.O. Smith has issued the recall after receiving six reports of fires that were sparked by water heaters installed directly on a combustible floor. However, no injuries have been reported.

Customers who own one of these water heaters should examine the unit’s data plate for its brand name, model number and serial number. To confirm whether or not your model has been affected, visit WaterHeaterRecall.com and input the model and serial number shown on the plate.

A.O. Smith has also recalled its 30-gallon natural gas water heaters, which were sold exclusively at Lowe’s Home Improvement stores in California from February 2018 through April 2018. The heaters, with the model number G6-UT3030NV, have a faulty flame arrestor that could pose a fire hazard, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Customers who own either water heater should turn off the power and stop using the unit immediately. You should also reach out to A.O. Smith at 800-854-2793 to determine if a free repair is needed.