Tankless Water Heaters May Explode

PRODUCT: More than 100 series CTH-10 and CTH-40 tankless electric water heaters made by Productos Electricos Corona Ltd. of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The water heaters were imported in the late 1980s by Pecbras of Dania, Fla.; and in 1989 and 1990 by Host Products Inc. of Laquana Hills, Calif. Both Pecbras and Host have gone out of business. The tankless electric water heaters were sold to GAR Services of St. Croix, Virgin Islands; G.C. Enterprises of Belmont, N. H.; as well as to individual consumers. Most consumers who purchased the heaters directly from an importer lived in the southeastern United States or the Virgin Islands.

PROBLEM: A design defect in the pressure switches may cause these heaters to explode and catch fire. No injuries are reported to date.

WHAT TO DO: Both of the companies that imported these water heaters are out of business and, therefore, there is no refund or repair program. Stop using these water heaters immediately and replace them with another heater. They are dangerous and cannot be repaired.

Washington, DC --- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), announced today that more than 100 series CTH-10 and CTH-40 tankless electric water heaters may explode. The water heaters were made by Productos Electricos Corona Ltd. of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The companies that imported the water heaters have gone out of business and, therefore, there is no refund or repair program. Consumers must have the defective water heaters replaced by a plumber because they cannot be repaired.

The tankless electric water heaters were imported in the late 1980s by Pecbras, of Dania, Fla.; and in 1989 and 1990 by Host Products Inc. of Laquana Hills, Calif. They were sold to GAR Services of St. Croix, Virgin Islands; G.C. Enterprises of Belmont, N. H.; as well as to individual consumers. Most consumers who purchased the heaters directly from Pecbras or Host live in the southeastern United States or the Virgin Islands. Both importers have gone out of business.

The "CTH" series tankless electric water heaters are designed to attach to cold water pipes. They heat the water just before it is used. The pressure switches used in these heaters are defective and may cause the heater to explode and catch fire.

CPSC learned of the problem with these heaters when a consumer reported to the agency that three of his five water heaters exploded and caught on fire. To date, CPSC knows of no injuries from these water heaters.