Hot Water Dispenser Recall Information

Office of Information and Public Affairs

Firm's Recall Hotline:
(800) 295-8727

CPSC Consumer Hotline:
(800) 638-2772

CPSC Media Contact:
Scott Wolfson, (301) 504-7051

Release # 02-189

CPSC, In-Sink-Erator Announce Recall to Repair Instant Hot Water Dispensers

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), In-Sink-Erator, of Racine, Wis., is voluntarily recalling about 252,000 half-gallon instant hot water dispensers. Water can leak from the metal holding tank, wet insulating material and cause electrical arcing and heat build-up. This poses a fire hazard.

In-Sink-Erator has received three reports of holes in the electrical insulation or outer cover of the hot water dispenser. One report involved a kitchen fire that caused nearly $7,000 in property damage. No injuries have been reported.

The recalled hot water dispensers are half-gallon capacity models, made in the USA and sold under various brand names, including In-Sink- Erator®, ISE®, Steamin' Hot®, Emerson®, Dayton™, ACE™, Kenmore® and Kohler™. The serial number (S/N) is printed on a specification plate attached to the metal holding tank. This recall involves instant hot water dispensers with serial numbers (some begin with two letters) 999- 10 or those that fall between 1000 and 3084000.

Plumbers, building contractors, home centers and hardware stores sold these instant hot water dispensers from January 1972 through December 1996 for between $100 and $250.

Consumers should unplug their hot water dispensers immediately, check the serial number and contact In-Sink-Erator if their unit is part of the recall. Consumers with affected units will receive a replacement insulation shield. For more information and a complete list of brands, consumers can contact In-Sink-Erator at (800) 295-8727 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm's web site at www.insinkerator.com.

One-third gallon capacity instant hot water dispensers manufactured by In-Sink-Erator are not involved in this recall.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $700 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard or can injure children. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit CPSC's web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. To join a CPSC email subscription list, please go to www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.asp. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.