AirNmore Comfort Deluxe with copper PTC heaters or heating systems

The reports, as CPSC published them

1. No one hurt

   Made Feb 16, 2020 · , sent to the company Apr 13, 2020 · , published by CPSC Apr 27, 2020

   The product, in the report: 13” W x 16.5”D x 16.75”H Weight: 22 lbs. Watts: 1,500 Amps: 12.5 BTU Rating: 5,000

   Here’s what I sent to AirNmore: Just wanted to give you a heads up that I discovered that I cannot use the Comfort Deluxe with Copper PTC (an electric space heater). I have two of them. I got the first one on 12-17-2019 (model YD-903G-CDA, serial CDA08194889) and then I got a second one (model YD-903G-CDA, serial CDA04191307) on 2-12-2020. I only got the strange smell on the second unit when I turned the heater on and the smell did go away. I have determined that both heaters must be emitting some toxic vapor because my bronchial tubes became irritated no matter which one I used. I have lived in a singlewide mobile home since 1991 so I know all about formaldehyde vapor. I vapor-proofed the entire inside of my singlewide and also have a fresh air heat recovery ventilator with duct work putting fresh air right in where I sleep. This problem is not formaldehyde vapor because formaldehyde vapor causes my nasal membranes to close up as if I had a cold, making it difficult to even breathe. I got rid of my [REDACTED] infrared heater because it was housed in a wooden cabinet made of medium density fiberboard and it emitted some formaldehyde vapor. This problem is different. I can breathe OK but my lungs are getting irritated right at the top at the bronchial tubes right where the air first enters. I quit using both units and felt better within hours. I didn’t realize I had a problem with the first unit. It must’ve been something that was accumulating. I was only using the first unit during the day under my table in the kitchen and then I was using the [REDACTED] at night. But I noticed both a reduced ability to breathe as well as the lung soreness in the morning. But I attributed it all to the [REDACTED] infrared heater. When I got the second unit I used it during the day right under the table in my kitchen. Then at night I used the first unit until my symptoms got so bad that I decided to quit using both units and just go back to my [REDACTED] 1500 watt model. I got a new set of bulbs for it last year from you so it’s working fine. I was keeping it as a backup and wanted to test out the new Comfort deluxe heater. I also have a smaller [REDACTED] and changed those bulbs last year as well. So I have heat. I am NOT trying to return either unit. I’ll probably eventually just disassemble them to at least recycle the metal. My only hope is that perhaps the manufacturer is becoming aware of this problem and they might re-engineer the copper PTC heater element to correct the problem. I noticed on your site that this same PTC heater element is used in several models, including the new smaller 1500 watt [REDACTED] heater that is about 12 inches by 9 inches by 9 inches. So I don’t think I should get that model. Right now the only model I would trust is another one with the six heater tubes, the 1500 watt model. Unfortunately these things do happen. I had to get the [REDACTED] air bags replaced twice in my [REDACTED]. Then there was the formaldehyde problem with flooring from [REDACTED] that was in the news not all that long ago. That flooring was manufactured in China. The manufacturers in China like to cut corners to bring down the price. But a bargain on something that you just can’t use is not a bargain at all. I’ve always been more concerned about indoor air quality than price which is why I got the [REDACTED] in the first place. I was really excited about the Comfort Deluxe at first and even gave it a very good review at Amazon, even though I bought both units directly from AirNmore. I’m going back to Amazon to adjust that review but I’m guessing that Amazon won’t post it. I had a problem with some [REDACTED] blankets and they wouldn’t post that poor review. They only want to post the good reviews. I disassembled my second unit last night and it is not that much easier to remove that single fined copper PTC element than it is to replace six heater tubes in the [REDACTED]. I had to remove both right and left sides to remove that copper PTC element. I put everything back together and it worked OK again. I ran it in a separate room for a few minutes and then went in that room and got the lung irritation right away again. So there is no doubt in my mind that something is wrong with the copper PTC heater element. Again, both units give me the symptoms. So if the manufacturer recognizes the problem and comes up with a new heater element then I’d be interested in putting in the new copper PTC heater element and trying that out. It makes no sense to just buy the same copper PTC heater element and put that in. It needs to be something re-engineered and re-manufactured to correct the defect. It’s probably whatever was causing the strange smell to begin with even though the smell went away. The toxic, irritating vapor continues to be emitted even though you can’t smell it. I admit that my lungs are more sensitive after living with formaldehyde in my singlewide for so long. So perhaps I’m the first person to let you know that there is definitely a problem. That is what needs to be addressed. Perhaps they could make a glass-enclosed filament surrounded by the finned copper of the same size so I could just swap it into the two units that I already have. So, again, I just wanted to give you a heads up. I am NOT trying to get a refund. Win some and lose some as they say.

   Model

   model YD-903G-CDA

   UPC

   8 51977 00800 7

   Serial number

   CDA04191307

   Bought from

   airnmore.com

   Bought

   Feb 12, 2020

   Where

   Hillsboro, Ohio: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Age 70, Male

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Self

   As this report names them

   Brand AirNmore Comfort Deluxe with copper PTC, made or sold by Better Living With Air & More, Inc.

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Incident, No Injury

CPSC’s disclaimer

Sources