Jacuzzi bathtubs or showers

The reports, as CPSC published them

1. No one hurt

   Made Aug 27, 2013 · , sent to the company Sep 25, 2013 · , published by CPSC Oct 25, 2013

   The product, in the report: Jacuzzi Walk-in Tub Jacuzzi manufactures this model exclusively for First Street

   [REDACTED]

   August 15, 2013

   U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission 4330 East West Highway Bethesda, MD 20814

   Re: questionable safety of Jacuzzi walk-in-tub marketed by FirstStreet- electrocution hazard?

   I am writing to bring to your attention questions that have arisen concerning the safety of the Jacuzzi brand walk-in-tub that is being manufactured for and aggressively marketed by F irstStreet.

   It’s a lengthy saga that brings me to this point, but to recap quickly, my 80 year-old mother contracted, after a four-and-a-halfhigh pressure sales presentation in her home (complete with a slick, polished Power Point presentation), with Beldon Home Solutions to install a Jacuzzi brand walk-in tub within an existing barrier-free shower stall to replace a regular tub that had been installed some years earlier.

   Beldon botched the installation not once, but twice, leaving gaping holes underneath the unit that would have allowed water underneath. One Beldon employee even went so far, in an attempt to convince her that their installation was acceptable, to claim that you could “hit these units with a fire hose and they’d be fine”. The reality was quite the contrary.

   Our first inkling of a problem came from the installer’s admonition, after the first installation, to “not allow water to get on the front panel”. The front panel ofthe unit was a problem from day one; it never lay flat to the front, leaving a noticeable gap that would easily allow water inside the unit.

   We eventually came to find out that the unit should never have been recommended for my mother’s particular installation situation, but it was only after she had to pay to have it removed and we could see the inside of the unit (see attached photos) that the positioning of the electrical components and their susceptibility to water was made obvious.

   I have questions as to whether this unit is sufficiently safe and the electrical components are shielded from possible water exposure well enough to protect consumers. Jacuzzi claims that the unit cannot be used as a shower stall, although they include a hand-held shower head in the unit proper. They further caution not to allow water to get on the front panel. .. remember, this is a TUB. Even someone gripping the side with a wet hand could end up with water dripping down the front, into the panel. Someone with arthritic hands who can’t grasp the shower head well, could easily overshoot the tub and water could drip down the side. And this is a unit that is being heavily marketed for the elderly, including those with dementia and Alzheimer’s.

   I’ve included pictures of the unit. I believe the design ofthe front panel of this unit is such that it provides insufficient protection to prevent the electrical components from coming into contact with water in the course of normal use of this unit.

   Thanks for your attention to these concerns,

   [REDACTED]

   Model

   LW50

   Serial number

   BDFY8N

   Bought from

   Beldon Home Solutions, Texas

   Where

   Unspecified: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Age 80, Female

   The reporter’s relation to them

   My Parent

   As this report names them

   Brand Jacuzzi, made or sold by JACUZZI BRANDS CORP.

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Incident, No Injury

2. Hurt, care not known

   Made Jan 18, 2012 · , sent to the company Feb 15, 2012 · , published by CPSC Mar 1, 2012

   The product, in the report: Jacuzzi Bathtub - Jetted Whirlpool

   Subject: Jacuzzi bathtub

   I am writing this in regards to an incident that happened in our Jacuzzi bathtub. My 2 grandaughters, ages 6 & 7 were in the tub taking a bath and relaxing in the tub with the jets turned on. All of a sudden both girls started screaming to the top of there lungs. I was in the room next to the bathroom, and immediately ran to them. My oldest grandaughter couldn’t talk because she was scared terribly. I asked what was the matter, and she pointed to the pump inlet, which had sucked her leg against it. The girls were sitting facing each other when this happened. They had their legs between each others legs. The water level in the tub was just a little above the jets. Both girls have severe bruises on their legs and thighs. I am enclosing the pictures we took of the bruises. I know that the girl with the bruises on her left thigh was stuck on the inlet when I shut it off, but the other girl had bruises more between her legs, but both girls had marks that matched the inlet cover. This is the strangest thing that I have ever seen in my life. I cannot figure out exactly what transpired. We have had this tub for quite some time, but never had any problems other than a lot of black junk coming out of the jets after running cleaners through it. I can’t determine if somehow the pumps suction had increased or what. After you look at the pictures, you will see what I mean by serious bruising. The model # is H526000, name-Cetra wp/r, Mfg. # 0008-08, serial # T68737. Are there any recalls or anything else that addresses this issue? Any ideas or help determining what happened will be greatly appreciated. You can contact me at : [REDACTED]. Thank you.

   Model

   H526000 - Centra

   Serial number

   T68737

   Where

   United States: Unspecified

   Who was involved

   Age 6, Female

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Other Relative

   As this report names them

   Brand Jacuzzi, made or sold by JACUZZI BRANDS CORP.

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Injury, Level of care not known

CPSC’s disclaimer

Sources