Exploding toilets spark recall of flushing system

WASHINGTON -- Watch out for exploding toilets.

Flushmate, the maker of a high-pressure flushing system sold at Home Depot and Lowe's, is expanding its recall of the parts because they can burst near a seam with force enough to shatter the toilet tank.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission says Thursday that the company is recalling 351,000 units in the U.S. and about 9,400 units in Canada of the Series 503 Flushmate 111 Pressure Assist flushing systems installed inside toilet tanks that were made from March 2008 through June 2009.

There were no reports of injuries, but Flushmate has received three reports of the units included in the recall bursting, resulting in property damage.

The move expands upon a June 2012 recall of the same systems made from October 1997 through February 2008. At that time, 2.3 million units in the U.S. and 9,400 in Canada were recalled.

The consumer agency says consumers should immediately stop using the recalled system, turn off the water supply to the unit, flush the toilet to release the internal pressure and contact the firm to request a free repair kit.

Flushmate of New Hudson, Mich., is a division of Sloan Valve Co.