As many as a quarter-million American homes have furnaces vented by plastic pipe that can crack or separate and leak carbon monoxide, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said last week.
As part of an unusual recall announced by the commission, 27 manufacturers have agreed to pay up to $100 million to replace plastic vent pipes used on furnaces in homes across the country.
High-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipe systems that were installed between 1987 and 1995 can “crack or separate at the joints and leak carbon monoxide, presenting a deadly threat to consumers,” the safety commission said.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas produced by incomplete burning of carbon-based fuel, including natural gas and propane. High-level exposure to carbon monoxide can cause death.
Plastic pipes involved in the recall program are gray or black plastic and are marked with the names “Plexvent,” “Plexvent II” or “Ultravent.” The pipe systems are no longer manufactured.
A toll-free telephone number has been set up for the recall. Consumers with questions can call (800) 758-3688 from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.
The safety commission said no deaths have been directly attributed to cracked pipes. However, commission spokesman Russ Rader said, four persons died as a result of plastic vent pipes that weren’t installed correctly–two in Minnesota in late 1994 and two in North Carolina a few months later.
Putting together a deal with 27 manufacturers from three different industries–furnace, boiler and plastic pipe venting–was a “landmark action,” the commission said. Rader said the commission, for the first time, used a mediator to reach an agreement with the companies.
Replacing the vents will cost the industry an average of about $400 each, Rader said. Consumers will not be charged anything for the replacement.
Mary Jost, a spokesman for an industry group coordinating the recall, said the plastic vent pipe will be replaced with a metal venting system.
“Even if they don’t see any cracks, consumers should get those pipes replaced,” Rader said.
The companies involved in the recall:
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Armstrong Air Conditioning Inc.; Bard Manufacturing Co.; Burnham Corp.; Consolidated Industries; Crown Boiler Co.; the Ducane Co. Inc.; Dunkirk Radiator Corp.; Evcon Industries Inc.; Hart & Cooley Inc.; Heat Controller Inc.; International Comfort Products Corp. (USA); Lennox Industries Inc.; Nordyne Inc.; Peerless Heater Co.; Pennco Inc.; Plexco Inc.; Raypak Inc.; Rheem Manufacturing Co.; Slant/Fin Corp.; Thermo Products Inc.; the Trane Co.; Trianco-Heatmaker Inc.; Utica Boilers Inc.; Vaillant Corp.; Weil-McLain Westcast Inc.; and York International Corp.