DeVilbiss Air Power Company Portable Generator Alert

DeVilbiss Air Power Company Portable Generator Alert NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 30, 1999 Release # 00-047 DAPC Toll Free Line: (800) 888-2468 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: Ken Giles, (301) 504-7052 Safe Generator Use for Y2K: CPSC, DeVilbiss Air Power Company Alert Consumers About Gasoline Tanks on Certain Portable Generators WASHINGTON, D.C. - % joins DeVilbiss Air Power Company (DAPC) of Jackson , Tenn., in alerting consumers about gasoline tanks used on certain models of portable generators. About 295,000 of these generators were sold nationwide from February 1996 until June 1999. CPSC and DAPC are investigating whether the fuel tanks on the generators can crack where the tanks mount on the frame, posing a fire hazard. As a precaution until that evaluation is complete, consumers should not put more than three gallons of gasoline in the fuel tanks at any time. The only generators affected by this notice have the following brand names: DeVilbiss Air Power Company, EX-CELL, PowerBack, Companion Model 919-32721, and Craftsman Model No. 919-32651. The seven gallon tanks that are affected include only those tanks that bear dates prior to June 1, 1999. The date is on the serial barcode label found on one of the gasoline tank support rails and on the shipping carton label. Any consumer who has seen leakage from the tank should not use the generator and should contact DAPC at (800) 888-2468, ext. 21 or at www.devap.com to obtain a free warranty replacement tank. Consumers with questions can contact DAPC directly rather than contacting retailers. Consumers also can contact CPSC at (800) 638-2772. Many people have been buying generators as a precaution in case there are power outages because of Y2K. CPSC believes that Y2K will not result in major power outages. However, if you use a generator, you need to take precautions to pr