Flushmate Expands Recall of Flushmate III Pressure-Assisted Flushing System Due to Impact and Laceration Hazards

News provided by

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Jan 23, 2014, 04:15 ET

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Consumers should stop using this product unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20030904/USCSCLOGO)

Recall Summary

Name of Product: Flushmate^® III Pressure-Assist Flushing System

Hazard: The system can burst at or near the vessel weld seam releasing stored pressure. This pressure can lift the tank lid and shatter the tank, posing impact and laceration hazards to consumers and property damage.

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled Flushmate III system, turn off the water supply to the unit, flush the toilet to release the internal pressure and contact the firm to request a free repair kit.

Consumer Contact: Flushmate at (800) 303-5123 between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. ET Monday through Friday and between 8 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. ET Saturday, or online at www.flushmate.com and click on "Flushmate III Recall" in the black box on the top left of the page for more information.

Photos are available at http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2014/Flushmate-Expands-Recall-of-Flushmate-III-Pressure-Assisted-Flushing-System.

Recall Details

Units: About 351,000 in the U.S. and about 9,400 in Canada (The Series 503 Flushmate III was previously recalled in June 2012)

Description: This recall is for Series 503 Flushmate III Pressure Assist flushing systems installed inside toilet tanks that were manufactured from March 2008 through June 2009. The units are rectangular, black, two-piece vessels made of injection molded plastic. Previously recalled systems were manufactured from October 1997 through February 2008. Recalled units have a date code/serial number that is 16 characters long and is located on the label on the top of the Flushmate III. The first six numerals of the serial number are the date code. The date code range for units included in this recall in MMDDYY format is 030108 (March 1, 2008) through 063009 (June 30, 2009). The date code range for previously recalled systems in MMDDYY format was 101497 (October 14, 1997) through 022908 (February 29, 2008). Units included in this recall were sold individually and installed in toilets manufactured by American Standard, Crane, Ecotech, Eljer, Gerber, Kohler, Mancesa, Mansfield, Orion, St. Thomas, Universal Rundle, Vitra, Vitromex and Western Pottery.

Incidents/Injuries: Flushmate has received three reports of the units included in this recall bursting, resulting in property damage and no reports of injury.

Sold at: Home Depot and Lowe's stores, toilet manufacturers, distributors and plumbing contractors nationwide from 2008 through about 2009 for about $108 for the units without toilets.

Manufacturer: Flushmate, of New Hudson, Mich., a division of Sloan Valve Company

Manufactured in: United States

Note: Health Canada's press release is available at http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2014/37613r-eng.php.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about your experience with the product on SaferProducts.gov.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals – contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years.

Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain news release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov, on Twitter @OnSafety or by subscribing to CPSC's free e-mail newsletters.

Media Contact
Please use the phone numbers below for all media requests.
Phone: (301) 504-7908
Spanish: (301) 504-7800

CPSC Consumer Information Hotline
Contact us at this toll-free number if you have questions about a recall:
800-638-2772 (TTY 301-595-7054)
Times: 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. ET; Messages can be left anytime
Call to get product safety and other agency information and to report unsafe products.

SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission