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CPSCGeneral Alert

Recall Program to Replace Vent Pipes on Home Heating Systems

Published: February 24, 1998Recall ID: 98072Category: generalCountry: US

Reason for Recall / Hazard

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

Product Description & Identification

Recall Program to Replace Vent Pipes on Home Heating Systems NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 24, 1998 Release # 98-072 Special Program Phone Number: (800) 758-3688 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: Ken Giles, (301) 504-7052 This recall has been updated. CPSC, Manufacturers Announce Recall Program to Replace Vent Pipes on Home Heating Systems WASHINGTON, D.C. - In a landmark action, virtually the entire furnace and boiler industry together with the manufacturers of high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes have joined with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to announce a recall program. This program will 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 carbon monoxide (CO), presenting a deadly threat to consumers. CO is a colorless, odorless gas produced by incomplete burning of carbon-based fuel, including natural gas and propane. The initial symptoms of CO poisoning are similar to the flu, and may include dizziness, fatigue, headache, nausea and irregular breathing. High-level exposure to CO can cause death. To determine whether they have HTPV pipe systems that are subject to this program, consumers should first check the vent pipes attached to their natural gas or propane furnaces or boilers. Vent pipes subject to this recall program 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 now 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. After checking the vent pipes, consumers should call the special toll-free number (800) 758-3688, available between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. EST seven days a week, to verify that their HTPV pipe systems are subject to this recall program. Consumers with eligible systems will receive new, professionally installed venting systems free of charge. Additionally, consumers who already have replaced their HTPV pipe systems may be eligible for reimbursement for some or all of the replacement costs. The program came about as a result of mediation among 27 participants manufacturers of HTPV pipes and manufacturers of natural gas or propane-fired boilers and mid-efficiency furnaces. This is the first time that CPSC has used a mediator to bring together all segments of an industry to implement a program for the benefit of consumers. All consumers should have their fuel-burning appliances inspected each year to check for cracks or separations in the vents that could allow CO to leak into the home. In addition, CPSC recommends that every home should have at least one CO detector that meets the requirements of the most recent Underwriters Laboratories 2034 standard or International Approval Services 6-96 standard. The following lists the manufacturers participating in this program. Participants Armstrong Air Conditioning Inc. Bard Manufacturing Co. Burnham Corp. Consolidated Industries Crown Boiler Co. The Ducane Co. Inc. Dunkirk Radiator Corp. Evcon Industries Inc. Hart & Cooley Inc. Heat Controller Inc. International Comfort Prod. Corp.(USA) Lennox Industries Inc. Nordyne Inc. Peerless Heater Co. Pennco Inc. Plexco Inc. Raypak Inc. Rheem Manufacturing Co. Slant/Fin Corp. Thermo Produ

Affected Products

Armstrong Air Conditioning high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes; Bard Manufacturing high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes; Burnham high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes; Consolidated Industries high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes; Crown Boiler high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes; Ducane high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes; Dunkirk Radiator high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes; Evcon Industries high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes; Hart & Cooley high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes; Heat Controller high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes; International Comfort Prod. high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes; Lennox Industries high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes; Nordyne high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes; Peerless Heater high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes; Pennco high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes; Plexco high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes; Raypak high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes; Rheem Manufacturing high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes; Slant/Fin high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes; Thermo Products high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes; Trane high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes; Trianco-Heatmaker high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes; Utica Boilers high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes; Vaillant Corp high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes; Weil-McLain high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes; Westcast high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes; York International high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes

