On February 21, 2007, The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with CSA International, Rheem Manufacturing Company (Rheem) and Paloma Industries, Inc., announced a voluntary recall to repair more than 42,000 Power Vent tankless water heaters. The heaters may pose a carbon monoxide poisoning hazard.
Certain 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 may continue to operate and dust and lint could build up.
It is important that consumers know the air filter door for these water heaters must be in place to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning -- which can cause death.
Indoor models of the Power Vent 199,900 BTUH tankless water heaters are recalled. The brands and model numbers 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 the front of the unit, in the lower right hand corner.
Brand | Model numbers |
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 |
If you live in the United States or Canada, Rheem is providing free repair service -- at your location -- for all tankless water heater brands listed above, subject to the recall. Consumers are advised to stop using the recalled water heaters immediately if the air filter door is not in place and contact their installer or Rheem Manufacturing Company. It is important that, regardless of the type of water heater used, every home should have a CO alarm (with working batteries) outside all sleeping areas.
Tankless Water Heater Stories
Water Heater Recall a Tankless JobThree brands of tankless hot water heaters have been identified as potential sources of deadly carbon monoxide emissions, prompting a voluntary recall of the systems by Rheem Manufacturing, and Paloma Industries Inc. before they make people sick - or worse.
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Over 42,000 families may be at risk due to a potentially lethal defect in tankless gas water heaters. Some 42,200 Power Vent 199,900 tankless gas water heaters that were sold from May 2004 to December 2006, were recalled in February 2007 after components in some units shifted during transit, potentially causing an air filter door to malfunction and lead to deadly carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in the home.
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