Natural gas water heaters under the following brand names: American Proline, Envirotemp, Mor-Flo,...

CPSC Recall #02-020 — October 17, 2001

Recall Summary

Recall Number02-020
Recall DateOctober 17, 2001
Remedy TypeRepair
Units AffectedAbout 16,000

Where It Was Sold

Home center stores and contractors sold and installed these water heaters nationwide from June 2001 through September 2001 for between $200 and $500.

Product

Natural gas water heaters under the following brand names: American Proline, Envirotemp, Mor-Flo, Powerflex, Premier Plus and US Craftmaster

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C.- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the American Water Heater Co., of Johnson City, Tenn., is voluntarily recalling about 16,000 gas-fired water heaters to replace the gas burners. The burners could produce excess carbon monoxide (CO), posing a risk of CO poisoning to consumers.CPSC and the American Water Heater Co. have not received any reports of injuries or incidents relating to these water heaters. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injuries. The firm discovered the problem with the burners on these water heaters during routine testing.Only natural gas water heaters sold under the following brand names are included in the recall: American Proline, Envirotemp, Mor-Flo, Powerflex, Premier Plus and US Craftmaster. The serial number, located on the data plate on the front of the water heater, starts with 0124 through 0127. The water heaters were sold in both short and tall profiles, and have 30, 40, 50 and 75 gallon capacities. Other model water heaters sold by the American Water Heater Co. are not included in this recall.Home center stores and contractors sold and installed these water heaters nationwide from June 2001 through September 2001 for between $200 and $500.Consumers should contact the American Water Heater Co. immediately to arrange for a free repair. Contact the firm at (800) 999-9515 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET on Saturday. Consumers also can reach the firm by fax at (800) 999-5210 or by email at [email protected].

Hazard

The burners could produce excess carbon monoxide (CO), posing a risk of CO poisoning to consumers.

Incidents & Injuries

CPSC and the American Water Heater Co. have not received any reports of injuries or incidents relating to these water heaters.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should contact the American Water Heater Co. immediately to arrange for a free repair. Contact the firm at (800) 999-9515 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET on Saturday.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a 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 (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.