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Show THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Page 4 Volume II, Issue XVII 1 September 2000 Consumers Advised to Check Water Heaters MANUFACTURER By Shanna Francis Ogden Valley News Staff Faulty tires aren’t the only item being recalled, you’d better check to see if you own a defective dip tube! That’s right, a dip tube, a small plastic tube that brings the cold water into the bottom of your water heaters. Dip tubes are designed to prevent incoming cold water from mixing with existing hot water. Defective dip tubes manufactured by the Perfection Corporation were placed in water heaters manufactured by several companies. If you purchased a water heater before September 8, 1999, and the water heater was manufactured between August 1993 and October 1996, there’s a good chance that you may own a water heater with the defective part. It is critical to replace the defective dip tube to prevent costly damage to your household plumbing and fixtures. The defective dip tubes may break off within the water heater or slowly disintegrate and release small white, non-toxic, plastic particles into the plumbing. A good place to look for the particles is in your faucet screens or aerators. A class action suit has succeeded in helping consumers who own water heaters with the defective dip tube to be compensated for damages, and/or to have the faulty dip tubes replaced before evasive damage occurs. All persons throughout the United States who have owned or currently own a water heater manufactured by Rheem Manufacturing Company, A.O. Smith Corporation, Bradford White Corporation, American Water Heater Company, Lochinvar Company, or State Industries, Inc. manufactured between the above stated dates may be affected. The following tank manufactures with accompanying serial number ranges may be covered by the suit settlement. Subject water heaters may be candidates for replacement of the Perfection Dip Tubes and/or for compensation for damages to property: MANUFACTURER SERIAL NUMBER American: 9332 to 9712 Water heaters manufactured by American Water Heater Company and purchased at Lowes do not contain Perfection Dip Tubes and are not covered by the settlement. Water heaters manufactured by American Water Heater Company and sold by Home Depot under the brand name, “MOR-FLO,” also do not contain Perfection Dip Tubes and are not covered by the Settlement. A.O. Smith: H93 to C97 Bradford White: KH to KM 801-745-4000 2555 WOLF CREEK DRIVE EDEN, UTAH STORE HOURS: MON. - SAT. 7 AM - 10 PM SUNDAY 7 AM - 9 PM Farr Ice Cream 5-qt bucket $3.99 with coupon Limit 1 per coupon Expires 9/15/00 2.00 coupon value 18-pack Roger’s Eggs $.89 with coupon Limit 2 per coupon Expires 9/15/00 SERIAL NUMBER LA to LM MA to MM NA to NM and OA, PA, or PB Lochinvar: KH to KM LA to LM MA to MM NA to NM and OA, PA or PB Rheem: 0893 to 0397 0599A to 0599F State Industries: For State Model numbers beginning with PRX75, PRX-100, PRV-75 and PRV-100, and Reliance Model Numbers beginning with 5-75 or 5-100, the eligible serial number ranges are as follows: G93 to M93 A94 to M94 A95 to M95 A96 to M96 A97 to F97 All State and Reliance brand water heaters with serial numbers beginning B95, C95, D95, and E95 are also eligible to receive benefits under the Settlement. All Sears Kenmore products, any water heaters with the words “Turbo,” “Sta-Kleen,” or “Self Cleaning,” water heaters with cold water inlets on the side of the water heater, and water heaters with model numbers with the letter “Z” or letters “NC” at or near the end of the model number are EXCLUDED from the Settlement and do not contain Perfection Dip Tubes. After inspection of your water heater’s make and serial number, you find that it has a faulty dip tube, you may seek the following benefits as outlined: Benefits for repair and replacement will be in the form of (1) a certificate for a dip tube replacement or (2) repair of property damage. Consumers may seek repair and replacement benefits by submitting a completed and signed, in timely manner, a Proof of Claim form. Upon submission of a timely and valid Proof of Claim requesting the replacement of the faulty dip tube, a certificate for a dip tube replacement will be issued to the consumer. Certificates for dip tube replacements must be redeemed within six months of the receipt of the certificate. The names of authorized service personnel who will be available to provide the service will be provided with the certificate. If the consumer is experiencing property damage resulting from a faulty dip tube, the consumer is entitled to repair of property damage caused by, or related to the subject dip tube. If a consumer is suffering from clogged plumbing lines and fixtures and is experiencing loss of hot water pressure or a decrease in hot water volume caused by a subject dip tube, the consumer is also entitled to have their plumbing lines flushed and plumbing fixtures cleaned, until such problem is remedied. After the submission of the Proof of Claim, the consumer will be provided the identities of approved plumbers who will provide repair benefits. In addition to the Proof Documentation, return of the subject dip tube or parts and pieces of it, if available, are to be returned to the approved plumber. To receive repair and replacement benefits, the Proof of Claim must be postmarked on or before December 31, 2000. To obtain a formal copy of the legal notice, and/or Proof of Claim Form: Write: DIP TUBE LITIGATION CLAIMS ADMINISTRATOR PO BOX 9338 GARDEN CITY NY 11530-9338 Call: Visit: 1-800-329-0561 www.diptubesettlement.com 1.12 coupon value Fresh Picked Willard Peaches Early or Lemon Elberta Half bushels or more Best Price Around Realtor/Appraiser |