Boilers
Twenty years of CPSC NEISS emergency-room records for this consumer product category, combined with demographic breakdowns, multi-year injury trends, and matching recall notices.
Kitchen Small Appliances & Housewares · CPSC Code 308
Down 15% over 5 years
The verdict
Boilers carry a danger score of 32/100 (low risk), driven by roughly 1,010 ER-treated injuries a year that are declining by about 15% over the last five years.
- 32/100
- danger score (low risk)
- 1,010
- ER visits per year (avg)
- 5.2%
- end in hospital admission
- 25-34
- most-injured age group
Every figure is rendered from the CPSC NEISS record for product code 308 - last data year 2024.
PlainSafety danger score
How this 32/100 score is built
The score is computed from four CPSC-derived factors for boilers - no opinion, no editorializing:
- Injury volume1,010 ER visits/yr
- Severity (hospitalization rate)5.2%
- Fatality rate0.00%
- 5-year trend-15%
See the full methodology for the exact weighting of each factor.
What the CPSC Data Shows
Boilers (CPSC product code 308, in the Kitchen Small Appliances & Housewares category) generate an estimated 1,010 emergency-room visits every year in the United States, adding up to roughly 20,206 ER-treated injuries across the 20-year span from 2005 to 2024. PlainSafety derives a danger score of 32/100 for this category (low risk), combining raw injury volume, demographic reach, severity of outcome, and multi-year trend. The five-year trajectory shows that injury counts are declining by about 15% over the last five years, with the busiest year on record being 2014 (1,790 estimated ER visits) and the quietest 2023 (518 estimated visits).
The single most common ER diagnosis for boilers is anoxia to the all parts body, accounting for approximately 8,220 visits across the 20-year NEISS window, followed by strain, sprain to the lower trunk (736 cases). The 25-34 age group absorbs the largest share of injuries, about 3,964 cases over the NEISS window, and males appear slightly more often than the opposite sex in that cohort. Severity outcomes from the NEISS disposition field show that 5.2% of ER visits involving this product end in hospital admission or transfer.
Beyond the hospital-sampled NEISS projections, this page also aggregates 41 consumer incident reports filed directly on SaferProducts.gov, plus 20 anonymized ER narratives - together forming a layered picture of how boilers fail in real households. Every figure on this page comes from CPSC-published data: NEISS projects national estimates from a probability sample of about 100 U.S. hospital emergency departments, while SaferProducts.gov collects voluntary reports from consumers, manufacturers, and clinicians. The danger score, trend indicators, and demographic breakdowns update automatically when CPSC releases a new yearly NEISS file, which is why this page is dated 2024-12-31. For regulatory context, consult CPSC recall notices and the SaferProducts.gov public database linked below.
Annual Injury Estimates (2005–2024)
Source: CPSC NEISS national estimates CPSC NEISS national estimates Injuries represent ER-treated cases only
Who Gets Injured?
| Age Group | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 462 | 750 | |
| 5-14 | 991 | 1,002 | |
| 15-24 | 1,568 | 991 | |
| 25-34 | 2,792 | 1,172 | |
| 35-44 | 2,070 | 856 | |
| 45-54 | 2,174 | 929 | |
| 55-64 | 2,264 | 473 | |
| 65-74 | 383 | 536 | |
| 75+ | 519 | 272 |
Most Common Injuries
| Body Part | Diagnosis | Est. Injuries |
|---|---|---|
| All Parts Body | Anoxia | |
| Lower Trunk | Strain, Sprain | |
| Finger | Laceration | |
| Lower Trunk | Other | |
| Finger | Fracture | |
| Hand | Burn, Scald | |
| Upper Trunk | Other | |
| Face | Burn, Scald | |
| Hand | Burns, Thermal | |
| Hand | Laceration | |
| Hand | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Face | Burns, Thermal | |
| Face | Laceration | |
| Eyeball | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Finger | Crushing |
Severity Breakdown
ER Visit Narratives
Real anonymized emergency room reports from the CPSC NEISS database.
66 YOF DROPPED A COOKING BOILER ON FOOT AT HOME DX CONTUSION FOOT
55YOM HX POLYSUBSTANCE USE D/O,DEPRESSION PRESENT TO ED W/ RLE WOUND.EMS REPORTED THAT SOMEONE WALKING ON THE RAIL TRAIL HEARD PT CALLING FOR HELP,FOUND IN BACKYARD BLEEDING FROM R CALF.FIRST RESPONDERS PLACED TOURNIQUET.THERE WAS A HANDGUN ON THE GROUND NEAR HIM.PT REPORTS INHIS UTILITY ROOM TO GET TO BOILER,CLIMB ON CABINET JUMPED DOWN,FELT WOUND/BLEEDINGDX:PUNCTURE WOUND
63YOM WAS THROWING WOOD INTO A BOILER WHEN A PIECE FLEW BACK AND SMASHED HIS FINGER BETWEEN THE WOOD AND METAL FRAME. HE WAS WEARING LEATHER GLOVES. EXAM NOTES MULTIPLE LACERATIONS OVER THE PALMAR SURFACE OF THE RIGHT PINKY FINGER. DX: FRACTURE RIGHT LITTLE FINGER DISTAL PHALANX NONDISPLACED OPEN
57YOF INHALATION OF SMOKE WHEN BOILER MISFIRED. C/O SOB. NO FIRE, NO FDDX SMOKE INHALATION
33YOF SMOKE INHALATION WHEN BOILER ROOM FIRE IN HOME. NO COMPLAINTS. + FD ACTIVITYDX SMOKE INHALATION
6YOM SMOKE INHALATION FROM BOILER ROOM FIRE IN HOME. + FD ACTIVITY DX SMOKE INHALATION
15 YOF INJ RT HAND THROWING WOOD IN BOILER AT HOME DX CRUSH INJ RT MIDDLE FINGER
56YOM BOIL BURNER IN HOME BEGANE TO SMOKE, C/O SOB COHB 2.4%. FD WAS ON SCENEDX SMOKE INHALATION
25YOM OIL BURNER STARTED TO SMOKE IN HOUSE, C/O HA. COHB 2.6%. FD WAS ON SCENEDX SMOKE INHALATION
28YOM PT C/O LEFT HIP PAIN AFTER A BOILER FELL ON LEFT LOWER LEG NO DX
60 YOM WITH A RIGHT LITTLE FINGER LACERATION THAT OCCURRED WHILE HE WAS MOVING A BOILER DX LEFT WITHOUT BEING SEEN
79YOM PT LIFTED SOMETHING HEAVY FOR HIS HOME BOILER, C/O LOWER ABDOMINAL PAIN DX: ABODMINAL WALL STRAIN
Consumer Incident Reports
Reports filed by consumers on SaferProducts.gov.
There were two separate fire incidents at [REDACTED] locations; [REDACTED] on 01/19/16 and [REDACTED] on 8/22/16. Both fires were determined to be caused by Munchkin boiler but exact cause of malfunction was not determined. There were no reported injuries.
There were two separate fire incidents at [REDACTED] locations; [REDACTED] on 01/19/16 and [REDACTED] on 8/22/16. Both fires were determined to be caused by Munchkin boiler but exact cause of malfunction was not determined. There were no reported injuries.
I own a single family residence with an oil fired hydronic heating system. In December 2008 my heating oil dealer (Fred Fuller Oil and Propane Company [Fred Fuller] of Hudson, NH) installed a new controller for my boiler. The controller was a Honeywell R8182D 1079 Combination Protectorelay Primary Control and Aquastat Controller. The previous controller, which was the same product and of unknown age, had failed. The new controller worked without incident until September 8, 2011. On that day I noticed an acrid smell near the boiler; and on further inspection, I saw smoke coming from the enclosure around the controller. On opening the enclosure I saw a hole burning through the controller's circuit board. It was about the size of a dime and growing. Behind the hole there was a red spark or small flame. I immediately shut off the electric power to the controller, which stopped the burning. I called Fred Fuller to ask what had happened, explaining that I'd never modified or tampered with -- or really even touched -- the controller. Their head of service said the controller was probably faulty; he'd seen similar failures in the past. I then contacted Honeywell (via a form on Honeywell's customer support website) to ask the same question. I have not yet received a response to my inquiry. I'm filing this report because if I hadn't caught the burning when I did, a serious fire could have resulted. The controller was quite close to the oil supply line for the boiler; and wires (with flammable plastic insulation) led from the controller to junctions and conduits in the wood framing of my house. If, as Fred Fuller's head of service implied, the Honeywell R8182D 1079 regularly fails by catching fire, it should be taken off the market.
Dear For many years I developed gas heating boilers at ACV Belgium, sold in the US under the name Triangle Tube. In the case of an certification for an ignition kit to prevent explosive ignitions, fraud has been committed and the inspection did not proceed correctly. The inspection was carried out by ETL Intertech, but the inspector was fooled. A fake device was built and is not representative of what is actually with the customer. There have already been two fatalities and these devices are not safe at all. I do not know that you are the right person to raise this kind of matter. I have [REDACTED] presentations, test results and photos of the event. I know all the details down to the last detail and can therefore provide you with all the information should it come to a case. Would you please help me? Sorry if some things are not correct but i am Belgian and Dutch speaking.
I have Weil McClain Boiler installed last year by the local Contractor Plumber. Plumber is no longer in business. I have called the Company Weil Mcclain several times requesting help with gas leak but no reply. I have filed a complaint on BBB and some one reached out to me and said that they will contact me. Its been over a Month and I have yet to hear from some one. Every time the Boiler comes on I smell Gas. So I end up turning the boiler off. Its been off for several weeks and I have not heard back from the company. Last month due to MI cold weather I turned the boiler on and the Gas smell was really bad. I end up turning it off, While I was turning it off I heard a Bang and the boiler cover come off flying, I end up walking away with Minor Injury on my leg with not major issues at all. I need help to get my Boiler repaired. Not sure how to reach out the Company. Thanks for your time. [REDACTED]
The consumer stated that he had his thermostat set to 62 degrees because the family was out of the house. When the consumer returns to his home, he noticed that the master and the guest bedrooms were too hot for the temperature setting. The consumer decided to verify the boiler room. He noticed that the pumps for the two rooms were operating. Then, he noticed that the relay circuit board was glowing red, and some of the components were melting. The consumer activated the emergency "shut off" and disconnected the power for the boiler. The consumer contacted an electrician. The following day the electrician replaced the relay board. The boiler was inspected by an electrician and a plumber. They determined that the boiler is working properly. 4/25/14- The consumer contacted the manufacturer. He inquired about recalls or reports of similar issues involving this product. The consumer was advised that the company has no records of recalls or issues involving the relay circuit board of this boiler. The consumer was advised to contact the electrical engineer that represents the company in his geographical area. The consumer is still trying to reach this engineer. 4/30/14- The consumer is concerned because he thinks this defect on the relay circuit board of the boiler can cause a serious fire and threatens the life of the consumer.
Found screws loose on gas valve for Weil McLain Ultra230 gas heating boiler. There was a previous Recall Alert on this model boiler on MAy 13, 2003. This boiler was manufactured in 2007. I notified Weil McLain tech support of what I found but they seemed uninterested since it did not fall into the time frame of the earlier recall.
Three workers became ill when exposed to Carbon Monoxide while constructing a new home. The NH State Fire Marshal's Office investigated and determined that the only possible source of CO on the construction site was a Gas Boiler that had been installed and fired up as the home's heat source. The FMO investigated and determined that the gas boiler, the air intake and exhaust venting system had all been properly installed. The FMO believes the new gas boiler may be defective in some way, and the boiler itself is emitting the CO. The FMO recommended that the construction manager call to notify the manufacturer of the incident and the need for a replacement gas boiler.
Showing 8 of 41 reports.
Product Recalls
Search for active and past recalls related to boilers on the CPSC website.
Frequently Asked Questions
How dangerous are boilers?
Based on 20 years of CPSC data, boilers have a danger score of 32/100 (low risk). An estimated 1,010 ER-treated injuries occur annually in the U.S. related to this product category.
What are the most common injuries from boilers?
The most common injury is anoxia to the all parts body, accounting for approximately 8,220 injuries over 20 years.
Are injuries from boilers increasing or decreasing?
Down 15% over 5 years.
Who is most at risk for boilers injuries?
The 25-34 age group accounts for the most injuries, with approximately 3,964 cases recorded over 20 years. Males are more frequently injured in this age group.
What happens when someone is injured by boilers?
Of all ER visits involving boilers, approximately 5.2% result in hospital admission. The majority of patients (94.8%) are treated and released from the emergency department.
How can I report a safety problem with boilers?
You can file a consumer incident report at SaferProducts.gov, the official CPSC reporting portal. Reports help the CPSC identify emerging hazards and trigger investigations or recalls. You can also call the CPSC hotline at 1-800-638-2772.
Related Products in Kitchen Small Appliances & Housewares
Safety Guides
What this means for you
Treat the 32/100 score as relative risk between products, not your personal odds of injury.
- See where this category ranks against every other tracked product. Full rankings
- Injuries cluster in the 25-34 age group, take extra care if that describes your household.
- Check for active recalls on this product before you assume it is safe. CPSC recalls
NEISS estimates ER-treated injuries from a national probability sample of hospitals; they do not capture injuries treated elsewhere or not treated at all.
Data: CPSC National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) 2005–2024 and SaferProducts.gov consumer incident reports. Injury estimates are based on a nationally representative probability sample of U.S. hospital emergency departments. This page is for informational purposes only and is not affiliated with the CPSC.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, scored, and verified.
