Voluntary Recall Tankless Water Heater

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with the Water Heating Division of Rheem Sales Company Inc., of Montgomery, AL. and Paloma Industries Inc., of Oxnard, CA, announced a voluntary recall of approximately 42,200 Powervent Tankless Water Heaters, due to a defect that constitutes a carbon monoxide poisoning hazard.

According to the manufacturer, Components inside the water heater may shift during transit, causing an air filter door switch to operate improperly. If the switch fails and the air filter door is out of place, the water heater could continue to operate and dust and lint could build up, posing a carbon monoxide poisoning hazard. So far, they haven't had any reports of incidents or injuries associated with these water heaters.

The recall involves indoor models of the Power Vent 199,900 BTUH tankless water heaters. The brands and model numbers included in this recall are listed below and are located on the front of the unit and the rating plate. The water heaters have a cream jacket or gray jacket enclosure with the piping on the top and bottom of the unit. The rating plate is a silver label located at the front of the unit in the lower right hand corner.

Brand and Models:

Paloma: PTG-74PVN; PTG-74PVP; PTG-74PVN-1; PTG-74PVP-1; PTG-74PVNH;PTG-74PVPH; PTG-74PVNUH; PTG-74PVPUH and PH-28RIFSN; PH-28RIFSP;PH-28RIFSN-1; PH-28RIFSP-1; PH-28CIFSN; PH-28CIFSP; PH-28CIFSN-1;PH-28CIFSP-1


Rheem: RTG-74PVN; RTG-74PVP; RTG-74PVN-1; RTG-74PVP-1 Ruud: RUTG-74PVN; RUTG-74PVP; RUTG-74PVN-1; RUTG-74PVP-1

Rheem-Ruud: GT-199PV-N; GT-199PV-P; GT-199PV-N-1; GT-199PV-P-1

Richmond: RMTG-74PVN; RMTG-74PVP; RMTG-74PVN-1; RMTG-74PVP-1;RMTG-74PVNH; RMTG-74PVPH; RMTG-74PVNUH; RMTG-74PVPUH

The water heaters were sold by retailers nationwide and through plumbing wholesale distributors to plumbers, contractors and consumers from May 2004 through December 2006 for between $800 and $1,300. The water heaters were manufactured in Japan.

Consumers with the recalled water heaters should stop using them immediately, if the air filter door is not in place. Consumers, who have not already been contacted by an authorized contractor, should immediately contact their installer or Rheem Manufacturing Company to arrange for a free, on-site repair. Consumers are reminded to use the air filter door for these water heaters to avoid a carbon monoxide hazard.

For more information, contact Rheem toll-free at (866)369-4786 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. CT Monday through Friday and 9 a.m.and 4:30 p.m. CT Saturday and Sunday, or visit the firm's Web site at http://www.tankless-recall.com/

CPSC also warns that, regardless of the type of water heater that is used, every home should have a CO alarm outside all sleeping areas, and consumers should ensure that their CO alarms have working batteries.