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LP Polaris Comfort Systems Combination Water Heaters and Home Heating Systems

CPSC Recall #96-191 - September 24, 1996

Recall Summary

Recall Number96-191
Recall DateSeptember 24, 1996
Remedy Type-
Units AffectedApproximately 6,500

Where It Was Sold

Heating and cooling contractors sold the heaters nationwide from 1985 to July 1996 for about $2
200.

Product

LP Polaris Comfort Systems Combination Water Heaters and Home Heating Systems

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - CPSC, Mor-Flo Industries Inc., doing business as the American Water Heater Group of Johnson City, Tenn., is announcing a voluntary recall program to repair approximately 6,500 LP Polaris Comfort Systems combination water heaters and home heating systems. Under certain circumstances, fuel gas may ignite explosively, causing property damage or injury. The American Water Heater Group is aware of 104 incidents of heater damage and three incidents in which property damage extended beyond the heater. No injuries have been reported. This retrofit involves Polaris Comfort Systems water heaters with the following model numbers: PR34LPGV, PR50LPGV, PR34LPGFV, PR50LPGFV, PC100-34LPGV, PC100-50LPGV, PBG102-34S100-2P, PBG102-50T100-2P, PBCG32-34S100-2P, PBCG32-50S100-2P, PBCG52-34S100-2P, PBCG52-50S100-2P, DVPB35LPGV, PVG-34S100-2P, The model numbers are located on an identification/data plate on the front center of the exterior of the heater, about three feet above the floor. Heating and cooling contractors sold the heaters nationwide from 1985 to July 1996 for about $2,200. Consumers should immediately call the American Water Heater Group at (800) 456-9805 or write to the company's Product Services and Support Group at P.O. Box 1597, Johnson City, Tenn. 37605. The company will arrange installation of a free safety upgrade kit. For more information, consumers should call American Water Heater Group.

Hazard

Under certain circumstances, fuel gas may ignite explosively, causing property damage or injury.

Incidents & Injuries

The American Water Heater Group is aware of 104 incidents of heater damage and three incidents in which property damage extended beyond the heater. No injuries have been reported.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should immediately call the American Water Heater Group at (800) 456-9805 or write to the company's Product Services and Support Group at P.O. Box 1597, Johnson City, Tenn. 37605. The company will arrange installation of a free safety upgrade kit.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a remedy 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 (refund, replacement, or repair) at no cost to you.

Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product, whether recalled or not, you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.

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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