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Faulty Plastic Heating Vent Pipe Recall Safety Notice
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CPSC, manufacturers announce recall program to replace HTVP on home heating systems

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In a landmark action announced February 24, 1998 virtually the entire furnace and boiler industry together with the manufacturers of high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes have joined with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to announce a recall program. This program will replace, free of charge, an estimated 250,000 HTPV pipe systems attached to gas or propane furnaces or boilers in consumers' homes. The HTPV pipes could crack or separate at the joints and leak carbon monoxide (CO), presenting a deadly threat to consumers.

To determine whether they have HTPV pipe systems that are subject to this program, consumers should first check the vent pipes attached to their natural gas or propane furnaces or boilers.

Vent pipes subject to this recall program can be identified as follows: the vent pipes are plastic;

• the vent pipes are colored gray or black;
• the vent pipes have the names
• 'Plexvent', 'Plexvent II', or 'Ultravent' stamped on the vent pipe or
• printed on stickers placed on pieces used to connect the vent pipes
• together.

Consumers should now check the location of these vent pipes.

For furnaces, only HTPV systems that have vent pipes that go through the sidewalls of structures (horizontal systems) are subject to this program.

For boilers, all HTPV systems are subject to this program.

Other plastic vent pipes, such as white PVC or CPVC, are not involved in this program.

After checking the vent pipes, consumers should call the special toll-free number (800) 758-3688, available between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. EST seven days a week, to verify that their HTPV pipe systems are subject to this recall program. Consumers with eligible systems will receive new, professionally installed venting systems free of charge.

Additionally, consumers who already have replaced their HTPV pipe systems may be eligible for reimbursement for some or all of the replacement costs.

The program came about as a result of mediation among 27 participants manufacturers of HTPV pipes and manufacturers of natural gas or propane-fired boilers and mid-efficiency furnaces. This is the first time that CPSC has used a mediator to bring together all segments of an industry to implement a program for the benefit of consumers.

The following lists the manufacturers participating in this program.

• Armstrong Air Conditioning Inc.
• Bard Manufacturing Co.
• Burnham Corp.
• Consolidated Industries
• Crown Boiler Co.
• Dunkirk Radiator Corp.
• Evcon Industries Inc.
• Hart & Cooley Inc.
• Heat Controller Inc.
• International Comfort Products Corp. (USA)
• Lennox Industries Inc.
• Nordyne Inc.
• Pennco Inc.
• Plexco Inc.
• Raypak Inc.
• Rheem Manufacturing Co.
• Slant/Fin Corp.
• The Ducane Co. Inc.
• The Trane Co.
• Thermo Products Inc
• Trianco-Heatmaker Inc.
• Utica Boilers Inc.
• Vaillant Corp.
• Weil-McLain
• Westcast Inc.
• York International Corp.

Readers of this document should also see HEAT EXCHANGER LEAKS.

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