Tankless electric water heaters, series CTH-10 and CTH-40
CPSC Recall #94-109 — August 1, 1994
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 94-109 |
| Recall Date | August 1, 1994 |
| Remedy Type | Dispose, No Remedy Available |
| Units Affected | More than 100 |
| Manufacturer | Productos Electricos Corona Ltd. of Sao Paulo, Brazil |
| Importer | Pecbras, of Dania, Fla., and Host Products Inc. of Laquana Hills, Calif. |
Product
Tankless electric water heaters, series CTH-10 and CTH-40
Description
PRODUCT: More than 100 series CTH-10 and CTH-40 tankless electric water heaters made by Productos Electricos Corona Ltd. of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The water heaters were imported in the late 1980s by Pecbras of Dania, Fla.; and in 1989 and 1990 by Host Products Inc. of Laquana Hills, Calif. Both Pecbras and Host have gone out of business. The tankless electric water heaters were sold to GAR Services of St. Croix, Virgin Islands; G.C. Enterprises of Belmont, N. H.; as well as to individual consumers. Most consumers who purchased the heaters directly from an importer lived in the southeastern United States or the Virgin Islands. PROBLEM: A design defect in the pressure switches may cause these heaters to explode and catch fire. No injuries are reported to date. WHAT TO DO: Both of the companies that imported these water heaters are out of business and, therefore, there is no refund or repair program. Stop using these water heaters immediately and replace them with another heater. They are dangerous and cannot be repaired. Washington, DC -- CPSC, announced today that more than 100 series CTH-10 and CTH-40 tankless electric water heaters may explode. The water heaters were made by Productos Electricos Corona Ltd. of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The companies that imported the water heaters have gone out of business and, therefore, there is no refund or repair program. Consumers must have the defective water heaters replaced by a plumber because they cannot be repaired. The tankless electric water heaters were imported in the late 1980s by Pecbras, of Dania, Fla.; and in 1989 and 1990 by Host Products Inc. of Laquana Hills, Calif. They were sold to GAR Services of St. Croix, Virgin Islands; G.C. Enterprises of Belmont, N. H.; as well as to individual consumers. Most consumers who purchased the heaters directly from Pecbras or Host live in the southeastern United States or the Virgin Islands. Both importers have gone out of business. The "CTH" series tankless electric water heaters are designed to attach to cold water pipes. They heat the water just before it is used. The pressure switches used in these heaters are defective and may cause the heater to explode and catch fire. CPSC learned of the problem with these heaters when a consumer reported to the agency that three of his five water heaters exploded and caught on fire. To date, CPSC knows of no injuries from these water heaters.
Hazard
A design defect in the pressure switches may cause these heaters to explode and catch fire. No injuries are reported to date.
Incidents & Injuries
CPSC learned of the problem with these heaters when a consumer reported to the agency that three of his five water heaters exploded and caught on fire. To date, CPSC knows of no injuries from these water heaters.
Remedy Instructions
Both of the companies that imported these water heaters are out of business and, therefore, there is no refund or repair program. Stop using these water heaters immediately and replace them with another heater. They are dangerous and cannot be repaired.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Dispose, No Remedy Available 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 (Dispose, No Remedy Available) 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.