Effikal gas Vent dampers recalled

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission on October 9, 2008, announced the recall of 45,000 automatic gas-vent dampers manufactured by Effikal LLC, of Orion, Michigan, that could fail and cause gas boilers to emit carbon monoxide if the blocked vent switch does not activate.

For full details—including a list of the 14 different brands of gas boilers that could be affected—visit the CPSC recall page and the manufacturer's own Web site.

Essential information: With winter heating season upon us, read about carbon-monoxide detectors  and smoke alarms. You can also review our guides to buying a new gas furnace or wood- or pellet-burning stove and brand-history repair for gas furnaces. You'll also find advice on maintaining your heating systems and head-to-head efficiency comparisons of major appliances.