Robertshaw 7000 Series Gas Control Valve
CPSC Recall #05-073 - December 21, 2004
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 05-073 |
| Recall Date | December 21, 2004 |
| Remedy Type | Inspect, Replace, Repair |
Where It Was Sold
| Gas appliance retailers and distributors; food service equipment manufacturers and dealers; specialty retailers |
| such as fireplace |
| pool and spa dealers; and poultry equipment manufacturers. The gas control valves and components were also sold separately through gas appliance service providers. |
Product
Robertshaw 7000 Series Gas Control Valve
Description
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Robertshaw Controls Company of Long Beach, Calif. is voluntarily recalling about 425,000 gas control valves. They may pose a fire hazard. If the pilot light goes out, the gas valve could stick in an open position, permitting gas to continue to flow. This can result in a gas explosion and fire, which could result in severe personal injury or property damage. Name of product: Robertshaw 7000 Series Gas Control Valve Units: About 425,000 gas control valves Manufacturer: Robertshaw Controls Company of Long Beach, Calif. Hazard: Fire hazard. If the pilot light goes out, the gas valve could stick in an open position, permitting gas to continue to flow. This can result in a gas explosion and fire, which could result in severe personal injury or property damage. Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received three reports of flash fires, involving three reports of injuries. The injuries involved first and second-degree burns. Description: The 7000 Series Gas Valves that are being recalled are installed in gas appliances including residential space heaters, wall heaters, boilers, fireplaces, pool heaters, infrared heaters and furnaces, and commercial heating applications such as commercial cooking appliances, fryers, commercial water heaters, and poultry brooders. The recalled valves were manufactured between February 2003 and September 2004 and have production dates beginning with code 0306 and ending with 0436. However, not all 7000 Series valves manufactured during the indicated timeframe are being recalled. Of particular note are model numbers containing the letters "MV." Recalled gas valves include "MV" models that also include the letters "LP" and model numbers 7000AMV; 7000BMV; 7000BMV-S7CL; 7000MVLC; and 7000MVRCLC. All "MV" valves with the indicated date codes that have been converted to Liquid Propane (LP) gas use are also included in the recall. NOT included in the recall are model numbers 7010 and above; model numbers containing the letters "D" or "BV;" and model numbers containing the letters "MV" except for the ones listed above. A full list of recalled model numbers is available at www.robertshaw.com or can be obtained by calling (800) 232-9389. Sold through: Gas appliance retailers and distributors; food service equipment manufacturers and dealers; specialty retailers, such as fireplace, pool and spa dealers; and poultry equipment manufacturers. The gas control valves and components were also sold separately through gas appliance service providers. Manufactured in: Assembled in Mexico. Remedy: Free repair or replacement if necessary. If you smell gas near the appliance or in the building, immediately leave the area and call your gas company or a certified gas technician to investigate the cause. If you do not smell gas, check the pilot lights on your gas appliances. If any pilot lights are out, do not attempt to relight. Have the appliance examined by a qualified technician. Have the date code of your 7000 series gas valve ready when you contact Robertshaw. Consumer Contact: Call Robertshaw toll-free at (800) 232-9389 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday, or visit www.robertshaw.com to review a list of affected appliances and register for the recall.
Hazard
Fire hazard. If the pilot light goes out, the gas valve could stick in an open position, permitting gas to continue to flow. This can result in a gas explosion and fire, which could result in severe personal injury or property damage.
Incidents & Injuries
The firm has received three reports of flash fires, involving three reports of injuries. The injuries involved first and second-degree burns.
Remedy Instructions
Free repair or replacement if necessary. If you smell gas near the appliance or in the building, immediately leave the area and call your gas company or a certified gas technician to investigate the cause. If you do not smell gas, check the pilot lights on your gas appliances. If any pilot lights are out, do not attempt to relight. Have the appliance examined by a qualified technician. Have the date code of your 7000 gas valve ready when you contact Robertshaw.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Inspect, Replace, Repair at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly, either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Inspect, Replace, Repair) at no cost to you.
If the product caused a fire or burn injury, document the incident with photos and preserve the product if it is safe to do so. Report the incident to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov and to your local fire department. Contact the manufacturer to inform them of the incident, they are required to track and report injuries to CPSC. You may also want to consult a personal injury attorney, as fire and burn injuries caused by defective products can be grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer.
In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.
If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney, parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.