Recalls this week: Garden blower vacuums

Recalls this week include 2 brands of electric garden blower vacuums

The Associated Press

This undated photo provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission shows Homelite Electric Blower Vacuum. Homelite recalled the Electric Blower Vacuum due to laceration hazard. The vacuum is sold exclusively at Home Depot. (AP Photo/U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission)

Hundreds of thousands of electric garden blowers with a vacuum option were recalled this week because of issues with objects being sucked into and breaking the plastic housing.

ELECTRIC BLOWER

DETAILS: Homelite electric blower vacuums including model UT42120 with serial numbers BMP3540001 through BMR2103100, and model UT42120A with serial numbers BMR2120001 through BMR3421250. Model and serial numbers are located on a label on the left side of the red motor housing. They were sold at Home Depot Inc. stores and at www.homedepot.com from Feb. 2012 through Dec. 2012.

WHY: Objects that are drawn into the unit during vacuum mode can break through the plastic housing, posing a laceration hazard.

INCIDENTS: One incident with a blower, but no injuries reported.

HOW MANY: About 241,000 in the United States and 13,600 in Canada.

FOR MORE: Call Homelite at 800-597-9624 or visit www.homelite.com and click on Safety Notices for more information.

ELECTRIC BLOWER

DETAILS: Expert Gardener electric blower vacuums including model 20254EG with serial numbers BMP3010001 through BMR3311972, and model 20254EGC with serial numbers EUP3120001 through EUP3630730. Model and serial numbers are located on a label on the left side of the motor housing. "Expert Gardener" and "BlowerVac 2 Speed Quiet 150 MPH Powerful 220 MPH" are printed on the side of the green motor housing and on the black plastic blower tube. They were sold at Wal-Mart Stores Inc. locations and at www.walmart.com from Jan. 2012 through Dec. 2012.

WHY: Objects that are drawn into the unit during vacuum mode can break through the plastic housing, posing a laceration hazard.

INCIDENTS: One incident with a blower, but no injuries reported.

HOW MANY: About 131,500.

FOR MORE: Call OWT Industries Inc. at 800-597-9624 or visit www.expertgardenertools.com and click on Safety Notices for more information.