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Company recalls 5.1M smoke detectors

Officials said the alarm fails to chirp when it reaches its seven-year end of life if the batteries are replaced

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The recalled smoke alarms pose a risk to consumers not being alerted of a fire or CO incident in their home.

Photo/CPSC

News & Record

GREENSBORO, N.C. — A company has recalled 5.1 million smoke/carbon monoxide alarms.

According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission, the Kidde NightHawk alarm can “fail to continue to chirp when it reaches its seven-year end of life if the batteries are replaced, leading consumers to believe it is still working. This poses a risk of consumers not being alerted to a fire or CO incident in their home.”

This recall involves the Kidde NightHawk talking combo smoke/CO alarm with model number KN-COSM-IB and manufacture dates between June 1, 2004, and December 31, 2010. The alarms are hard-wired into a home’s electric power. The unit has a compartment on the back for the installation of a replaceable 9V backup battery, according to the agency.

The alarm is white, round and measures about 5 to 6 inches in diameter. “Kidde” is engraved on the front of the alarm. “Kidde,” the model number and manufacture dates are printed on a label on the back on the alarm.

The company has received eight reports of incidents with the recalled alarms. No injuries have been reported, according to the agency.

The agency says consumers should stop using the alarms immediately and contact Kidde directly for a free replacement alarm based on date of manufacture or a discount on a new alarm.

The alarms were sold by electrical distributors and home centers across the U.S. and Canada and online at Amazon.com from June 2004 to December 2010 for between $40 and $65.

The alarms were made in China and imported by Mebane-based Walter Kidde Portable Equipment Inc., according to the agency.

Contact Kidde toll-free at 855-239-0490 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday or online at www.kidde.com and click on “Product Safety Notice” for more information.

Copyright 2016 the News & Record

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