Manchester Tank & Equipment Company Recalls Propane Cylinders Due to Fire Hazard

Agency Publication Date: April 9, 2013

Summary

Manchester Tank & Equipment Company is recalling about 7,500 of its gray 100-pound propane cylinders because fuel can leak from the connection between the cylinder and the valve. The affected units were manufactured between January and September 2012 and were sold nationwide at hardware stores and propane dealers for about $140 to $170. No injuries or incidents have been reported, but consumers should stop using these cylinders and contact the manufacturer for a free inspection and repair.

Risk

Fuel can leak from the thread connection between the cylinder and the valve. If this leaking gas is exposed to an ignition source, it poses a significant fire hazard.

What You Should Do

Locate the metal collar at the top of your gray 100-pound propane cylinder to check for the manufacturer name 'Manchester' and the water capacity 'WC238#'.
Check the manufacture date printed on the collar. Affected units are marked with months 1 through 9 and the year 12 (e.g., '6 * 12' for June 2012).
Look at the hand-wheel on the top of the cylinder; if there is a green dot on the hand-wheel, your cylinder is NOT included in this recall.
If your cylinder is affected, stop using it immediately and contact Manchester Tank & Equipment Company at 800-640-6327 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.
Visit www.mantank.com and look at the 'Distributors' page to find a qualified propane equipment dealer for a free inspection and necessary repairs.
For additional information, contact the CPSC Hotline at 800-638-2772 or visit www.cpsc.gov.

Your Remedy Options

Replace, Repair

Consumers should stop using the propane cylinders and call Manchester or go to the firm's website for instructions on having their gas cylinder inspected by a qualified propane equipment dealer and repaired if needed. A list of propane equipment distributors, RV distributors and retail distributors are listed on the firm's website at www.mantank.com on the "Distributors" page.

Contact: Manchester Tank and Equipment Co. at (800) 640-6327 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm's website at www.mantank.com and click on the "News" page for more information.

Affected Products

Product: Manchester 100-pound Propane Cylinders

Model:

WC238#

Date Ranges: January 2012 - March 2013

Product Images

Propane Cylinder

Propane Cylinder collar

Additional Information

Agency: Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

Recall ID: 13164

Status: Active

Manufacturer: Manchester Tank & Equipment Company, of Elkhart, Ind.

Sold By: Nationwide at propane dealers and distributors, hardware stores including Ace, True Value and Tractor Supply, welding equipment supply stores, farm and home stores, and equipment rental outlets from January 2012 through March 2013 for between $140 and $170.

Manufactured In: United States

Units Affected: About 7,500

Distributed To: Nationwide

Agency Last Updated: January 22, 2015

Were You Affected by This Recall?

If you or a family member were harmed by this recalled product, you may have legal rights. Consider consulting a consumer protection attorney to understand your options for compensation.

Find an Attorney

This is general information, not legal advice. Go Backs is not a law firm and does not provide legal services.

AI-Enhanced Content: The summary, action steps, and risk assessment on this page were generated by AI from official government recall data to improve readability. This is not legal or medical advice. Always refer to the official agency sources below for authoritative information.

Sources: CPSC Notice · Raw API Response

Summary

What You Should Do

Locate the metal collar at the top of your gray 100-pound propane cylinder to check for the manufacturer name 'Manchester' and the water capacity 'WC238#'.

Check the manufacture date printed on the collar. Affected units are marked with months 1 through 9 and the year 12 (e.g., '6 * 12' for June 2012).

Look at the hand-wheel on the top of the cylinder; if there is a green dot on the hand-wheel, your cylinder is NOT included in this recall.

If your cylinder is affected, stop using it immediately and contact Manchester Tank & Equipment Company at 800-640-6327 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

Visit www.mantank.com and look at the 'Distributors' page to find a qualified propane equipment dealer for a free inspection and necessary repairs.

For additional information, contact the CPSC Hotline at 800-638-2772 or visit www.cpsc.gov.