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CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS REPAIR

BACKDRAFTING HEATING EQUIPMENT
BAROMETRIC DAMPERS

CARBON MONOXIDE - CO
CHIMNEY COMPONENT DEFINITIONS
CHIMNEY FIRE ACTION / PREVENTION
COMBUSTION GASES & PARTICLE HAZARDS
COMBUSTION PRODUCTS & IAQ

FLAME COLOR, BLUE vs YELLOW COMBUSTION

HEATING INSPECTIONS
HOME HEATING SAFETY

Moisture / Frost Damaged Chimney

ODORS & SMELLS DIAGNOSIS & CURE

Safety Recalls, Chimneys, Vents, Heaters
STAIN DIAGNOSIS on BUILDING EXTERIORS

WOOD, COAL STOVES & FIREPLACES
WOOD STOVE SAFETY

More Information

Faulty Plastic Heating Vent Pipe Recall Safety Notice Safety recall on Plastic Plexvent & Ultravent InspectAPedia®  -     PLASTIC Plexvent / Ultravent RECALL - US CPSC Plastic Heating Vent Recall Update - 2009 US CPSC Plastic Heating Vent Recall Notice - 1998 High temperature plastic vents recalled: Plexvent recall and Ultravent recall Recalled plastic heating vents are gray or black "Plexvent," "Plexvent II" or "Ultravent" List of HTPV high temperature vent recall manufacturers Contact information for high temperature plastic vent claims Contact information for the US Consumer Product Commission for HTPV injury or damage loss reports or event report SAFETY RECALLS Chimneys, Vents, Heaters BLUE vs YELLOW COMBUSTION FLAMES BLUERAY Recall CHIMNEYS & Flues - Asbestos Transite Goodman HTPV RECALL Heat Recovery Ventilator RECALL Lennox SAFETY WARNING PLASTIC Plexvent / Ultravent RECALL Weil McLain RECALL Questions & answers about plastic heater vent safety & HTPV recalls References

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CPSC & Plastic Heating Vent Manufacturers Announce Recall program to replace HTPV on home heating systems, including a list of participating heating system manufacturers that involves:Armstrong Air Conditioning, Bard Manufacturing,Burnham, Center Point Energy/Houston Industries, Arkla, Dunkirk, Evcon, Heat Controller, International Comfort, Lennox ,Nordyne, Peerless, Pennco, Plexco, Raypak, Rheem, Slant/Fin, Trane, Trianco-Heatmaker, Utica, Vaillant, Weil-McLain, Westcast, and York brands.

Green links show where you are. © Copyright 2013 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Author Daniel Friedman.

US CPSC High Temperature Plastic Vent Heating Vent Recall Update - 2009

Readers of this document should see Safety Recalls, Chimneys, Vents, Heaters, also see HEAT EXCHANGER LEAK TEST and GAS DETECTION INSTRUMENTS and TOXIC GAS EXPOSURE EFFECTS for more technical information. Information about chimneys, flues, and venting safety is found at CHIMNEY INSPECTION DIAGNOSIS REPAIR. Building & home inspectors who inspect heating systems should also see SAFETY, HEATING INSPECTION.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 15, 2009 Release #09-099

Manufacturers’ Recall Hotline: (800) 758-3688 CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

A related recall has been modified as well.

CPSC, Manufacturers Announce Changes to 1998 Recall Program to Replace Dangerous Home Heating Vent Pipes
Remedy Changes for Registrations after May 1, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and various home heating furnace, boiler, and high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) manufacturers are urging home owners who have not yet responded to the previously-announced 1998 recall, to do so immediately. After May 1, 2009, the remedy consumers receive under the existing program, which has been operating continuously for almost 11 years, will change.

The recall, first announced in February 1998, included about 250,000 Plexvent and Ultravent HTPV pipe systems attached to gas or propane furnaces and boilers in homes. The HTPV pipes can crack or separate at the joints and leak deadly carbon monoxide (CO) gas. The following table includes the different remedies available to consumers with qualifying heating systems vented with two leading brands of HTPV pipe – Plexvent and Ultravent.

Consumers who register after May 1, 2009 and who choose to repair their systems will be responsible for up-front payment of parts, labor and permits, and will be responsible for arranging to have the work performed.

How to Identify Recalled High Temperature Plastic Heating Vents

Consumers should determine whether they have a recalled HTPV pipe system by checking the vent pipes attached to their natural gas or propane furnace or boiler.

