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Guide for Appliance Recyclers <br />June 2004 <br />NOTE: If there is a convenience light inside the oven of a gas stove, there may be a <br />mercury tilt switch attached to the door hinge inside the oven door. This switch <br />can be removed by disassembling the oven door and locating the mercury <br />capsule. Once the capsule is located and identified, disconnect the lead wires, <br />remove the capsule from its fasteners, and place it into a properly labeled <br />heavy plastic container that has a tight -fitting cover. <br />Electric and Gas Space Heaters <br />Some electric space heaters have safety switches that shut off the heater if it is tipped <br />over. Switches may be included in radiant quartz heaters, which are tall and round, <br />have a vertical orientation, and sit on a plastic base. Quartz heaters may have a <br />mercury tilt switch mounted inside the heater. Switch removal takes approximately <br />three to four minutes. <br />Four steps should be followed for removing tip switches from space heaters. <br />Step 1: Unscrew the plastic base of the heater. <br />Step 2: Locate the two power supply wires and trace them to the switch mounted <br />near the thermostat. <br />Step 3: The metallic disk -shaped switch can be unscrewed and the wires removed. <br />A small piece of black plastic, used as a mounting insulator, is attached to the <br />switch. The switch and plastic piece should be removed in one piece. <br />Step 4: Properly manage the mercury switch in accordance with the section of this <br />guide titled "HANDLING AND RECYCLING MERCURY SWITCHES." <br />Commercial gas-fired space heaters found alone or side-by-side with ovens may <br />contain a mercury flame sensor. These flame sensors are removed much like those in <br />gas ranges, but may be more difficult to remove. The cast iron burner used in these <br />heaters must be removed along with the probe, capillary, and gas valve. This assembly <br />must then undergo further dismantling outside of the unit. Removal time may exceed <br />30 minutes. <br />Commercial Gas Water Heaters <br />Commercial gas water heaters, which hold 100 gallons or more, may have a mercury <br />thermocouple instead of an electronic flame sensor. Estimated removal time is 5 to10 <br />minutes. <br />22 <br />