In what might be the largest electrical component recall of the year, more than 650,000 electrical outlets sold at Home Hardware stores across Canada have been pulled from shelves due to serious fire hazard concerns. Health Canada, in coordination with Home Hardware Stores Limited, announced the sweeping recall yesterday after multiple reports of overheating units.
The recall affects residential electrical outlets sold between January 2018 and June 2023, potentially impacting thousands of Canadian homes. The units, manufactured in China and distributed under the Kuraidori and Benchmark brands, can overheat during normal use, creating fire risks that have already led to three reported incidents in Ontario and British Columbia.
“We’re looking at a significant safety issue hiding behind what most Canadians consider the most mundane household fixture,” said Ellen Thompson, consumer safety advocate with the Canadian Association of Fire Prevention. “These aren’t just convenience concerns—electrical fires can spread rapidly through walls before homeowners even realize there’s a problem.”
According to Health Canada’s recall notice, the affected outlets feature a common design flaw in the internal wiring connections that deteriorates over time with regular electrical current. This deterioration can lead to arcing—when electricity jumps through air between conductors—creating intense heat that can ignite surrounding building materials.
What makes this recall particularly concerning is the widespread distribution throughout Canadian communities. Home Hardware, with over 1,100 stores nationwide, has a substantial presence in smaller towns and rural areas where it often serves as the primary hardware supplier.
The recall came after a Peterborough homeowner narrowly escaped disaster when smoke began pouring from an outlet behind their television stand. “I smelled something burning and noticed the wall was hot to the touch,” said Martin Reynolds, whose experience was documented in Health Canada’s investigation. “By the time I unplugged everything and cut power to the room, the outlet was completely melted.”
Industry experts note that the timing couldn’t be worse. “We’re heading into winter when electrical systems face their highest annual demand,” noted James Wilson, electrical safety inspector with the Ontario Electrical Safety Authority. “Heaters, holiday lighting, and more indoor activities all increase the load on home electrical systems, potentially exacerbating problems with defective outlets.”
For affected homeowners, the replacement process requires professional attention. Home Hardware is offering free replacement outlets and covering reasonable installation costs by licensed electricians—an important safety measure since outlet replacement involves working with household electrical systems.
“Don’t attempt to inspect or replace these yourself,” Wilson emphasized. “Even with the breaker off, proper assessment requires professional training.”
The recall highlights ongoing concerns about imported electrical components meeting Canadian safety standards. The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) certification process is supposed to prevent such defects from reaching consumers, raising questions about how these products received approval.
“We’re reviewing our certification processes for imported electrical components,” said a CSA spokesperson who requested anonymity as the investigation continues. “While our testing is rigorous, this situation suggests we need to strengthen oversight of manufacturing consistency after certification is granted.”
The financial impact on Home Hardware, a dealer-owned cooperative with stores in nearly every province and territory, remains unclear. The company has established a dedicated recall hotline and website for affected customers.
Paul Straus, President and CEO of Home Hardware Stores Limited, issued a statement emphasizing customer safety: “Nothing matters more than the safety of our customers and communities. We’re taking immediate steps to remove all affected products and support homeowners through the replacement process.”
For consumers, identifying the affected outlets requires checking for specific model numbers printed on the back of the outlet or on packaging: K-AS15R, K-AS20R, B-AS15R, and B-AS20R are all included in the recall.
This isn’t the first time Home Hardware has faced product recalls, though it is certainly the largest in recent memory. In 2021, the retailer recalled approximately 8,000 carbon monoxide detectors due to failure risks, but that pales in comparison to the current situation affecting over 650,000 units.
The recall also raises broader questions about home safety inspections. Many Canadian homes undergo electrical inspections only during initial construction or major renovations, leaving potentially dangerous situations undetected for years.
Provincial fire officials recommend homeowners conduct regular visual inspections of outlets for discoloration, unusual warming, or burning odors—all potential warning signs of electrical problems. They also suggest installing additional smoke detectors near major electrical panels and considering professional electrical safety inspections every 5-10 years, especially in homes older than 25 years.
Affected customers can contact Home Hardware’s recall center at 1-888-611-7474 or visit the dedicated recall section on their website for verification and replacement instructions.
As winter approaches, officials urge all Canadian homeowners to take this recall seriously and check their homes for the affected models, particularly in high-use areas where outlets power multiple devices or appliances.
