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Unitrol 110 and 200 liquid propane (LP) gas water heater control valves

CPSC Recall #84-032 - May 15, 1984

Recall Summary

Recall Number84-032
Recall DateMay 15, 1984
Remedy TypeReplace

Product

Unitrol 110 and 200 liquid propane (LP) gas water heater control valves

Description

Washington, D. C. -- In cooperation with the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Robertshaw Controls Company, Richmond, Virginia, today announced a further expansion of its ongoing program to recover Unitrol 110 and 200 liquid propane (LP) gas water heater control valves by offering $50 cash and free replacement to homeowners who identify them in their homes.These valves, which were manufactured during the period of December 1954 through March 1957, may be involved in severe burn injuries and death resulting from explosion and fires. Since 1957, 48 deaths and 89 serious injuries involving water heaters using these controls have occurred. Although the controls are almost thirty years old, there is no practical way to estimate how many remain in use.In addition to the expanded notification efforts to recover the controls, the Commission and Robertshaw also announced the settlement of the Commission's pending action for a civil penalty against Robertshaw filed in Federal district court in Richmond, Virginia. The action was based on an allegation that Robertshaw had failed to comply with its obligation under Section 15 of the Consumer Product Safety Act to file an accurate report with the Commission concerning the controls. Robertshaw has agreed to pay the Commission $90,000 in settlement of the action.The CPSC voted unanimously to accept the corrective action plan. The CPSC voted 3 to 1 to accept the monetary settlement, with Commissioner Stuart M. Statler dissenting (dissent attached).In addition expanding its program to work with liquid propane dealers and service people to recover and replace affected controls, Robertshaw is now offering a $50 bounty to any user of LP gas who identifies the affected control value in their home, as well as a free replacement of it.Robertshaw is also commencing a notification effort through trade publications to further alert professionals who service or install LP-fueled water heaters to return to Robertshaw the controls they find instead of reusing them on other water heaters. Robertshaw is also continuing to pay these professionals a finder's fee for affected controls which are returned.Affected controls include Unitrol models 110 and 200, showing any date code which include the letters W or X, or the letter combinations LV, AY, BY or CY. Consumers can identify the affected units by looking for "Unitrol 110" on the face of the control or "Unitrol 200" on the temperature dial on the front of the control. The controls are located near the bottom of the water heater. Date codes are stamped next to the gas pilot outlet, which is located on the bottom side of the control and to the right. Use of a small mirror will aid consumers in reading the date code more easily.Consumers who own LP gas water heaters should check the heater control to determine if a Unitrol Model 110 or 200 with a date code mentioned above has been used. If so, consumers should not attempt to remove or check the operation of the controls themselves, but rather should contact Robertshaw at its toll-free number, 1-800-421-1130. In California, call 1-800-262-1173.Anyone wishing to verify the model numbers or the brand name should contact CPSC's toll-free Hotline at 800-638-CPSC. The teletypewriter number for the hearing impaired is (800) 638-8270.

Hazard

These valves, which were manufactured during the period of December 1954 through March 1957, may be involved in severe burn injuries and death resulting from explosion and fires.

Incidents & Injuries

Since 1957, 48 deaths and 89 serious injuries involving water heaters using these controls have occurred. 

Remedy Instructions

Robertshaw is offering a $50 bounty to any user of LP gas who identifies the affected control value in their home, as well as a free replacement of it.Consumers who own LP gas water heaters should check the heater control to determine if a Unitrol Model 110 or 200 with a date code mentioned has been used. If so, consumers should not attempt to remove or check the operation of the controls themselves, but rather should contact Robertshaw at its toll-free number, 1-800-421-1130. In California, call 1-800-262-1173.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Replace at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.

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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 (Replace) 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.

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