Back in 1998, in a massive recall, virtually the
entire furnace and boiler industry — along with the manufacturers of
high-temperature plastic vent pipes and the Consumer Product Safety Commission
— joined to correct a problem with 250,000 vent pipes that could crack
or separate at the seams and leak deadly carbon monoxide fumes into homes.
According to the settlement, homeowners who had these
potentially leaky pipe systems attached to gas or propane furnaces or
boilers could get them replaced for free.
Starting May 1, the free replacement deal is off the
table. After that, homeowners with these faulty vent pipes will only get a $400
rebate toward a new system..
The vent pipes included in the settlement are
described in the original notice and in the updated notice announcing the end of the free
replacement program.
Act now or
else.