Crystal Mountain Water Cooler Corp. Recalls Water
Coolers
NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 4, 2002
Release # 02-134
Firm's Recall Hotline: (866) 678-4886 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Scott Wolfson, (301) 504-7051
CPSC, Crystal Mountain Water Cooler Corp. Announce Recall of Water
Coolers
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC), Crystal Mountain Water Cooler Corp., of Alberta,
Canada is voluntarily recalling about 12,000 hot & cold water coolers.
Approximately eighty percent of the water dispensers were sold in the
United States. The hot & cold water dispenser's heater band can short
circuit, posing a fire hazard to consumers.
Crystal Mountain Water Cooler Corp. has received about 20 reports
of the water cooler's insulation smoking, or igniting the unit. Damages
ranged from minor smoke and fire damage up to $200,000 in property
damage.
The Hot & Cold Water Dispenser is an upright water dispenser, with
two faucets. One faucet has a red lever and one faucet has a blue lever.
The unit stands at 35 5/8 inches-high (98.1 cm2), weighs 36.43 pounds
(16.56 kgs) and has a base area of 120.5 square inches (777.41 cm2). To
determine if the water dispenser is subject to this recall, the serial
number plate is located on the back at the top of the water dispenser.
Only water coolers with serial numbers between 1199125 and 1100175 are
included in the recall. The third and fourth digits of the serial number
represent the year of production.
Crystal Mountain and its distributors sold these water coolers in
the U.S. and Canada from May 1999 through July 2000 for about $300.
Consumers should turn off the hot tank power switch or simply
unplug the units and contact Crystal Mountain at (866) 678-4886 anytime
to receive repair information. Consumers should have the serial number
of their water cooler available at the time of the call.
Crystal Mountain issued registered letters to its entire customer
base. This release is being issued in an attempt to reach those
consumers who did not respond to the direct mailing.