Toilet System Flushed By Consumer Commission

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The government is recalling millions of flushing systems for reportedly causing toilets to build pressure in the tank and explode.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is dethroning the Flushmate III Pressure Assist flushing systems manufactured from October 1997 to February 2008. The company has sold 2.3 million units in the United States and 9,400 in Canada.

Flushmate has received 304 reports of the product bursting and causing property damage, and 14 cases of the explosion causing injuries – including lacerations – to users.

The device sold for $108 at The Home Depot and Lowe's, among other distributors.

The CPSC warns users with this faulty flushing system to immediately turn off the water supply to the unit and stop using the system. They advise consumers to contact Flushmate to see if their unit's serial number is part of the recall and to ask for a free repair kit.

A Las Vegas resident said she did just that -- to no avail. Maralee Pelka filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles earlier this month against Flushmate and its parent, Sloan Valve Company. Pelka's suit claims the repair kit didn't fix the problem and she had to call a plumber to replace the entire flushing system.

For more information, visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission.