The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has issued a critical safety warning regarding 114,000 circulating pumps used in heating systems across Irish households, including those connected to oil and gas boilers, due to a potential risk of electrocution, reports RTE.
The models affected are Tucson 5m, 6m, and 8m pumps, produced between 2017 and 2024.
A key fault allows the mains cable to be connected incorrectly, causing the live pin to link with the earth pin, which poses a serious electrocution hazard, reports RTE.
The CCPC has described this as one of the largest and most serious product safety notices it has ever issued.
Despite the danger, the CCPC says homeowners can continue to use their heating systems normally, but they must not physically interact with the affected pumps.
Under no circumstances should they attempt to disconnect, adjust, or carry out maintenance on the affected pumps, reports RTE.
This warning comes after an investigation by the CCPC, prompted by a referral from the Health and Safety Authority (HSA).
Following the probe, Tucson Pumps has launched a large-scale replacement scheme, offering a free pump replacement by an authorised and qualified Tucson service agent or technician.
Patrick Kenny of the CCPC urged anyone who’s had heating work done in the past eight years to verify their system, reports RTE.
“Check your heating system very carefully – do not touch the pump, just look for the Tucson brand, find the serial number and check it against the list on CCPC.ie,” he said.
“The affected pump can then be replaced for free by an approved Tucson technician or service agent,” he added, reports RTE.
The CCPC is especially targeting tradespeople with this alert, cautioning that with the colder months ahead, many heating systems are being serviced or upgraded, and interacting with the electrical connections of these pumps could be fatal.
“Anyone working on heating systems must be very aware of the serious risk presented by these pumps, and retailers must check their stock and stop sales of the affected units immediately,” the Commission said, reports RTE.
Anyone with a Tucson pump can find the serial number on the front and check it against the list at CCPC.ie, on the Tucson Pumps website, or by calling 01 842 6255.
Serial numbers that begin with the following must be replaced: S/N A, S/N B, S/N C, S/N D44 or earlier, S/N 2017, S/N 2018, S/N 2019, S/N 2020, reports RTE.
The Association of Electrical Contractors Ireland (AECI) has also sent an urgent alert to members in response to the recall.
The AECI stated that “this is a major safety hazard, particularly for tradespeople”.
It has advised members to follow CCPC guidance and check if any domestic heating system contains a pump included in the recall notice, reports RTE.
This involves confirming the brand is Tucson and verifying the serial number on the CCPC website.
If affected, contractors are told not to handle or remove the unit, and instead isolate the electrical circuit.
Homeowners have been told to get in touch with Instantor, Tucson’s representative in Ireland, if they discover a recalled pump in their home—it will be replaced free of charge, reports RTE.
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