Recalls / 2001-01-18

CPSC Recommends Carbon Monoxide Alarm for Every Home

01069 · Recalled 2001-01-18 · CPSC page

Description

Consumers can check the vent pipes attached to their natural gas or propane furnaces or boilers to determine if they are part of this recall. They can be identified as follows: the vent pipes are plastic; the vent pipes are colored gray or black; and the vent pipes have the names "Plexvent®," "Plexvent®II" or "Ultravent®" stamped on the vent pipe or printed on stickers placed on pieces used to connect the vent pipes together. Consumers should also check the location of these vent pipes. For furnaces, only HTPV systems that have vent pipes that go through the sidewalls of structures (horizontal systems) are subject to this program. For boilers, all HTPV systems are subject to this program. Other plastic vent pipes, such as white PVC or CPVC, are not involved in this program.

Hazards

Under certain conditions, fuel-burning appliances can produce deadly CO. However, with proper installation and maintenance, they are safe to use.

Reported injuries

None reported.

Remedy

Consumers should also have the vent pipes on their heating systems inspected. In 1998, virtually the entire furnace and boiler industry together with the manufacturers of high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes joined with CPSC to announce a vent pipe recall program. The program's purpose is to replace, free of charge, an estimated 250,000 HTPV pipe systems attached to gas or propane furnaces or boilers in consumers' homes. The HTPV pipes could crack or separate at the joints and leak CO.

Products

Name	Model	Units
Fuel- burning appliances - including furnaces, stoves, fireplaces, clothes dryers, water heaters, and space heaters

Parties

Consumer contact

After checking the vent pipes, consumers should call the recall hotline toll-free at (800) 758-3688 Monday through Friday from 7 am to 6 pm CST, to verify that their appliance venting systems are subject to this program.

Source: CPSC recall 01069. Inclusion in this database is not legal or medical advice.