Additional Source Details

FieldValue
U R Lhttps://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/1998/CPSC-Manufacturers-Announce-Recall-Program-to-Replace-Vent-Pipes-on-Home-Heating-Systems
TitleRecall Program to Replace Vent Pipes on Home Heating Systems
Hazards › NameCarbon Monoxide (CO)
Products › 1 › NameArmstrong Air Conditioning high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes
Products › 2 › NameBard Manufacturing high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes
Products › 3 › NameBurnham high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes
Products › 4 › NameConsolidated Industries high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes
Products › 5 › NameCrown Boiler high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes
Products › 6 › NameDucane high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes
Products › 7 › NameDunkirk Radiator high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes
Products › 8 › NameEvcon Industries high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes
Products › 9 › NameHart & Cooley high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes
Products › 10 › NameHeat Controller high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes
Products › 11 › NameInternational Comfort Prod. high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes
Products › 12 › NameLennox Industries high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes
Products › 13 › NameNordyne high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes
Products › 14 › NamePeerless Heater high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes
Products › 15 › NamePennco high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes
Products › 16 › NamePlexco high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes
Products › 16 › TypeVent Pipes
Products › 16 › Category I D2220
Products › 17 › NameRaypak high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes
Products › 18 › NameRheem Manufacturing high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes
Products › 19 › NameSlant/Fin high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes
Products › 20 › NameThermo Products high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes
Products › 21 › NameTrane high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes
Products › 22 › NameTrianco-Heatmaker high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes
Products › 23 › NameUtica Boilers high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes
Products › 24 › NameVaillant Corp high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes
Products › 25 › NameWeil-McLain high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes
Products › 26 › NameWestcast high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes
Products › 27 › NameYork International high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes
Recall I D6130
Recall Date1998-02-24T00:00:00
DescriptionRecall Program to Replace Vent Pipes on Home Heating Systems NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 24, 1998 Release # 98-072 Special Program Phone Number: (800) 758-3688 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: Ken Giles, (301) 504-7052 This recall has been updated. CPSC, Manufacturers Announce Recall Program to Replace Vent Pipes on Home Heating Systems WASHINGTON, D.C. - In a landmark action, virtually the entire furnace and boiler industry together with the manufacturers of high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes have joined with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to announce a recall program. This program will 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 carbon monoxide (CO), presenting a deadly threat to consumers. CO is a colorless, odorless gas produced by incomplete burning of carbon-based fuel, including natural gas and propane. The initial symptoms of CO poisoning are similar to the flu, and may include dizziness, fatigue, headache, nausea and irregular breathing. High-level exposure to CO can cause death. To determine whether they have HTPV pipe systems that are subject to this program, consumers should first check the vent pipes attached to their natural gas or propane furnaces or boilers. Vent pipes subject to this recall program 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 now 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. After checking the vent pipes, consumers should call the special toll-free number (800) 758-3688, available between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. EST seven days a week, to verify that their HTPV pipe systems are subject to this recall program. Consumers with eligible systems will receive new, professionally installed venting systems free of charge. Additionally, consumers who already have replaced their HTPV pipe systems may be eligible for reimbursement for some or all of the replacement costs. The program came about as a result of mediation among 27 participants manufacturers of HTPV pipes and manufacturers of natural gas or propane-fired boilers and mid-efficiency furnaces. This is the first time that CPSC has used a mediator to bring together all segments of an industry to implement a program for the benefit of consumers. All consumers should have their fuel-burning appliances inspected each year to check for cracks or separations in the vents that could allow CO to leak into the home. In addition, CPSC recommends that every home should have at least one CO detector that meets the requirements of the most recent Underwriters Laboratories 2034 standard or International Approval Services 6-96 standard. The following lists the manufacturers participating in this program. Participants Armstrong Air Conditioning Inc. Bard Manufacturing Co. Burnham Corp. Consolidated Industries Crown Boiler Co. The Ducane Co. Inc. Dunkirk Radiator Corp. Evcon Industries Inc. Hart & Cooley Inc. Heat Controller Inc. International Comfort Prod. Corp.(USA) Lennox Industries Inc. Nordyne Inc. Peerless Heater Co. Pennco Inc. Plexco Inc. Raypak Inc. Rheem Manufacturing Co. Slant/Fin Corp. Thermo Produ
Recall Number98072
Manufacturers › 1 › NameArmstrong Air Conditioning
Manufacturers › 2 › NameUtica Boilers
Manufacturers › 3 › NameTrianco-Heatmaker
Manufacturers › 4 › NameTrane
Manufacturers › 5 › NameThermo Products
Manufacturers › 6 › NameSlant/Fin
Manufacturers › 7 › NameRheem
Manufacturers › 8 › NameRaypak
Manufacturers › 9 › NamePlexco
Manufacturers › 10 › NamePennco
Manufacturers › 11 › NameBard
Manufacturers › 12 › NameNordyne
Manufacturers › 13 › NameVaillant
Manufacturers › 14 › NameInternational Comfort Products
Manufacturers › 15 › NameHeat Controller
Manufacturers › 16 › NameYork
Manufacturers › 17 › NameHart & Cooley
Manufacturers › 18 › NamePeerless Heater
Manufacturers › 19 › NameEvcon Industries
Manufacturers › 20 › NameDunkirk Radiator
Manufacturers › 21 › NameDucane
Manufacturers › 22 › NameCrown Boiler
Manufacturers › 23 › NameConsolidated Industries
Manufacturers › 24 › NameBurnham
Manufacturers › 25 › NameLennox
Manufacturers › 26 › NameWestcast
Manufacturers › 27 › NameWeil-McLain
Last Publish Date2015-03-11T00:00:00

Overview

  • Recalling FirmArmstrong Air Conditioning, Utica Boilers, Trianco-Heatmaker, Trane, Thermo Products, Slant/Fin, Rheem, Raypak, Plexco, Pennco, Bard, Nordyne, Vaillant, International Comfort Products, Heat Controller, York, Hart & Cooley, Peerless Heater, Evcon Industries, Dunkirk Radiator, Ducane, Crown Boiler, Consolidated Industries, Burnham, Lennox, Westcast, Weil-McLain
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