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Consumers Warned about Killer Stoves

New, Lighter Stoves Can Tip Over Without Warning

June 28, 2007

Related Story ... Safety Agency Ignores Tip-Over Danger

Is there a killer stove in your kitchen?

If you have a newer stove it's quite possible. Newer stoves are much lighter than older models and are more prone to tip over, possibly scalding consumers or even crushing them to death.

Manufacturers and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission have known about the problem for 20 years but have done little about it.

In San Francisco, ABC7's Michael Finney says a used appliance store is actually providing one of the answers to the problem -- reselling older stoves that are many times safer than new ones.

How could that be?

Joan Claybrook, President, Public Citizen, explains: "Starting in the 1980s, the manufacturers took the weight out of the stoves and all of a sudden these stoves became tippy, and they can tip over, particularly when the oven door is pulled down and any weight is applied to the oven door."

At Rancho Granda Rebuilt Appliances, the problem is easy to see. With a newer range, it doesn't take much to tip it. With an older Wedgewood which is even smaller, it's much harder to get it to move.

Part of Public Citizens attempt to get out the word is the Web site, killerstoves.com. It has some horrific pictures of victims.

Now, safety brackets come standard with new stoves and are supposed to secure the appliances to the wall or floor, but the brackets are seldom installed. But the brackets are seldom installed and most consumers don't know they're necessary.

The Consumer Federation wants the stoves redesigned so weight is added or the oven door breaks away rather than pull the stove over.

If you have one of the big industrial stoves this probably doesn't apply to you -- they are still heavy. Otherwise, check what is in your home and think about getting those brackets installed.

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