Millions of disposable fire extinguishers recalled

Kidde recalled about 4.6 million disposable fire extinguishers sold in the U.S. because a faulty valve causes them to fail to properly discharge.

The recall involves 31 models of disposable fire extinguishers according to a recall notice issued February 12, 2015 by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. They were sold at Home Depot, Menards, Walmart and other department, home and hardware stores nationwide and online for between $18 and $65.  One recalled model sold for about $200.

“Kidde has received 11 reports of the recalled fire extinguishers failing to discharge as expected,” the CPSC said.  “No injuries have been reported.”

The recalled fire extinguishers were manufactured between July 23, 2014 and October 15, 2014.  To check your fire extinguisher’s manufacture date, find the fifth through ninth digits of a ten-digit code stamped on the side of the cylinder.  Date codes for recalled units made in 2013 are XXXX20413X through XXXX36513X; date codes for recalled units made in 2014 are XXXX00114X through XXXX28814X.

The recalled fire extinguishers are red, white or silver in color and were made with Zytel black plastic valves.  The recalled fire extinguishers are ABC or BC rated, and the rating is on the right of the nameplate on the extinguishers.   (The 31 recalled model numbers are listed below.)

If you have a recalled Kidde fire extinguisher, you should contact the company for a replacement.  You can call them toll-free Monday through Friday betwen 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern time, or get more information from Kidde by clicking here.

These are the model numbers for the recalled Kidde disposable fire extinguishers: