Portable Air Conditioners Recalled Over Fire Hazard; 1 Death Reported

A New Jersey-based company is recalling its portable air conditioners because they may pose fire and burn risks. There have been reports of one death, property damage and injury linked to the use of an affected product.

A "faulty drain motor" in the Royal Sovereign/Royal Centurian portable air conditioners can cause the plastic enclosure to ignite, posing the fire and burn hazards, the announcement on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website noted.

The company has so far received 11 reports of the portable air conditioners smoking or catching fire while being used, causing over $1 million in property damages. The hazard may also cause "serious injury and death," the announcement noted. In 2016, a woman died from injuries related to smoke inhalation while her two children also incurred injuries.

As such, those who have portable air conditioners that are included in the recall are being advised to stop using them immediately and contact the company to get a pro-rated refund based on when the unit was bought. Moreover, customers should stop using their affected portable air conditioner even if it appears to be functioning properly.

"Even though your portable air conditioner may appear to be safe, we are asking all customers to immediately stop using it and participate in the recall," the company noted. "Immediately stop use, unplug the unit, and properly sever the electrical cord to prevent further use. Failure to unplug the unit could result in shock, electrocution, or death."

The recall affects Royal Sovereign portable air conditioners (Model No. PAC-3012, Model No. PAC-3012_RB) and Royal Centurian portable air conditioners (Model No. ARP-3012, Model No. ARP-3012 KIT, Model No. ARP-3012S, Model No. ARP-3014, Model No. ARP - 3014 SC). These pieces of information can be found on a sticker at the back of the unit. Images of the portable air conditioners a well as the sticker are available on the CPSC website.

About 33,570 units are affected by the recall. They were sold at Sears, COSTCO, Home Depot, Best Buy and BJ's Wholesale Club as well as via Amazon.com from March 2008 to August 2014.

Customers may contact Royal Sovereign International at 833-947-3699 or via email at recall-pac3012@royalsovereign.com.