Recall: Crystal Mountain Water Cooler Corp. Recalls Water Coolers

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.