Firm’s Recall Hotline: (866) 369-4786
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908
Rheem’s Media Contact: Laura Butler, (334) 260-1513
Tankless Water Heaters Recalled for Repair Due to Carbon Monoxide
Poisoning Hazard
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in
cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary
recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using
recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of product: Power Vent tankless water heaters
Units: About 42,200
Importers: Water Heating Division of Rheem Sales Company Inc., of
Montgomery, Ala. and Paloma Industries Inc., of Oxnard, Calif.
Hazard: Components inside the water heater may shift during transit,
causing an air filter door switch to operate improperly. If the switch
fails and the air filter door is out of place, the water heater could
continue to operate and dust and lint could build up, posing a carbon
monoxide poisoning hazard.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported.
Description: The recall involves indoor models of the Power Vent 199,900
BTUH tankless water heaters. The brands and model numbers included in
this recall are listed below and are located on the front of the unit
and the rating plate. The water heaters have a cream jacket or gray
jacket enclosure with the piping on the top and bottom of the unit. The
rating plate is a silver label located the front of the unit, in the
lower right hand corner.
Brand and Models:
Paloma: PTG-74PVN; PTG-74PVP; PTG-74PVN-1; PTG-74PVP-1; PTG-74PVNH;
PTG-74PVPH; PTG-74PVNUH; PTG-74PVPUH and PH-28RIFSN; PH-28RIFSP;
PH-28RIFSN-1; PH-28RIFSP-1; PH-28CIFSN; PH-28CIFSP; PH-28CIFSN-1;
PH-28CIFSP-1
Rheem: RTG-74PVN; RTG-74PVP; RTG-74PVN-1; RTG-74PVP-1
Ruud: RUTG-74PVN; RUTG-74PVP; RUTG-74PVN-1; RUTG-74PVP-1
Rheem-Ruud: GT-199PV-N; GT-199PV-P; GT-199PV-N-1; GT-199PV-P-1
Richmond: RMTG-74PVN; RMTG-74PVP; RMTG-74PVN-1; RMTG-74PVP-1;
RMTG-74PVNH; RMTG-74PVPH; RMTG-74PVNUH; RMTG-74PVPUH
Sold by: Retailers nationwide and through plumbing wholesale
distributors to plumbers, contractors and consumers from May 2004
through December 2006 for between $800 and $1,300.
Manufactured in: Japan
Remedy: Consumers with the recalled water heaters should stop using them
immediately, if the air filter door is not in place. Consumers, who have
not already been contacted by an authorized contractor, should
immediately contact their installer or Rheem Manufacturing Company to
arrange for a free, on-site repair. Consumers are reminded to use the
air filter door for these water heaters to avoid a carbon monoxide
hazard.
Consumer Contact: For more information, contact Rheem toll-free at (866)
369-4786 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. CT Monday through Friday and 9 a.m.
and 4:30 p.m. CT Saturday and Sunday, or visit the firm’s Web site at
www.tankless-recall.com
Note: Regardless of the type of water heater that is used, every home
should have a CO alarm outside all sleeping areas, and consumers should
ensure that their CO alarms have working batteries.
To see this recall on CPSC’s web site, including pictures of the
recalled products, please go to:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml07/07108.html
