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CPSC WATER HEATER GAS VALVE RECALL
SITE VISITORS: Please pass this information along to your neighbors, family, and friends that may have recently installed a gas water heater.

On Septemeber 16, 2005 the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced the product recall for gas valves on many of the major maker gas water heaters, such as Bradford White and General Electric. For a full list, please click on the read full story link below.

The valves were manufactured by Robertshaw on and installed on units as early as July of this year. So if you have a client or friend who has just recently installed a gas water heater, then please share with them this important information.

ROBERTSHAW GAS VALVE RECALL

Please read the following before proceeding: September 2005

Robertshaw Announces Voluntary Recall of Certain Models of R110 Gas Control Valves Installed in Water Heaters

Dear Customers:

Robertshaw Controls Company, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), is instituting a voluntary recall of certain models of gas valves in the R110 series. The R110 Series gas control valves that are being recalled are installed in natural and liquid propane (LP) gas water heaters. Electric water heaters are not affected. The recalled valves were manufactured between July 25, 2005 and August 14, 2005. Thus, consumers who had gas water heaters installed or serviced prior to July 25, 2005 are unaffected. If your water heater was installed since July 25, 2005 or you have had it serviced since that date, it is possible that you may have an affected valve.

Water heater brands potentially affected include: American ProLine, Bradford White, General Electric (GE), GSW, Hotpoint, Jetglas, John Wood, Lochinvar, PowerFlex, Premier Plus, Rheem, Richmond, Ruud, Vanguard, Whirlpool and U.S. Craftmaster.

Under some circumstances, screws on some of these valves may be susceptible to breaking. If screws on the valve break, gas could leak from the valve. This can result in a gas explosion and fire, which could result in severe personal injury and/or property damage.

If you believe you may have an affected water heater, please click on What Water Heaters are Involved. If you need further assistance, please call Robertshaw toll-free at 888-225-1071 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Saturday. Please have the model and serial numbers of your water heater ready when you contact Robertshaw. The model and serial numbers can be found on the manufacturer's label on the water heater.

Safety Precautions: As with any gas appliance, if you smell gas near your water heater or in the building, immediately leave the area and call your gas company or a certified gas technician to investigate the cause.

WHAT WATER HEATERS ARE INVOLVED

What Water Heaters are Involved?

The voluntary recall applies to R110 gas control valves that were manufactured between July 25, 2005 and August 14, 2005. Thus, consumers who had gas water heaters installed or serviced prior to July 25, 2005 are unaffected. If your water heater was installed since July 25, 2005, or you have had it serviced since that date, it is possible that you may have an affected valve. These valves are used in natural and liquid propane (LP) gas water heaters. Electric water heaters are not affected.

Below is a list of the affected brands of water heaters. If you have a water heater that was manufactured since July of this year and the manufacturer is on the list below, then fo to the following link (www.Robertshaw.com) and enter in the make, model #, and serial # to see if yours is subject to recall. You can also call Robert Shaw and verbally give them the above info at 888-225-1071.

American Proline John Wood Ruud
Bradford White Lochinvar Vangaurd
General Electric PowerFlex Whirlpool
GSW Premier Plus U.S. Craftmaster
Hotpoint Rheem
Jetglas Richmond

If your water heater's serial number does not appear in the list of potentially affected units above, your valve is not included in the recall.  If your water heater's serial turns out to be subject to the recall, you will need to check the date code on the valve. Only valves with date codes 0531, 0532 and 0533 are subject to the recall. However, not all valves with these date codes are included in the recall. To identify which valves are NOT included in the recall, please see instructions below.  The date code can be found on a label on the right side of the valve. Note: Many models require removal of the piezo (spark) ignitor in order to see the date code on the label (see below).

How to remove and replace the piezo (spark) ignitor (available on many models).

1. Shut off the gas supply to the water heater at the manual shutoff on the supply pipe to the water heater. Turn the water heater gas valve to OFF.
2. Remove piezo ignitor by prying the striker away from the gas valve with a screwdriver as shown (Fig. 1). Pull the ignitor away from the valve to reveal the date code (Fig. 2).



3. Read the label as shown in the picture above (Fig. 3).

4. If your water heater’s model and serial numbers are included in the list of potentially affected numbers AND the date code of your water heater gas valve is 0531, 0532 or 0533, immediately turn off the gas supply to your water heater at the manual shutoff on the supply pipe to the water heater and contact Robertshaw at 888-225-1071.

To restart the water heater if the date code is not 0531, 0532 or 0533:
• Reattach the piezo ignitor by sliding it on to the valve.
• Relight the pilot by following the lighting instructions provided on the water heater.

If you do not believe that you can perform the task of detaching the ignitor, please call Robertshaw at 888-225-1071 and a service technician will be sent to inspect the valve. However, you should turn off the gas supply to the water heater at the manual shutoff on the supply pipe until your water heater is inspected and it is confirmed whether you have one of the valves subject to the recall.

How do I distinguish which valves with date codes of 0531, 0532 or 0533 are NOT included the recall?

All recalled R110 gas valves have a date code of 0531, 0532 or 0533. However, not all valves with these date codes are included in the recall.   If your water heater's serial number does not appear in the list of potentially affected units above, your valve is not included in the recall.  Moreover, unaffected valves with date codes of 0531, 0532 or 0533 will be marked as illustrated below.   

Unaffected valves on American ProLine, General Electric (GE), Hotpoint, PowerFlex, Premier Plus, Rheem, Richmond, Ruud,  Vanguard, Whirlpool and U.S. Craftmaster water heaters can be identified by a green circle around the date code and a label that reads “05-NS35.” (See picture below.)


Unaffected valves on GSW and John Wood water heaters can be identified by a green line through the date code and a label that reads, "05-NS35." (See picture below.)

Unaffected valves on Bradford White, Jetglas and Lochinvar water heaters can be identified by a blue mark at the date code and through the UPC symbol. (See picture below.)


Valves that have been serviced in the field can be identified by a label that reads "05-NS35".

If your gas valve has a date code of 0531, 0532 or 0533 and does NOT have the markings shown above, immediately turn off the gas supply to your water heater at the manual shutoff on the supply pipe to the water heater and contact Robertshaw at 888-225-1071.

Safety Precautions: As with any gas appliance, if you smell gas near your water heater or in the building, immediately leave the area and call your gas company or a certified gas technician to investigate the cause.

CPSC RECALL NOTICE

NEWS from CPSC

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 16, 2005
Release # 05-274
Robertshaw’s Hotline: (888) 225-1071
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

CPSC, Robertshaw Controls Co. Announce Recall of Gas Control Valves on Water Heaters

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the manufacturer named below, today announced voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed

Name of Product: Robertshaw R110 Series Gas Control Valves

Units: About 178,000

Manufacturer: Robertshaw Controls Co., of Long Beach, Calif.

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.

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.

Sold: Installed on water heaters by gas appliancedistributors 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.

Assembled in: Mexico

Remedy: Consumers that believe they may have an affected water heater, please click on www.robertshaw.com. 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.

Consumer Contact: Call Robertshaw at (888) 225-1071 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. ET , Monday through Saturday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.robertshaw.com to review a list of the appliances with recalled valves and to register for the recall.

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