Halogen torchere lamps are an inexpensive and popular source of general room lighting. More than 40 million of the floor lamps have been sold in the United States. Unfortunately, they are also dangerous. These lamps — whose 300-watt bulbs burn at 970°F — have caused more than 150 fires and 11 deaths in this country.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has joined with the halogen-lamp industry to recall all the lamps for in-home repair. The fix is simple: The lamp is fit with a bulb-protecting wire guard that keeps flammables from contacting the hot lamp. The guards are available from Ames, BJ's Wholesale Club, Hechinger's/Home Quarters, Home Base, The Home Depot, IKEA, Kmart, Lowe's Montgomery Ward, Office Depot, Target, and Wal-Mart.
Want a safer, more energy-efficient solution? Use a compact fluorescent bulb instead of a halogen. A compact fluorescent produces the brightness of a 300-watt halogen but uses only 67 watts of power. It also burns cooler. Compact fluorescents cost about twice as much as halogen bulbs, but last seven times longer
More Info: Visit the CPSC Web site at www.cpsc.gov/, or call the CPSC hotline at 800-638-2772.
