Important Notices Regarding Products
Implementation of voluntary inspection and repair of heating units for water heater and heater
Rinnai Corporation and Gastar Co., Ltd. have found that some models of heating units for water heaters and heaters(*1) demonstrate the malfunction of circuit components on a printed circuit board, and may cause the excessive temperature increase of the bathwater. Rinnai decided to implement voluntary inspection and repair of the relevant products.
Rinnai takes this situation very seriously, and deeply apologizes to our customers for causing trouble. We will strive to prevent the reoccurrence of similar events in the future.
*1 Heating units for water heaters and heaters are the heating units used in a gas hot-water and heating system, which supplies hot water, heats up bathwater and functions as a floor heating system utilizing hot water.
We have found that the heating units for water heaters and heaters manufactured by Rinnai from March 2003 to October 2009 have a risk of the failure of the circuit component on a printed circuit board which controls a pump used to reheat bathwater. It will allow the pump to keep running. As a result, only when a floor heating system*2 is used and there is water in a bath tub, the bathwater may be heated up to around 55 to 60℃ by the hot water for floor heating. Depending on a setting of remote controller for a floor heating system, although it is rare, there are cases that the temperature may go up to 70℃.
Two cases of burns were reported. The medical condition of both persons did not require treatment at a medical institution.
People may get burnt when they take a bath without confirming a temperature of the bathwater. Therefore, Rinnai would like to conduct voluntary inspection and repair for the target products for free. This phenomenon does not cause defects such as excessively hot shower.
*2 It includes a panel heater in addition to floor heating system.
Until an inspection is executed, Rinnai asks the users who use floor heating with the target products to always check the water temperature before they take a bath.
When a user detects abnormal condition such as (1) The water temperature of a bath tub is excessively high, and (2) an error code, "252" or "032" is indicated on a remote controller, please do not use the bath, and contact Rinnai.
We would like to request retailers' corporation for listing up the users. After the middle of April, when replacement parts are prepared, we will start implementing inspection and repair.
Rinnai will post an announcement advertising on major morning newspapers dated February 4, prepare a toll-free number, and list the information on the website. Moreover, we will send a notice to a user by mail when we can identify the address that a product is installed.
Again, we apologize to our customers for causing trouble concerning the inspection and repair. Rinnai solicits your kind understanding and cooperation on this matter.
1. Models of products subject to inspection
Following models that were manufactured by Rinnai are the subject.
- Manufacturing period From March 2003 to October 2009
- The number of units (before correction) 222,345 units → 222,376 units (after correction)
(Added on February 28) Since there was an error in the number of units announced, we corrected the figure.
* As for heating units for water heaters and heaters of the same Series without floor heating system and heating units for Eco-Jozu type water heaters and heaters, even when a printed circuit board fails and a bath pump keeps running, the water temperature in a bath tub does not excessively increase. Therefore, there is no safety issue.
The models that were sold by Rinnai Corporation (Manufactured by Rinnai Corporation) * RUFH-VS2400 Series was produced by Gastar Co., Ltd.
