Pumponator pumps

2 reports to CPSC, the latest made Nov 25, 2011. A report isn’t a recall.

Watch it to hear when CPSC publishes new reports about it. CPSC’s own search

Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. CPSC’s own search is on saferproducts.gov.

At a glance

From SaferProducts.gov, released Oct 25, 2026.

2reports to CPSC
Nov 25, 2011the latest report was made
Aug 2, 2011the earliest
2with the company’s comments

Brand: Pumponator
Maker: Pumponator, Inc.Makers, importers or sellers, as the reports name them
Product: PumpsCPSC’s product type: Pumps, Not Elsewhere Classified (code 1462), in Yard & Garden: Other

Other ways the reports write the brand (1)

“Pumponator (www.pumponator.com)”

By month

2 reports from December 2010 to November 2011; the most in November 2011, 1.

The numbers, as a table

Reports to CPSC by the month each was made, newest first
Month	Reports
November 2011	1
August 2011	1

How badly anyone was hurt

Seen by a doctor or nurse 1 CPSC: Injury, Seen by Medical Professional
Hurt, no treatment 1 CPSC: Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received

As each report says it, in short words; CPSC’s own words are under each.

The reports, as CPSC published them

Reports people made to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. CPSC publishes each one after sending it to the company named, and doesn’t guarantee they’re accurate. A report isn’t a recall.

Each report is the words of the person who made it, as CPSC published them. The company’s comments, where CPSC published any, are set apart as the company’s own.

CPSC, SaferProducts.gov public database export. Released Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily.

Seen by a doctor or nurse
Made Nov 25, 2011, sent to the company Dec 5, 2011, published by CPSC Dec 27, 2011

The product, in the report: Pumponator Baloon Pumping Station: clear blue plastic bottle, about 9 inches tall and 6 inches wide, with pumping mechanism and valve attached to top. Product came with balloons and strings, which were taken out of the bottle before using the bottle to pump up the balloons. Label states patent pending 61249335.

Yesterday my 10-year son was blowing up balloons in the house with the Pumponator. He was sitting down, holding the base of the Pumponator against his thigh as he pumped it up. It exploded suddenly, with an incredibly loud bang (I thought a cabinet or bookshelf had somehow been knocked over.) It sent shards of plastic through the room. One shard hit his thigh and cut his skin through his fleece pants, and the force of the explosion left a huge bruise on his thigh.
The label on the product said it was not for use by kids under 8 (my son is 10). It does not say anything on the label about over-pressurization and the possibility of the plastic bottle exploding suddenly. It does not say how many times the pump should be depressed, or give any warnings about too much pressure. The toy is not that old (about 15 months old), and was not left outside or in the sun (which could have caused the plastic to degrade and weaken.)

Bought from
Learning Express, Massachusetts
Bought
Jul 1, 2010, about then
Where
Wayland, Massachusetts: Home/Apartment/Condominium
Who was involved
Age 10, Male
The reporter’s relation to them
My Child
As this report names them
Brand Pumponator (www.pumponator.com), made or sold by Pumponator, Inc.
How badly, in CPSC’s words
Injury, Seen by Medical Professional

The company’s comments, in its own words

(12/16/2011) Pumponator, Inc.: The safety and well-being of consumers and children when playing with Pumponator toys is our top priority at Pumponator, Inc. The hangtag card attached to the Pumponator contains directions and usage instructions, and clearly states how many times to pump the Pumponator (8-10 times) before releasing pressure. Our labels state “do not over pump”. We encourage the safe and proper use of Pumponator products. When used correctly according to directions the Pumponator is a fun and safe toy.

CPSC report 20111125-A0BD2-2147473015. Submitter: Consumer Search for it on SaferProducts.gov
Hurt, no treatment
Made Aug 2, 2011, published by CPSC Aug 24, 2011

The product, in the report: It was a medium-sized, green plastic plastic canister with a top pump, button, and nozzle. Most of the canister was filled with balloons. Here is the ad description from the PUMPONATOR web site: Pumponator® Balloon Pumping Station is designed to make filling balloons with water as well as air so easy. Whether you are competing or just having fun in the backyard, you will love the Pumponator®. It is simple, easy to use and portable. You can take it with you camping, football games, parties or anywhere you want to have water balloon fun. Just fill the container with water and go! No more frustration with the runaway water hose or blowing up balloons until you are out of breath. Enjoy some YouTube video of the Pumponator In Action.

