SaferProducts incident

Failure type

Fire / ignition

Incident narrative

SaferProducts.gov consumer incident report 20251227-C379D-2147325173. Severity: Incident, No Injury. Product: Rheem XG40T06EN38U0 (Its a gas water heater from Rheem. Its model number is XG40T06EN38U0. I got it from Home Depot, and its gray, with a very complicated tube structure. Its designed with a lifespan of 9+ years. However, two years in, it has already failed, and is unable to be fixed. After hours of research, I found out that a leak at the bottom means that the machine is permanently broken). Incident: On December 24, 2025, the Rheem gas water heater (Model: XG40T06EN38U0) in my home suffered a catastrophic failure. It began leaking water severely from its base. Shortly after the leak started, the unit completely shut down: the blue power indicator light extinguished, and all hot water supply ceased. I have been without hot water since that date. Despite immediate notification, the manufacturer (Rheem) and retailer (The Home Depot) have failed to provide an effective remedy. Rheem offered only a partial voucher, shifting the cost and burden of repair onto me, while their return instructions conflict with Home Depots impossible requirement that the leaking unit be returned packaged and not leaking. This situation is not merely an inconvenience; it constitutes a serious and immediate safety hazard: 1Electrical Shock and Fire Risk: The sequence of failuresevere water leakage followed by a complete electrical shutdownindicates that water has infiltrated the units electrical components. This creates a high risk of short circuit, electrical shock, or fire whenever power is supplied to the unit. Attempting to reset or restart it is extremely dangerous. 2Risk of Gas Leak or Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: As a gas appliance, any internal malfunction (especially one triggered by water damage) can compromise the gas valve or combustion system. Attempting to re-light the unit without a professional diagnosis could lead to a gas leak or the production of lethal carbon monoxi