| Model name | Manufacturing period | The number of units | Last characters of model name |
|---|---|---|---|
| RUFH-V1613 Series | From January 2004 to June 2007 | 226 | 2-1, 2-3, 2-6 |
| RUFH-V1613(A) Series | From April 2006 to June 2007 | 428 | 2-1(A), 2-3(A), 2-6(A) |
| RUFH-V1613FF Series | From February 2004 to July 2007 | 79 | 2-1, 2-3, 2-6 |
| RUFH-V1613FF（A） Series | From April 2006 to November 2007 | 32 | 2-1(A), 2-3(A), 2-6(A) |
| RUFH-V2403 Series | From October 2003 to June 2007 | 12,855 | 2-1, 2-3, 2-6 |
| RUFH-V2403（A） Series | From March 2006 to June 2007 | 3,753 | 2-1(A), 2-3(A), 2-6(A) |
| RUFH-V2403FF Series | From January 2004 to August 2007 | 314 | 2-1, 2-3, 2-6 |
| RUFH-V2403FF（A） Series | From May 2006 to August 2007 | 86 | 2-1(A), 2-3(A), 2-6(A) |
| RUFH-VD1611 Series | From July 2003 to August 2007 | 520 | 2-1, 2-3 |
| RUFH-VD1611FF Series | From January 2004 to December 2007 | 43 | 2-1, 2-3 |
| RUFH-VD2001 Series | From August 2003 to August 2007 | 6,748 | 2-1, 2-3 |
| RUFH-VD2001FF Series | From December 2003 to December 2007 | 233 | 2-1, 2-3 |
| RUFH-VD2401 Series | From August 2003 to August 2007 | 26,060 | 2-1, 2-3 |
| RUFH-VD2401FF Series | From December 2003 to September 2007 | 588 | 2-1, 2-3 |
| RUFH-VS2400 Series (*) (※) | From March 2003 to March 2009 | 2,937 | 末2-3, 2-6 |
| RUFH-W2403 Series | From May 2005 to November 2007 | 327 | 2-1, 2-3, 2-6 |
| RUFH-W2403FF Series | From October 2005 to January 2008 | 22 | 2-1, 2-3, 2-6 |
| RUFH-W2003 Series | From March 2005 to December 2007 | 529 | 2-1, 2-3, 2-6 |
| RUFH-W2003FF Series | From April 2006 to January 2008 | 4 | 2-1, 2-3, 2-6 |
| 計 | 55,784 | ||
The models that were sold by Toho Gas Co., Ltd. (Manufactured by Rinnai Corporation)
| Model name | Manufacturing period | The number of units | Last characters of model name | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HT-2803 | ARS Series | From December 2005 to June 2007 | 15 | Excluding AQ type |
| BRS Series | From September 2006 to June 2007 | 12 | Excluding AQ/SQ type | |
| KRS Series | From October 2003 to October 2006 | 225 | Excluding AQ/SQ type | |
| HT-3503 | KRS Series | From October 2003 to December 2006 | 5,477 | Excluding AQ/SQ type |
| HT-4203 | ARS Series | From October 2003 to June 2007 | 9,884 | Excluding AQ/SQ/C type |
| BRS Series | From April 2006 to June 2007 | 1,867 | Excluding AQ/SQ type | |
| KRS Series | From October 2003 to November 2006 | 14,400 | Excluding AQ/SQ type | |
| Total | 31,880 | |||
The models that were sold by Hokkaido Gas Co., Ltd.(Manufactured by Rinnai Corporation)
| Model name | Manufacturing period | The number of units |
|---|---|---|
| HT-4205KFS-AW3Q HT-4205KFS-SW3Q |
From May 2005 to October 2009 | 301 |
The models that were sold by INAX Corporation (Current LIXIL Corporation) (Manufactured by Gastar Co., Ltd.)
| Model name | Manufacturing period | The number of units |
|---|---|---|
| YRUFH-V2403AW2-3 | From September 2003 to March 2004 | 94 |
| YRUFH-VD2001SA Series | From March 2004 to March 2007 | 52 |
| YRUFH-VD2401(S)A Series | From March 2004 to February 2007 | 304 |
| Total | 450 | |
Contact
Please contact the following toll-free number concerning products sold by Rinnai Corporation, Toho Gas Co., Ltd., Hokkaido Gas Co., Ltd and INAX Corporation (Current LIXIL Corporation)
- (1) Toll-free number: 0120-005-020
- (2) Service start day: February 3, 2011 (Thursday)
- (3) Opening hours: By February 13, 2011 (Sunday): 9:00 to 19:00 (Including Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays)
After February 14, 2011 (Monday): 9:00 to 17:00 (Excluding Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays)）
The models that were sold by Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. (Manufactured by Rinnai Corporation)
| Model name | Manufacturing period | The number of units | Last characters of model name |
|---|---|---|---|
| 135-R110,R120,R130,R140 Series | From March 2004 to June 2007 | 2,277 | 0, 2, 4, 5, 6 |
| 135-R118,R128,R138,R148 | From March 2004 to July 2007 | 1,062 (before correction) ↓ 1,076 (after correction) |
2, 4, 5, 6, 8 (before correction) ↓ 8 (after correction) |
| 135-R050,R060,R070,R080 Series | From March 2004 to June 2007 | 47,350 | 0, 2, 4, 5, 6 |
| 135-R058,R068,R078,R088 | From May 2004 to July 2007 (before correction) ↓ From March 2004 to July 2007 (after correction) |
564 (before correction) ↓ 581 (after correction) |
2, 4, 5, 6, 8 (before correction) ↓ 8 (after correction) |
| 135-R710,R720,R730,R740 | From August 2003 to September 2006 | 14,697 | only 0 |
| 135-R310,R320,R330,R340 | From August 2003 to November 2006 | 13,882 | only 0 |
| 計 | 79,832 (before correction) ↓ 79,863 (after correction) |
||
※* The correction for the models sold by Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.
