Massive withdrawal of HydroTech hoses due to hundreds exploding, causing at least 29 injuries among victims
In a significant development, Winston Products has announced a recall of their HydroTech 5/8-inch Expandable Burst-Proof Hoses. The recall, coordinated with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), affects approximately 3.6 million units sold across the United States.
The sale period for these recalled hoses spans from January 2021 to April 2025. The hoses, primarily used for garden, lawn care, car washing, and other purposes, can pose potential impact and hearing hazards due to unexpected bursting.
The recall only covers hoses manufactured on or before August 31, 2024, and includes specific models in various lengths and colors:
- 25 feet (Blue)
- 50 feet (Green)
- 60 feet (as part of an "Auto Care" kit with tire glides, Gray)
- 75 feet (Orange)
- 100 feet (Yellow)
- 200 feet (Red)
The recall includes hoses with date codes ending in -211, -212, -213, -214, -221, -222, -223, -224, -231, -232, -233, -234, -241, -242, or -243, as well as hoses with no marking. Hoses with date codes -244, -251, -252, and -253, and HydroTech PRO SERIES 3/4" diameter hoses are not included in the recall.
The issue prompting the recall is the risk of these hoses bursting, which can occur if the interior, plastic strain relief "breaks or becomes fully unthreaded." This poses an impact hazard and can cause temporarily impaired hearing if the strain relief is unthreaded fully or breaks during use.
Consumers who own these hoses are urged to stop using them immediately and return them for a full refund at stores where they were purchased, such as Ace Hardware, Do It Best, Home Depot, or Walmart. Other consumers should contact Winston Products to initiate a claim online.
To date, Winston Products has received 222 bursting reports, resulting in 29 injuries, including temporary impairment of hearing. The recall notice provides instructions for returning the recalled hoses or initiating a claim online.
This recall serves as a reminder for consumers to check product recalls regularly and to follow safety guidelines when using household items. For more information, visit the CPSC's website or contact Winston Products directly.
In light of this hose recall, it's important to note that health-and-wellness safety is a critical concern, as the bursting of the recalled hoses can potentially lead to temporarily impaired hearing. Furthermore, science plays a pivotal role in identifying such issues, as the cause of the hose's bursting is attributed to a fault in the interior, plastic strain relief.
