Robertshaw R110 Series Gas Control Valves
CPSC Recall #05-274 — September 15, 2005
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 05-274 |
| Recall Date | September 15, 2005 |
| Remedy Type | Replace, Repair |
| Units Affected | About 178,000 |
| Manufacturer | Robertshaw Controls Co., of Long Beach, Calif. |
| Manufactured In | Mexico |
Where It Was Sold
| Installed on water heaters by gas appliance distributors and retailers |
| including Home Depot and Lowe's |
| as well as plumbers and plumbing/heating equipment suppliers. The gas valves also were sold separately through gas appliance service providers. Water heaters sold or serviced prior to July 25 |
| 2005 are not affected. |
Product
Robertshaw R110 Series Gas Control Valves
Description
The R110 Gas Control Valves being recalled are installed on natural and liquid propane (LP) gas water heaters. The recalled valves were manufactured between July 25, 2005 and August 14, 2005 with production date codes 5-31 through and including 5-33, although not all valves with these date codes are affected. The recalled valves were installed on the following water heater brands: American Proline, Bradford White, GE, GSW, Hotpoint, Jetglas, John Wood, Lochinvar, Premier Plus, Powerflex, Rheem, Richmond, Ruud, Vanguard, Whirlpool, and U.S. Craftmaster. The model and serial number can be found on the manufacturer's label on the water heater. Electric water heaters are not included.
Hazard
Screws on some water heater valves could break. If this happens, gas could leak from the valve, which poses a risk of gas explosion and fire.
Incidents & Injuries
None reported.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers that believe they may have an affected water heater, please click on http://www.icca.invensys.com/robertshaw/recallarchive.htm. Have the model and serial numbers of your water heater ready. For further assistance, please contact Robertshaw. The model and serial numbers can be found on the manufacturer's label on the water heater. Robertshaw will arrange for a 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.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a 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 (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.