Since there were errors in manufacturing period which is the subject of inspection, the number of units and model names announced, we corrected the information.
Contact
Please contact the following toll-free number for the models sold by Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.
- (1) Toll-free number: ：0120-013-018
- (2) Service start day: February 3, 2011 (Thursday)
- (3) Opening hours: By February 13, 2011 (Sunday): 9:00 to 19:00 (Including Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays)
After February 14, 2011 (Monday): 9:00 to 19:00 (From Monday to Saturday)
9:00 to 19:00 (Sundays and national holidays)
The models that were sold by Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd. (Manufactured by Gastar Co., Ltd.)
| Model name | Manufacturing period | The number of units | Last characters of model name | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IT2803 | ARS Series | From September 2003 to March 2007 | 3,261 | Excluding AQ type |
| BRS Series | From September 2005 to June 2007 | 1,608 | Excluding AQ/SQ type | |
| KRS Series | From September 2003 to September 2006 | 528 | ||
| AFS Series | From November 2003 to September 2007 | 452 | Excluding AQ type | |
| IT3503 | KRS Series | From September 2003 to September 2006 | 1,552 | |
| IT4203 | ARS Series | From September 2003 to June 2007 | 27,297 | Excluding AQ/CU type |
| BRS Series | From September 2005 to June 2007 | 7,469 | Excluding AQ/CU type | |
| KRS Series | From September 2003 to October 2006 | 587 | ||
| LRS Series | From March 2003 to March 2009 | 10,391 | Excluding CU type | |
| AFS Series | From November 2003 to September 2007 | 634 | Excluding AQ type | |
| IT4205 | ARS Series | From March 2005 to April 2007 | 70 | Excluding CU type |
| BRS Series | From October 2005 to June 2007 | 72 | ||
| Total | 53,921 | |||
The models that were sold by Tokyo Gas Energy Co., Ltd.(Manufactured by Gastar Co., Ltd.)
| Model name | Manufacturing period | The number of units | Last characters of model name | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IT4203 | ARS Series | From June 2005 to June 2007 | 101 | Excluding C type |
| LRS Series | From July 2005 to January 2009 | 76 | ||
| Toal | 177 | |||
Contact
Please contact the following toll-free number concerning products sold by Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd and Tokyo Gas Energy Co., Ltd.
- (1) Toll-free number: 0120-383-575
- (2) Service start day: February 3, 2011 (Thursday)
- (3) Opening hours: By February 13, 2011 (Sunday): 9:00 to 19:00 (Including Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays)
After February 14, 2011 (Monday): 9:00 to 17:00 (Excluding Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays)
2. How to identify if a product requires inspection or not
There is a name plate, which lists model name and manufacturing number in the front of product body. Please check the model name and manufacturing number.
3. Inspection items
After the middle of April 2011, when replacement parts are prepared, we will start contacting the users of concerned products. Then, a repair staff of Rinnai or a partner company commissioned by Rinnai shall visit a user to inspect and repair a product for free.
- (1) Process items: A repair staff will check a printed circuit board. When the parts with the risk are used, the product is fixed.
- (2) Process time: About 40 to 60 minutes/unit
* The relationship between Rinnai Corporation and Gastar Co., Ltd.
Rinnai and Gastar form a business partnership in the area of development, production and sales in the area of hot water supply business. Rinnai Corporation owns 11.1% of shares of Gastar Co., Ltd..
Website of Gastar Co., Ltd. http://www.gastar.co.jp/ http://www.gastar.co.jp/