Two nights ago, (July 30, 2011) I was at a party trying to blow up balloons. My hosts had a balloon-blowing device called a Pumponator http://www.pumponator.com/ that was supposed to blow up both air and water balloons. It wasn’t pumping air into the balloon very well and after much frustration with pumping and pushing the button, I removed the balloon from the nozzle within 10 seconds the entire canister literally exploded with a tremendously loud bang!
Sharp green plastic shards, like shrapnel, flew everywhere, hitting one of the guests and miraculously missing the others. The balloons were strewn all over the room. Fortunately, I had walked over to one of the children at the other end of the room, or I (and whomever would have been in that immediate area, would have been seriously injured.
At first we were stunned and frightened, but became angry after realizing that it was the Pumponator’s plastic canister which caused the explosion.
THIS PRODUCT IS DANGEROUS! IT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND BANNED FROM SALE!

Bought from
Gift
Bought
Jul 18, 2011, about then
Where
Alexandria, Virginia: Home/Apartment/Condominium
Who was involved
Age 55, Female
The reporter’s relation to them
Unspecified
As this report names them
Brand Pumponator, made or sold by Pumponator, Inc.
How badly, in CPSC’s words
Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received

The company’s comments, in its own words

(8/22/2011) Pumponator, Inc.: Report claims product was not pumping air “very well” and user complains of frustration with “pumping and pressing button1”, probable cause to believe user repeatedly pumped beyond recommended number of times, over-pressurizing the bottle. Permanent label on product states to pump 8-10 times maximum before releasing pressure. Label also states to release pressure when not in use. User failed to follow both of these instructions; first by repeatedly pumping bottle, and then by not releasing pressure before putting product down and/or walking away. Report claims bottle “exploded” “within 10 seconds”, but user states she was on the other side of the room when this occurred. This statement implies the actual sequence of events was: a) repeated pumping of the bottle, to the point of frustration, b) the time to remove balloon, put down the product, and c) walk to the other end of the room. So it is reasonable to believe that longer than 10 seconds expired, and since the user was no longer using or observing the product, it is possible that something else may have happened, including the product falling on the floor. Report claims that “balloons were strewn all over the room”. This is certainly not hazardous however it does indicate that user may not have emptied balloons out of the bottle before use. Balloons left inside the bottle when in use could block the pump valve or outtake tube causing the product to not function properly. Instructional hangtag shows bottle empty and balloons out and secondary instructions to fill balloons with air for bottle to have no water in it. Primary instructions state to fill bottle with water. To do that you must take the balloons out (since you will be filling them). In conclusion, The Pumponator is a safe product that works well when the user follows the included directions. We are very sorry for any inconvenience or stress this incident caused the user, but cannot claim any responsibility for it.
Notes: 1 Product has a thumb lever, not a button.

CPSC report 20110802-F50CC-2147476638. Submitter: Consumer Search for it on SaferProducts.gov

CPSC’s disclaimer

Disclaimer: CPSC does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of the Publicly Available Consumer Product Safety Information Database on SaferProducts.gov, particularly with respect to information submitted by people outside of CPSC.

Word for word, from the disclaimer in CPSC’s export.

Sources

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, SaferProducts.gov public database export.

Released Oct 25, 2026 and checked Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work). CPSC asks to be credited, and that no endorsement be implied.

Reports of harm are from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), on SaferProducts.gov. CPSC does not endorse Hearth Record.

Pumponator pumps

At a glance

By month

How badly anyone was hurt

The reports, as CPSC published them

CPSC’s disclaimer

Sources

How to read a record

Every fact names its source.

A number never stands alone.

What needs attention is marked.

The public record comes first.