Swimming Pools and Pool Safety

Neptune Benson of Warwick, R.I., is recalling about 4,650 Delta UV EA-4H-10 ultra-violet generators installed in swimming pools and swim spas.

Water can leak within the generator, causing excessive heat build-up in the area where the power cord connects to the body of the generator unit, which can pose a fire hazard.

The firm has received 92 reports of incidents involving overheating, melting or burning of the generators and the area around the generators. No injuries have been reported.

This recall involves Delta UV EA-4H-10 ultra-violet generators installed in swimming pools and swim spas to sanitize the water. The majority were installed in Endless Pools.

The brand and model number can be identified from the manufacturing plate located on one end of the generator’s steel tube.

They are silver and black in color and are 4 inches in diameter and 25 inches long.

The generators, manufactured in the U.S., were sold by Neptune Benson to pool and spa commercial customers from August 2016, through February 2020, for about $320.

Prior to August 2016, the generators were manufactured and sold by Delta UV Corporation to pool and spa commercial customers.

What to do

Consumers should immediately unplug and discontinue use of the generator and contact Neptune Benson for a free inspection and repair or replacement.

Consumers may contact Neptune Benson toll-free at (888) 847-8710 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday, or online at https://www.evoqua.com/en/brands/Neptune-Benson and click on “Register your recall” in the middle of the page for more information.

Arena North America of Portland, Ore., is recalling about 10,000 Arena Swim Snorkels Pro II and Swim Snorkels II sold in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

The snorkels can release excess material from inside the tube or mouthpiece, posing a choking hazard.

The firm has received one report of a small piece of the swim snorkel being inhaled.

This recall involves the Arena Swim Snorkel Pro II (style 001969) sold in black, acid lime and pink and Swim Snorkel II (style 001970) sold in black and acid lime.

Both styles have the “Arena” logo printed on the top of the tube. The style code and production date are printed on the tube above the mouthpiece along with EN 1972 Class A and Made in China.

A list of the recalled styles may be found here.

The snorkels, manufactured in China, were sold at Xtreme swim stores, Metro swim shops, Swim Suit West stores nationwide and online from arenasport.com and amazon.com from February 2018, through May 2020, for between $35 and $45.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled snorkels and contact the firm for a free replacement tube or mouthpiece.

Consumers may contact Arena North America toll-free at (888) 902-7362 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (PT) Monday through Friday, by email at customerserviceUSA@arenawaterinstinct.com, or online at https://www.arenasport.com/en_us/ and click on “Snorkel recall campaign” at the bottom of the page for more information.

CMP Group of Canada is recalling about 750 Standoff and Wide dock ladders.

The edges on the side of the steps are sharp, posing a laceration hazard.

One incident is reported, including a laceration injury.

This recall involves aluminum standoff and wide step dock ladders, and silver in color, sold in three sizes; three steps, four steps and five steps with the following models and UPC numbers:

• Model DE2053F 3 and UPC 776113205303
• Model DE2054F 4 and UPC 776113205402
• Model DE2055F 5 and UPC 77611320550
• Model DE2043F 3 and UPC 776113204306
• Model DE2044F 4 and UPC 776113204405
• Model DE2045F 5 and UPC 776113204504.

The standoff ladders were sold online at Amazon.com and at Boat Hoist, CWR Electronics, and Global Industrial Distribution from September 2017, through July 2020.

The wide step ladders were sold online at Amazon.com and at CWR Electronics and Global Industrial Distribution from June 2019, through July 2020.

All ladders sold for between $150 and $250.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled dock ladders and contact CMP Group to return them for a full refund or a free replacement ladder.

Consumers may contact CMP Group at (800) 295-3625 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday, by email at vaughanwarranty@cmpgroup.net, or online at www.cmpgroup.net and click on “product notice” at the bottom of the page for more information.

Custom Molded Products of Newnan, Ga., is recalling about 16,000 diverter valve caps sold with Master Spas (an Authorized Partner) hot tubs and swim spas.

The valve cap can become loose, pop off and strike a bystander, posing an impact hazard.

The firm has received 112 reports of the valve caps popping off including four reports of consumers being struck by the cap. No injuries have been reported.

This recall involves 2-inch diverter valve caps sold with certain Master Spas (an Authorized Partner) “Twilight Series,” “H2X Swim Spa,” and “MP Signature Deep Swim Spa” hot tubs/swim spas.

The model names are printed on the control panel covers.

The clear valve caps are included as a component part and are located under the diverter handle on the upper deck of the hot tub/spa above the water line.

The valve caps, manufactured in China, were sold at Master Spas (an Authorized Partner) hot tub/spa distributors from December 2017, through May 2019, for between about $5000 and $45,000 and about $2 for the valve caps.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using the hot tubs and swim spas with the recalled valve cap and contact Custom Molded Products to arrange for a free replacement cap from their hot tub/swim spa manufacturer.

Consumers may contact Custom Molded Products at (800) 733-9060 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (ET) daily or online at www.c-m-p.com and click on “Valve Cap Recall” at the bottom of the page for more information.

Master Spas (an Authorized Partner) customers may enter their spa serial number on the Master Spas (an Authorized Partner) website at http://wsr.masterspasportal.com/divreplacement.asp to determine if their spa is covered by the recall and order replacement parts.

