Flush Mate Recall

Bill Howe has been has been the premier plumber in San Diego for over 34 years. Part of the expert services offered are continual updates on products and important information for our customers. In 2014, Flushmate announced a recall on a common product in many homes. Our plumbers want to educate our customers in San Diego.

Flushmate announced a voluntary recall of the Flushmate III Pressure-Assist flushing system due to the possibility of the system bursting at or near the vessel weld seam releasing stored pressure. The possible consequences could be a shattered tank, which could cause water damage or in very severe cases, physical harm. Flushmate has received approximately 300 reports of the product bursting resulting in property damage and 14 reports of impact injuries.

 The Flushmate III Pressure Assist Flushing system was sold nationwide between October 1997 and February 2008, and an additional secondary recall was announced for systems sold 2008 and 2009. The units are rectangular and are a two-piece black molded plastic. About 2.5 million units were sold in the U.S. They have a 16-digit serial number which can be found on the label on the top of the Flushmate system.

The Flushmate systems were sold at local home supply retailers, by distributors, plumbing contractors  and toilet manufacturers nationwide, including American Standard, Crane, Eljer, Gerber, Kohler, Mansfield and St. Thomas.

If you believe that you might have the recalled Flushmate system installed in your toilet, you should turn off the water supply to your toilet and stop using the system. Consumers can contact the firm to determine if their serial number is included in the recall. If you do have a recalled Flushmate, you will be able to request a free repair kit to remedy the problem. Our expert plumbers in San DIego can also help to identify if you have the recalled product installed.

Once you receive the repair kit, you can contact a plumber in San Diego to make the exchange if you do not feel comfortable enough to change out the parts yourself. If you are handy, and feel good about following the clear instructions sent by Flushmate just remember to turn off the water before you start and flush the toilet to release any pressure before servicing the Flushmate III unit. It is also important that you not use any sealants on threads, including Teflon or plumbers tape, plumbers putty or liquid sealant on the parts.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment with one of Bill Howe’s Journeyman plumbers in San Diego, call 1-800 Bill Howe (245-5469).