2 Million Flushmate Toilet Systems Recalled Because of Explosions

Published: June 21, 2012
By: Lisa Kaplan Gordon
4Comments

The CPSC is recalling Flushmate III Pressure-Assist Flushing Systems that can explode.

If you own this Flushmate toilet system, turn off the water supply to the unit and stop using it. Image: CPSC

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is recalling more than 2 million Flushmate systems that are meant to make flushing easier, but can burst and send the toilet lid — and everything else in your toilet — flying.

The Flushmate III Pressure-Assist Flushing System, installed inside the toilet tank, can burst at or near the vessel weld seam, releasing stored pressure that can shatter the tank and lacerate consumers. So far, Flushmate has received 304 reports of explosions causing property damage and 14 reports of impact or laceration injuries.

The recalled Flushmates were sold at Home Depot and Lowe’s stores, distributors, and plumbing contractors nationwide for about $108 and were manufactured between October 1997 and February 2008.

If you own a Flushmate, immediately turn off the water supply to the unit and stop using the system. Then contact Flushmate to determine if yours is a recalled unit and to request a free repair kit.

Do you have a Flushmate? Have you contacted Flushmate and tried the repair kit?

Lisa Kaplan Gordon

is a HouseLogic contributor and builder of luxury homes in McLean, Va. She’s been a Homes editor for Gannett News Service and has reviewed home improvement products for AOL.

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Hi Mike. If you have any concerns about your Flushmate, contact the company and register a complaint or ask a question. The Flushmate toll-free Recall Hotline is (800) 303-5123 and operates between 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday. Also, you can report your concerns at the Consumer Product Safety Commission's website: SaferProducts.gov. The CPSC says if reports indicate further action is appropriate, it will work as quickly as possible with the company toward resolution.
Posted by HouseLogic on October 16, 2012

I got a safety recall notice from Flushmate today. When I lifted off the tank lid to check the model number on the Flushmate tank I saw a fine mist coming out of the side of the black plastic tank. My first thought was that I must have one of the bad ones. The model number is M-101526-F3 and the series is 503, both a match, but the serial number is 101599-F3C1484 NOT 051505-F33Z-1248 so I feel a little bit safe. I put a couple of pieces of duct tape over the leak to hold in the pressure, but the water still trickles out from under the edge of the tape. Everything still works OK, but now I'm worried that Flushmate's problems may go beyond just the 051505-F33Z-1248 serial number as they claim. Do I need to contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission about expanding the recall or is my tank safe from exploding?
Posted by Mike on October 06, 2012