Vent pipes subject to this recall can be identified as follows:

• HTPV material: the HTPV vent pipes are plastic;
• HTPV color: the HTPV vent pipes are colored gray or black;
  
  Take a look at our HTPV pipes atop a high-efficiency heating boiler installed in Minneapolis MN in 2009. These pipes are white - so these are not the piping of concern in the CPSC warning.
• HTPV lableing: "Plexvent," "Plexvent II" or "Ultravent" is stamped on the vent pipe or printed on stickers placed on pieces used to connect the vent pipes; and
• HTPV location: t he vent pipes are located on furnaces (and the pipes go through the sidewalls of structures) or on boilers.

Other plastic vent pipes, such as white PVC shown in our photo at above-left are not included in the recall.

Contact Information for High Temperature Plastic Heating Vents that are Recalled

After checking the vent pipes, consumers should call (800) 758-3688 between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. ET Monday through Friday to sign up for HTPV pipe system replacement. The following manufacturers are participating in this program:

• Armstrong Air Conditioning Inc.
• Bard Manufacturing Co.
• Burnham Corp.
• Center Point Energy/Houston Industries (Arkla)
• Dunkirk Radiator Corp.
• Evcon Industries Inc.
• Heat Controller Inc.
• International Comfort Prod. Corp. (USA)
• Lennox Industries Inc.
• Nordyne Inc. Peerless Heater Co.
• Pennco Inc
• Plexco Inc.
• Raypak Inc.
  Rheem Manufacturing Co.
• Slant/Fin Corp.
• The Trane Co.
• Trianco-Heatmaker Inc.
• Utica Boilers Inc.
• Vaillant Corp.
• Weil-McLain
• Westcast Inc.
• York International Corp.

CPSC reminds all consumers to have fuel-burning appliances professionally inspected each year to check for cracks or separations in the vents that could allow CO to leak into the home. In addition, CPSC recommends that every home should have at least one CO alarm.

CPSC is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about it by visiting https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054. To join a CPSC e-mail subscription list, please go to https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain recall and general safety information by logging on to CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

US CPSC High Temperature Plastic Vent Heating Vent Recall Update - 2009

In a landmark action announced February 24, 1998 virtually the entire furnace and boiler industry together with the manufacturers of high-temperature plastic vent (HTPV) pipes have joined with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to announce a recall program. This program will replace, free of charge, an estimated 250,000 HTPV pipe systems attached to gas or propane furnaces or boilers in consumers' homes. The HTPV pipes could crack or separate at the joints and leak carbon monoxide (CO), presenting a deadly threat to consumers.

To determine whether they have HTPV pipe systems that are subject to this program, consumers should first check the vent pipes attached to their natural gas or propane furnaces or boilers.

Vent pipes subject to this recall program can be identified as follows: the vent pipes are plastic;

• the vent pipes are colored gray or black;
• the vent pipes have the names
• 'Plexvent', 'Plexvent II', or 'Ultravent' stamped on the vent pipe or
• printed on stickers placed on pieces used to connect the vent pipes
• together.

Consumers should now check the location of these vent pipes.

For furnaces, only HTPV systems that have vent pipes that go through the sidewalls of structures (horizontal systems) are subject to this program.

For boilers, all HTPV systems are subject to this program.

Other plastic vent pipes, such as white PVC or CPVC, are not involved in this program.

After checking the vent pipes, consumers should call the special toll-free number (800) 758-3688, available between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. EST seven days a week, to verify that their HTPV pipe systems are subject to this recall program. Consumers with eligible systems will receive new, professionally installed venting systems free of charge.

Additionally, consumers who already have replaced their HTPV pipe systems may be eligible for reimbursement for some or all of the replacement costs.

The program came about as a result of mediation among 27 participants manufacturers of HTPV pipes and manufacturers of natural gas or propane-fired boilers and mid-efficiency furnaces. This is the first time that CPSC has used a mediator to bring together all segments of an industry to implement a program for the benefit of consumers.

The following lists the manufacturers participating in this program.

• Armstrong Air Conditioning Inc.
• Bard Manufacturing Co.
• Burnham Corp.
• Consolidated Industries
• Crown Boiler Co.
• Dunkirk Radiator Corp.
• Evcon Industries Inc.
• Hart & Cooley Inc.
• Heat Controller Inc.
• International Comfort Products Corp. (USA)
• Lennox Industries Inc.
• Nordyne Inc.
• Pennco Inc.
• Plexco Inc.
• Raypak Inc.
• Rheem Manufacturing Co.
• Slant/Fin Corp.
• The Ducane Co. Inc.
• The Trane Co.
• Thermo Products Inc
• Trianco-Heatmaker Inc.
• Utica Boilers Inc.
• Vaillant Corp.
• Weil-McLain
• Westcast Inc.
• York International Corp.

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Technical Reviewers & References

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Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

• Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.

The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author. Or choose the The Home Reference eBook for PCs, Macs, Kindle, iPad, iPhone, or Android Smart Phones. Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAEHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.

