Recall of the Week: Flushmate III pressure-assist flushing systems for toilets due to impact and laceration hazards

Flushmate is recalling about 351,000 Flushmate III pressure-assist flushing systems in the U.S. and about 9,400 in Canada.

The Series 503 Flushmate III also was previously recalled in June 2012.

The system can burst at or near the vessel weld seam releasing stored pressure, said the company and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. This pressure can lift the tank lid and shatter the tank, causing impact and laceration hazards to consumers and property damage.

Flushmate has received three reports of the units included in this recall bursting, resulting in property damage and no reports of injury.

This recall is for Series 503 Flushmate III Pressure Assist flushing systems installed inside toilet tanks that were manufactured from March 2008 through June 2009. Previously recalled systems were manufactured from October 1997 through February 2008.

The units are rectangular, black, two-piece vessels made of injection molded plastic.

Recalled units have a date code/serial number that is 16 characters long and is located on the label on the top of the Flushmate III. The first six numbers of the serial number are the date code. The date code range for units in this recall in MMDDYY format is 030108 – March 1, 2008 – through 063009 – June 30, 2009. 

The date code range for previously recalled systems in MMDDYY format was 101497 – Oct. 14, 1997 – through 022908 – Feb. 29, 2008.

Units included in this recall were sold individually and installed in toilets manufactured by American Standard, Crane, Ecotech, Eljer, Gerber, Kohler, Mancesa, Mansfield, Orion, St. Thomas, Universal Rundle, Vitra, Vitromex, and Western Pottery.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled Flushmate III system, turn off the water supply to the unit, flush the toilet to release the internal pressure, and contact the firm to request a free repair kit.

For more information, call Flushmate at 800-303-5123 between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. ET Monday through Friday and between 8 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. ET Saturday, or visit www.flushmate.com and click on “Flushmate III Recall” in the black box on the top left of the page.

For details on other recalls, see www.recalls.gov.