Electric Pressure Washers
CPSC Recall #84-045 - July 8, 1984
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 84-045 |
| Recall Date | July 8, 1984 |
| Remedy Type | New Instructions, Repair |
| Units Affected | Approximately 136,000 |
| Manufacturer | Britt Tech Corporation, of Britt, Iowa |
Product
Electric Pressure Washers
Description
Washington, D.C. -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Britt Tech Corporation, Britt, Iowa, and its private labelers, today announced a voluntary program to provide safety kits to modify the handles of approximately 136,000 consumer and farm-use electric pressure washers made prior to mid-1983. The Commission and the company are aware of 6 deaths from electric shock related to use of pressure washers manufactured by Britt Tech.Under this program, Britt Tech and its private labelers will provide free material designed to isolate electrically the pressure washer's handle in order to prevent serious electric shock to consumers. Pressure washers are used to clean houses and other buildings and prepare them for painting and to clean shutters, patios, driveways and vehicles. They are frequently used on farms to clean buildings and machinery. Britt Tech and some private labelers will also voluntarily extend the scope of this program to cover commercial series units produced prior to February, 1984.While the firm believes its pressure washers do not present a hazard if operated in accordance with the operator's instructions and warnings on the machines and are not modified in any way, a severe or fatal electric shock can occur when a user contacts the handle of the pressure washer if the machine is ungrounded and a second fault occurs. This could happen if the power cord to extension cord connections become wet, or an improper or faulty extension cord is used, or a fault exists within the pressure washer electrical system.Britt Tech distributed these pressure washers nationally under the "Liquid Brush" trade name and a number of private label trade names (see list below).To obtain the free safety component kit and complete instructions, Iowa residents and others may write to Britt Tech Corporation, Department R, P.O. Box 216, Britt Iowa 50423. No phone number for the company is currently available. Use the address above for the following trade name pressure washers:AmityAtlasChardon Lab's Power EdgeContinental Oil's DynalifeCraft Toot and MachineEarl Grissmer's Blue Lustre Dirt BusterGulf's CruisemasterJacobsenKleen KingLiquid BrushMid-State's Dura-WashPhillips PetroleunSpeed SprayU.S. Chemical Z-4 CleanomatFour companies who sell Britt Tech pressure washers have designated the following procedures if you have a machine manufactured under their name:Ford TractorSee Local Ford Tractor DealerJohn DeereSee local John Deere DealerMassey FergusonSee local Massey Ferguson DealerWhite FarmSee local White Farm DealerPlease give the company the model and trade name and serial number of your pressure washer. This information may be found on a metal or foil serial number tag on your machine.This risk of electric shock may also exist with electric pressure washers produced by other manufacturers. Therefore, the Commission and Britt Tech Corporation warn consumers to take the following precautions when using any electric pressure washer:Always use a properly grounded receptacle. If possible, use a circuit protected by a ground fault circuit interrupter.Carefully follow all other warnings and operating instructions provided by the manufacturer.Keep all cord connections dry.Never remove the ground pin from a power cord or bypass a ground pin by using an adopter plug.Never cut or splice the electrical cord.Consumers may also call CPSC's toll-free Hotline for assistance at 800-638-CPSC. A teletypewriter number for the hearing-impaired is (800) 638-8270.
Hazard
A severe or fatal electric shock can occur when a user contacts the handle of the pressure washer if the machine is ungrounded and a second fault occurs. This could happen if the power cord to extension cord connections become wet, or an improper or faulty extension cord is used, or a fault exists within the pressure washer electrical system.
Incidents & Injuries
The Commission and the company are aware of 6 deaths from electric shock related to use of pressure washers manufactured by Britt Tech.
Remedy Instructions
Britt Tech and its private labelers will provide free material designed to isolate electrically the pressure washer's handle in order to prevent serious electric shock to consumers.To obtain the free safety component kit and complete instructions, Iowa residents and others may write to Britt Tech Corporation, Department R, P.O. Box 216, Britt Iowa 50423. No phone number for the company is currently available.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a New Instructions, 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 (New Instructions, Repair) at no cost to you.
No, you should stop using the product entirely, not just unplug it. Electric shock and fire hazards in recalled electrical products often involve internal wiring defects, faulty components, or insulation failures that can cause harm even after the product has been off for a period of time. Do not attempt to repair the product yourself. Keep it unplugged and stored safely until you receive the manufacturer's remedy. If the product has already shown signs of overheating, sparking, or discoloration, handle it carefully and consider contacting your local fire department for guidance on safe disposal.
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.