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Exploding Toilets

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25 October 2018

By Bronwen

Exploding toilets? Who would have thought? But more than 1.4 million toilet flushing systems are being recalled following reports of toilets blowing upin the US and Canada, according to US safety officials.

As well as causing $710,000 worth of damage to property, these incidents have caused injury to 23 people- one of which required foot surgery.

Flushmate, the group responsible, has received 1,446 reports of the Flushmate II 501-B devices bursting across North America.

The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) advised consumers to immediately stop using the Flushmate II 501-B systems, turn off the water supply and flush the toilet to release any stored internal pressure.

The commission reported in its recall statement that: ‘The system can burst at or near the vessel weld seam releasing stored pressure. This pressure can lift the tank lid and shatter the tank, posing impact and laceration hazards to consumers and property damage.’

The units were sold between 1996 and 2015 at various retailers across the US including Home Depot. They cost around £108. Consumers who have the system installed are being told to contact Flushmate to get a free replacement.

This recall isn’t a first for Flushmate, though. The Series 503 Flushmate III was recalled in June 2012, January 2014 and July 2016.

 

 

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