Hot Water Boiler Recalls Issued Due to Carbon Monoxide Leak Risk

Two different home heating hot water boilers are being recalled by federal safety regulators, due to a potential risk that they may expose residents to a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.  

On January 9, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced a U.S. Boiler recall, and a New Yorker boiler recall, impacting thousands of gas-fired hot water boilers that may leak carbon monoxide gas.

Both recalls involved problems with a defective air pressure switch on the home heating boilers, which could cause the burners to fail to shut down and allow the boiler to release large amounts of carbon monoxide gas into the home. This could pose a serious and potentially life-threatening risk for residents or occupants of the home, as carbon monoxide leaks are a leading cause of fatal poisonings in the United States.

The U.S. Boiler recall affects about 26,000 ESC, PVG, and SCG model boilers manufactured by the U.S. Boiler Company, Inc., from Lancaster Pennsylvania. The boilers are cast iron and use natural gas or liquid petroleum to heat water for residential heating needs. They are light blue with black trim, about 40 inches tall, 26 inches deep and 12 to 31 inches wide. They were manufactured between December 2005 and February 2013.

The U.S. Boiler logo and model name are located on the front cover, which is vented. The recalled boilers have model numbers ESC3 through ESC9 with a serial number range of 65249110 through 65382278; model numbers PVG3_P, PVG4_P and PVG5 through PVG9 with a serial number range of 64870666 through 65385746: 97939433; and model numbers SCG3 through SCG9 with a serial number range of 35200197: 65283322 through 65858729. The model number, serial number and date of manufacture can be found on a silver label on the top panel of the ESC models and on the inside of the right side panel on the PVG and SCG models.

They were sold at plumbing and heating wholesale distributors nationwide for between $1,700 and $4,900 from December 2005 through February 2013.

The other recall affects about 191 cast iron hot water boilers manufactured by the New Yorker Boiler Company, Inc. of Hatfield, Pennsylvania. They are also cast iron and use natural gas or liquid petroleum for residential space heating. The recalled New Yorker boilers are green, about 38 inches tall, about 26 inches deep, and can be from 11 to 30 inches wide. They were manufactured between May 2012 and February 2013.

The New Yorker boiler logo is on the vented front cover. Affected units have a serial number range of 65320695 through 65383954 and model numbers PVCG5OANI, PVCG6OANI, PVCG7OANI, PVCG8OANI, PVCG9OANI, PVCG3OAPI, PVCG4OAPI, and PVCG5OAPI. The model number, manufacturing date and serial number are located on the inside panel on a silver label.

The New Yorker boilers were sold by plumbing and heating wholesale distributors nationwide from July 2012 through February 2013, and sold for between $1,600 and $3,200.

Carbon Monoxide Risks

Carbon monoxide is a significantly toxic gas that has no irritating factors that can allow someone to detect its presence. Because people often fail to promptly recognize symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, exposure may continue for long periods of time, increasing the risk of serious injury.

According to the CDC, there are more than 500 carbon monoxide poisoning deaths each year in the United States, and more than 15,000 people require emergency room treatment following exposure to the gas annually. In many cases individuals who survive exposure are left with serious and life-long injuries due to brain damage from carbon monoxide.

The winter months typically see the highest rate of carbon monoxide exposure injuries, as people tend to rely more on heating devices that release the toxic gas as the temperatures drop.

The CPSC recommends that consumers with affected boilers immediately contact the installer or distributor of the affected furnace to schedule a free in-home safety inspection and repair. Consumers who decide to keep using the boilers while awaiting repair should make sure to have working carbon monoxide poisoning alarms installed outside of all the sleeping areas of their home.

Customers with affected boilers from U.S. Boiler can call the company toll free at (888) 432-8887 or visit www.usboiler.net and click on CPSC Product Recall Announcement for more information. Consumers with New Yorker boilers affected by the recall are urged to call New Yorker Boiler at (800) 535-4679 or visit the company’s website at www.newyorkerboiler.com and click on the CPSC Product recall announcement for further information.