April
4, 2002
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.