Building inspection education & report writing systems from Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd

• Carson Dunlop, Associates, Toronto, have provided us with (and we recommend) Carson Dunlop Weldon & Associates' Technical Reference Guide to manufacturer's model and serial number information for heating and cooling equipment
  Special Offer: Carson Dunlop Associates offers InspectAPedia readers in the U.S.A. a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Technical Reference Guide purchased as a single order. Just enter INSPECTATRG in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
  
• Carbon Monoxide Gas Toxicity, exposure limits, poisoning symptoms, and inspecting buildings for CO hazards
• DUST, HVAC CONTAMINATION STUDY An Investigation of Indoor Dust Debris Blamed on a Heating/Cooling System Reveals Carpet Dust
• Fuel Oil & Oil Heating Magazine, 3621 Hill Rd., Parsippany, NJ 07054, 973-331-9545
• Goodman Furnace High Temperature Plastic Vent HTPV safety recall US CPSC notice
• Home Heating System Should Be Checked [for proper venting and for CO Carbon Monoxide Hazards - DJF]
• Inspection Procedures for Oil-Fired Heating Systems Detailed step by step approaches for inspecting complex systems]
• Lennox Pulse Furnace Safety Inspection/Warranty Program: Carbon Monoxide Warning
• Oil Tanks - The Oil Storage Tank Information Website: Buried or Above Ground Oil Tank Inspection, Testing, Cleanup, Abandonment of Oil Tanks
• Oil Tanks Above Ground, UL Standards, guidance for home owners, buyers, and inspectors
• Plastic Heating Vent Pipe & Other Heating Safety Recall Notices
• Weil McLain Model GV Gas Boiler/gas valve CPSC recall/repair
• Domestic and Commercial Oil Burners, Charles H. Burkhardt, McGraw Hill Book Company, New York 3rd Ed 1969.
• National Fuel Gas Code (Z223.1) $16.00 and National Fuel Gas Code Handbook (Z223.2) $47.00 American Gas Association (A.G.A.), 1515 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22209 also available from National Fire Protection Association, Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02269. Fundamentals of Gas Appliance Venting and Ventilation, 1985, American Gas Association Laboratories, Engineering Services Department. American Gas Association, 1515 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22209. Catalog #XHO585. Reprinted 1989.
• The Steam Book, 1984, Training and Education Department, Fluid Handling Division, ITT [probably out of print, possibly available from several home inspection supply companies] Fuel Oil and Oil Heat Magazine, October 1990, offers an update,
• Principles of Steam Heating, $13.25 includes postage. Fuel oil & Oil Heat Magazine, 389 Passaic Ave., Fairfield, NJ 07004.
• The Lost Art of Steam Heating, Dan Holohan, 516-579-3046 FAX
• Principles of Steam Heating, Dan Holohan, technical editor of Fuel Oil and Oil Heat magazine, 389 Passaic Ave., Fairfield, NJ 07004 ($12.+1.25 postage/handling).
• "Residential Steam Heating Systems", Instructional Technologies Institute, Inc., 145 "D" Grassy Plain St., Bethel, CT 06801 800/227-1663 [home inspection training material] 1987
• "Residential Hydronic (circulating hot water) Heating Systems", Instructional Technologies Institute, Inc., 145 "D" Grassy Plain St., Bethel, CT 06801 800/227-1663 [home inspection training material] 1987
• "Warm Air Heating Systems". Instructional Technologies Institute, Inc., 145 "D" Grassy Plain St., Bethel, CT 06801 800/227-1663 [home inspection training material] 1987
• Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning Volume I, Heating Fundamentals,
• Boilers, Boiler Conversions, James E. Brumbaugh, ISBN 0-672-23389-4 (v. 1) Volume II, Oil, Gas, and Coal Burners, Controls, Ducts, Piping, Valves, James E. Brumbaugh, ISBN 0-672-23390-7 (v. 2) Volume III, Radiant Heating, Water Heaters, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, Heat Pumps, Air Cleaners, James E. Brumbaugh, ISBN 0-672-23383-5 (v. 3) or ISBN 0-672-23380-0 (set) Special Sales Director, Macmillan Publishing Co., 866 Third Ave., New York, NY 10022. Macmillan Publishing Co., NY
• Installation Guide for Residential Hydronic Heating Systems
• Installation Guide #200, The Hydronics Institute, 35 Russo Place, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922
• The ABC's of Retention Head Oil Burners, National Association of Oil Heat Service Managers, TM 115, National Old Timers' Association of the Energy Industry, PO Box 168, Mineola, NY 11501. (Excellent tips on spotting problems on oil-fired heating equipment. Booklet.)
• Links to our list of additional information on heating system inspection, repair, maintenance
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