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HTPV recall image - US CPSCFaulty Plastic Heating Vent Pipe Recall Safety Notice

Safety recall on Plastic Plexvent & Ultravent

CPSC & Plastic Heating Vent Manufacturers Announce Recall program to replace HTPV on home heating systems.

Included is 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, Products (ICP),
Lennox, Nordyne, Peerless,
Pennco, Plexco, Raypak,
Rheem, Slant/Fin, Trane, Trianco-Heatmaker,
Utica, Vaillant, Weil-McLain, Westcast,
and York brands. of heating systems and equipment.

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

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 http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09323.html [Link to a safety recall at the US CPSC] was found as a "dead link" on 2025/11/1 - Ed.

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 that was at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml98/98072.html [at US CPSC] to do so immediately. This was also found to be a "dead link" at the CPSC on 2025/11/1 - Ed.

After May 1, 2009, the remedy consumers receive under the existing program, which has been operating continuously for almost 11 years, will change.

HTPV vent image - US CPSC

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.

Watch out: 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.

  Plexvent owners Ultravent owners
Valid claims initiated on or before May 1, 2009, with remediation completed and required documentation submitted by October 1, 2009 Will receive a new, professionally-installed venting system free of charge or a rebate up to $400 towards purchase of a new, high-efficiency appliance from the same manufacturer that does not require HTPV Will receive a new, professionally-installed venting system for about $250 or a rebate of $250 towards purchase of a new, high-efficiency appliance from the same manufacturer that does not require HTPV
Valid claims initiated after May 1, 2009 A rebate up to $400 toward either an HTPV replacement system, or a new, high-efficiency appliance from the same manufacturer that does not require HTPV A rebate up to $250 toward either an HTPV replacement system, or a new, high-efficiency appliance from the same manufacturer that does not require HTPV

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.

2025/11/01 update: at the US CPSC we were able to find no links to this topic and the older CPSC pages no longer work - Editor.

Watch out: However if you still have this product intalled, it is unsafe and should be replaced.

How to Identify Recalled High Temperature Plastic Heating Vents

HTPV plastic vent pipes, white (C) Daniel FriedmanConsumers 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:

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:

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;

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.

List of manufacturers participating in the Plastic Heater Vent Recall

Here is a printable version of the PLEXVENT RECALL NOTICE, US CPSC [PDF] retrieved 2019/07/25, original source: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/1998/cpsc-manufacturers-announce-recall-program-to-replace-vent-pipes-on-home-heatin

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Reader Comments, Questions & Answers About The Article Above

Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.

Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

No response from Rheem nor CPSC on Plastic Heater Vent Recall - leaking dangerous carbon monoxide

I have a customer (I'm a licensed master plumber as well as master HVACR Contractor in NJ) with a Rheem furnace that has Plexvent sidewall venting.

I've contacted Rheem. I've contacted CPSC to no avail. NO ONE RETURNS CALLS OR YOU SIT ON HOLD AND NOBODY PICKS UP!!!!!

Can you PLEASE help me & my customer out with this.

Furnace is Rheem Model number RGVG-05EAUER serial number CE1D302 F3292 0902.

Plexvent was used and is leaking carbon monoxide into their home. I'm currently writing this while on hold for already over 50 minutes! When I called I was given automated message stating I'm FIRST in line.

The customers Bill Zhao & Qin Zheng live at 22 Mitchell Ave., Roseland New Jersey 07068

My email is roconnor1@comcast.net My cell number is 201.937.2223.

I can't sit on hold and wait anymore. Can you PLEASE contact me and let me know what I (or my customer) can do to either receive the correct venting materials or maybe Rheem can come and replace this vent with approved materials.

Please make me aware of your decision and that of RHEEM as soon as practical
Thank you, - On 2019-07-25 by Robert O'Connor

Suggestions by (mod) - Urgent safety warning about your concern that Rheem & US CPSC do not respond to Plexvent recall help request

Robert

Thanks for the important safety post / complaint about the Plexvent sidewall venting - as you read above the CPSC announced a recall for this product.

Watch out: first and foremost, let's not kill anybody. You should immediately make certain that your customer with the dangerous plastic heater vent leaking carbon monoxide has both smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors properly installed, at the right locations, and tested for proper function throughout their home. And they should know what to do if the CO alarm sounds.

Or alternatively shut down the heating sytem and leave it off, finding a temporary alternative heat source until the vent can be replaced, repaired, and made safe.

Rheem is listed among the participants in the unsafe heater vent recall program.

Watch out: But the current U.S. federal government, CPSC, and president Trump appear to have significantly cut back on US CPSC support for product recalls and public safety around this sort of issue.

What's left? I would contact Rheem directly once again to ask for help.

Our article RHEEM WATER HEATERS & HEATER AGE a includes contact information for Rheem

Rheem Contact Information

OPINION: I'm doubtful that the CPSC is going to do a thing about replacing any product that has been recalled. THe CPSC's job (varying by U.S. government administration policy) is to identify unsafe consumer products and where the agency deems appropriate, ask for a product recall - but the CPSC itself is not going to replace anything for you or your customer.

Here is the current CPSC contact information

...

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