It’s summer, it’s hot, and we are all thankful for air conditioners. Unfortunately, when air conditioners are improperly manufactured they pose a shock hazard to consumers and unknowing repairmen.
This is what Trane U.S., Inc. has discovered about 100,600 air conditioning units it manufactured between February 2010 and March 2014. The company has now issued a recall of 37 models of Trane XB300 and American Standard brand Silver SI split system outdoor units. The company reports that some units have faulty screws that don’t ground the unit properly. An improperly grounded unit poses a serious risk of shock.
If you have a Trane or American Standard cooling unit outside your house, you should immediately turn off the power to the unit by using the main breaker switch in your house. Do not touch the unit until you have turned off the power. After the unit is disconnected from power, check its model number to see if it has been recalled. Click here for a list of recalled units. The model number is printed on a silver plate on the back of the unit.
If you have a recalled unit, call Trane, Inc. at 1- 888-731-7561, to schedule an inspection and repair, if necessary.
No one has reported being shocked by one of the recalled units at this time, and I hope the recall will be completed without any reports of injuries. Home air conditioning units operate from the house’s electrical service voltage, which is usually 240 volts. This means touching a faulty unit with an inadequate ground could expose a victim to 240 volts of electricity. That is enough electricity to seriously injure a person. An electric shock injury can cause cardiovascular problems, paralysis, brain damage, and death. Even if an electric shock does not cause external burns, it causes internal burns to nerve endings.
If you have suffered a serious electric shock from an air conditioning unit or other electrical appliance or wiring, or from any other source, you should contact an attorney with experience dealing with electrical shock injuries. Our firm has successfully handled electrical shock cases, and we know the kind of devastating and life-altering injury an electrical shock can cause.
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