‘Exploding Toilets’ Lead to Massive Toilet Recall

Flushmate has just issued a recall of 1.4 million of one of their toilet flushing systems due to a pretty crazy reason: toilets suddenly exploding. No, we’re not kidding!

The model being recalled is the Flushmate II 501-B pressure-assisted flushing systems.

While it sounds like something out of a cartoon, unfortunately the system has caused agony for about 1,400 people and counting so far. Not only did these toilet flushing system owners get the surprise of a lifetime when their toilet literally exploded, but they got the bill of a lifetime too: a total of about $710,000 in property damage among the people affected.

Additionally, some toilet-exploding victims are getting hurt by the wacky incident, with 23 injuries reported so far, one person who even needed to get foot surgery as a result.

The question is, why is this happening? The Consumer Product Safety Commission explains that it has to do with pressure building up.

“The system can burst at or near the vessel weld seam releasing stored pressure,” they say. “This pressure can lift the tank lid and shatter the tank, posing impact and laceration hazards to consumers and property damage.”

If you’re the owner of a Flushmate II 501-B pressure-assisted flushing systems, the manufacturer is urging customers to stop using the system, turn off the water supply to the unit, and flush the toilet to release the internal pressure.

The good news is that if you’re in this situation, Flushmate is offering a replacement at no cost to you.

You’ll be able to tell if your unit is included in the Flushmate II 501-B recall by visiting the Flushmate recall notice or by calling 844-621-7538 for more info.

To hear more about this recall and exploding toilets, check out this news report below.

Do you have a Flushmate toilet system? Have you ever heard of toilets exploding before? What would you do in the event your toilet burst?