Hayward Industries of Nashville, Tenn., is recalling about 300 Hayward Vent Kits sold in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

The recalled vent kits installed on gas pool heaters are not the proper size and can allow carbon monoxide to leak, posing a CO poisoning hazard.

No incidents or injuries have been reported.

This recall involves the Hayward UHXNEGVT15001 Negative Pressure 6-inch Vent Kit for pool heaters.

The vent kit is used exclusively on the Hayward H500FD Gas Heaters and includes one vent pipe adapter for negative pressure galvanized vent pipe, one flue cover plate with hole for vent, #10 sheet metal screws, vent pressure switches, vent pressure switch tubing and vent pressure switch jumper wire.

Only Hayward H500FD Gas Heaters that are installed indoors and use 6-inch negative pressure galvanized vent piping are affected by this recall.

The name Hayward is stamped into the furnace housing above the water pipes. The model and serial number H500FD is located to the left of the water pipes.

The vent kits, manufactured in the U.S., were sold at pool equipment distributors nationwide and online at poolsupply4less.com and tcpoolequipment.com from March 2015, through April 2019, for about $265.

What to do

Consumers should immediately turn off the pool heater and contact Hayward for free replacement and installation of a new vent kit and not use the pool heater until a new vent kit is installed.

Consumers may contact Hayward Industries toll-free at (888) 847-8717 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or online at http://www.recallrtr.com/haywardventkit for more information.

Confer Plastics of North Tonawanda, N.Y., is recalling about 102,100 curve in-pool step systems sold in the U.S. and Canada.

Children’s limbs can become entrapped in the side openings of the step systems, posing a drowning hazard.

The firm has received two reports of children’s arms becoming entrapped in the side panel openings of the step systems, including reports of minor abrasions. No drownings have been reported.

This recall involves three models of in-pool step systems with curved steps for in-ground and above-ground pools. The steps and handrails are made of gray and beige plastic.

The manufacturing/date code is located on the side walls of each step.

The pool step systems, manufactured in the U.S., were sold at Champion Pool Distributors, Cinderella, EMSCO Distributors, Leisure Living, Leslie's, Superior Pool Products, Water Warehouse stores and other stores nationwide and online at www.conferplastics.com from January 2013, through July 2018, for between $200 and $400.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled pool step systems and contact Confer Plastics for a free repair kit. The repair kit will include additional panels to prevent entrapment and installation instructions.

Consumers may contact Confer Plastics at (800) 635-3213 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday or online at www.conferplastics.com and click on “Curve Recall” at the top of the page for more information.

Nidec Motor Corp., of St. Louis, Mo., is recalling about 16,000 swimming pool motors sold in the U.S. and Canada.

The pump control cover can be improperly grounded, posing an electrical shock hazard.

No incidents or injuries have been reported.

This recall involves variable speed swimming pool motors with a programmable user interface on the top.

“Emerson” or “EcoTech EZ” is printed on top of the control box and the model number is printed on the rating plate located on the side of the pump.

The following model numbers are included in this recall:

The motors, manufactured in Mexico, were sold at Leslie’s Pool Supply and other retail stores, wholesale pool suppliers including Pool Builders Supply, Pool Corp., Pool & Electrical Products, and United Aqua Group from September 2010, through October 2016, for between $400 and $500.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled swimming pool motors and contact Nidec Motor Corp. (NMC) to schedule a free repair by a qualified technician to install an external ground lead.

Consumers may contact NMC toll-free at 877-282-0223 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (EST) Monday through Friday or online at www.nidec-motor.com and click on “RECALL” for more information.

Summertime is fast approaching, and for many consumers that means plenty of quality family time at the pool. But are your pool toys and swimming aids safe for you and your loved ones?

A new study finds that many inflatable toys and swimming aids, like bathing rings and arm bands, may be treated with a range of chemicals that can be hazardous to your health. Researchers say that chemical compounds such as cyclohexanone, phenol, and isophorone may be present in especially high concentrations on children’s toys.

"Modern products such as toys and children's products are sourced from a wide variety of chemical and physical manufacturing processes, and this complexity often makes it difficult for us to identify those containing contaminants and unwanted substances, and to determine their causes," said researcher Christoph Wiedmer.

Follow your nose

Wiedmer explains that many of the chemical substances are dangerous because they have unstable structures. This can result in a host of problems, “such as irriation, smell nuisance, or other physiological and psychosomatic effects,” he said. Cyclohexanone and phenol are known to be harmful when inhaled, and isophorone has been classified as a category 2 carcinogen.

However, the researchers point out that there is a way for consumers to detect these chemicals. All you have to do, they say, is follow your nose. “We found that in a number of cases our noses can guide us to ‘sniff out’ problematic products,” said Wiedmer.

So, which smells should tip you off? Wiedmer and fellow researcher Andrea Buettner tested the molecular make-up of the “distinctive smells” that came from various pool toys and found that between 32 and 46 odors were detected from each sample, with 13 being described as "intense." A panel of volunteers set to smelling each product to see what each product odor reminded them of.

Participants reported that three of the products reminded them of almonds, plastic, and rubber, while a fourth product reminded them of glue or nail polish. Consumers that experience these or other suspicious odors would be wise to research their products to make sure they are safe to use.

The team's full study has been published in Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry.