More Than 40 Million Kidde Fire Extinguishers made over last 40 years Recalled

[PastTense]

More Than 40 Million Fire Extinguishers Recalled for Safety Hazard Two types of Kidde fire extinguishers are being recalled, those with those with plastic handles, and those with a push-button on top.

The extinguishers, sold by Kidde, can become clogged or "require excessive force to discharge," and fail to work during a fire emergency, the CPSC said. In addition, the nozzles on some of the extinguishers can detach with enough force to potentially injure someone.
So far, the CPSC has received nearly 400 reports of cases in which the recalled fire extinguishers failed to work properly. These included 91 reports of property damage, 16 reports of injuries (such as smoke inhalation and minor burns) and one death.

More Than 4 Million Fire Extinguishers Recalled for Safety Hazard

See the Kidde website on instructions to get a free replacement:
Kidde Home Safety

 

[RNeumann]

Long ago I was told to only buy metal handle extinguishers as the plastic handle ones were not serviceable.
The powder inside the extinguisher tends to cake over time- this is exacerbated if it is moving or bouncing like in a vehicle. Servicing re-fluffs the powder and re-pressurizes the tank.
Sounds like they tried to make the cheapo extinguishers a little too cheap!

 

[tallyho8]

I gathered up all my old fire extinguishers and checked them and found that 4 of them were recalled. They had all lost pressure over the years as some were over 30 years old and should have been thrown away. I filled out the form on Kidde's web site and they sent me 4 new ones for free. Can't beat that!

 

[Ken]

I gathered up all my old fire extinguishers and checked them and found that 4 of them were recalled. They had all lost pressure over the years as some were over 30 years old and should have been thrown away. I filled out the form on Kidde's web site and they sent me 4 new ones for free. Can't beat that!

in the mid '70's on Now I-40 west of Seligman Ariz. noticed a 18 whl. truck blowing black smoke from engine approaching over 1/2 mile away. and as getting closer saw the driver lock brakes and when stopped jump out of truck and carrying a small fire extinguisher. raiswe hood and was pumping a carbon tech. type unit at flames. I had stopped and carried my 18 lb. CO2 over to truck and started to blow at base of flames and then transmission and put the flames out. Still a gas engine and driver had just switched tanks and gas was pouring out carb.
his unit was brass out dated since WW1 at least and explained all it did was produce phosgene gas which would destroy his lungs.
It convinced me which type to carry.
This type that has backing soda that packs into a cake sure cheap. but then have to service toss before needed.
ken

 

[lostcreekranch]

More Than 4 Million Fire Extinguishers Recalled for Safety Hazard

See the Kidde website on instructions to get a free replacement:
Kidde Home Safety

Good information, thanks for sharing. I think we have 3 of these.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Long ago I was told to only buy metal handle extinguishers as the plastic handle ones were not serviceable.
The powder inside the extinguisher tends to cake over time- this is exacerbated if it is moving or bouncing like in a vehicle. Servicing re-fluffs the powder and re-pressurizes the tank.
Sounds like they tried to make the cheapo extinguishers a little too cheap!

That's standard fire department extinguisher training. You can keep the powder fluffed by turning the extinguisher upside down and whacking it with a rubber mallet a few times, but the plastic handle ones still have to be thrown away and the metal handle ones have to be serviced on a regular schedule. You can't let a dry chemical extinguisher sit for years and expect the dry chemical to come out when you need it. A CO2 extinguisher will work as long as it stays pressurized, and doesn't have to be serviced.

 

[Gary Fowler]

More Than 4 Million Fire Extinguishers Recalled for Safety Hazard

See the Kidde website on instructions to get a free replacement:
Kidde Home Safety

Thanks for the info. I have two and just filled out the form. Supposed to send free replacements within15-20 days.

 

[flyerdan]

I have one that was affected and one that wasn't, we'll see I guess. Don't know why one of the models in their pulldown menu would be unaffected unless it was a specific serial number range.

 

[tallyho8]

I have one that was affected and one that wasn't, we'll see I guess. Don't know why one of the models in their pulldown menu would be unaffected unless it was a specific serial number range.

All the models in the pulldown menu are recalled. If it did not accept yours after you put in the serial number, either you put in an incorrect number or that serial number was recalled and replaced before. This is not the first time they were recalled.

 

[wngsprd]

Thanks for sharing. I just checked and mine were metal handles...3 bought at Costco...one many years ago and two just this year...and I noticed the new ones from Costco are a First Alert brand, not Kidde.

 

[teg]

Kind of feel a little bad... I have one that was recalled and I filled out the information... looks like I'll get a replacement!!! SHOUT OUT and a big Thanks to PastTense for posting this....

.

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Oh, why am I feeling bad? I used the fire extinguisher to put out a propane tank that had flames burning out of the valve handle!!! Worked great!!!

 

[Mendonsy]

I had four that were recalled. I filed the form online on 11/02 and today two of the replacements arrived today on Fedex ground. 7 days ain't bad for a recall. Maybe the other two will show up tomorrow??

 

[Oldpath05]

What a pain that was just for two small extinguishers, I typed in that date code 6 different ways just to submit the form, atleast the page said it was submitted. First I type it in the right date code 3 times just to make sure I was typing it in right, then 3 other ways trying to get something to go through, why a date code what wrong with just 2014, gotta have a code for 2014 just to make sure it's not 1914.

I thought I better see about getting them replaced just in case a small fire starts in my 4 year old garage, dont and wont want to build that over again. I seen a small extinguisher work and they do work good on a small gasoline fire.

 

[TractorGuy]

Thanks for sharing. I had two on the list.

 

[Mendonsy]

When the replacements arrive they come with a prepaid shipping label to return the old units in the original packaging.
I suspect that Kidde plans to replace the plastic valves and send them to someone else.

 

[Redbug]

I also sent in my request for 4 recalled extinguishers. I wonder if this recall will cause the company to go under?

 

[Ford850]

Thanks PastTense. I just submitted mine for 2 nice old 'made in USA' heavy duty models.

 

[tallyho8]

What a pain that was just for two small extinguishers, I typed in that date code 6 different ways just to submit the form, atleast the page said it was submitted. First I type it in the right date code 3 times just to make sure I was typing it in right, then 3 other ways trying to get something to go through, why a date code what wrong with just 2014, gotta have a code for 2014 just to make sure it's not 1914.

I did not fill in the date code on any of the ones I returned because it said it was optional to fill it in.

 

[TractorGuy]

When filling out the form my two asked for different info on the different models. The first I did asked for the model, date code, and serial number. The second just asked for the model and serial number. Oddly enough my first unit was made in Mexico and had a regular date on the bottom. I was able to put in the month, day, and year in google to convert it to the 5 digit type code they said was on the unit. When I did my second I entered the date code in the serial number request and didn't pay attention till I submitted. I attempted to re enter with the info requested and ended up seeing 3 extinguishers in my claim. I called today to let them know so they could take the second entry out and they claimed all three were already shipped. I figured their system would catch the fact that the date code wasn't a valid serial number but I guess they aern't paying that much attention to it. Later I called to ask if it would have a return label and was told it should so I guess I will just use that to return one of the new ones. I am glad they are supplying a return label so I can send back the old and the mistaken one.

 

[Oldpath05]

I did not fill in the date code on any of the ones I returned because it said it was optional to fill it in.

No wonder I had trouble with that form, can't even get that right. Wonder if I need to do it over, haven't got a email response from Kidde extinguisher saying recieved your request exchange, or maybe something like congratulations your the 1000th customer exchange form filler outer and you have now just won a brand new tractor.