Guide · Identifying and buying
Pressure washer recalls, UL 1776 and ETL
Check a pressure washer recall by exact model and serial range on CPSC or Health Canada, learn what UL 1776 covers, and verify an ETL mark in Intertek's directory.
Short answer
Check recalls on CPSC (US) and Health Canada by your exact model and serial number, because notices name specific models and serial ranges. A UL 1776 or ETL claim concerns the machine, not your accessories, and you can check an ETL mark in Intertek's online directory.
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Check recalls by model and serial number
A recall names exact models and, often, serial ranges. A similar model, or the same model outside the range, may not be covered. We do not say any machine on this site is or is not recalled; check your own.
RYOBI recall 25-452
On August 28, 2025, CPSC announced recall 25-452 of RYOBI electric pressure washers models RY142300, RY142300VNM and RY142711VNM, within specified serial-number ranges, because the capacitor can overheat and burst.[1] The serial ranges are on the motor-housing data plate.
- Scale. About 764,000 units in the US and about 16,000 in Canada. CPSC reported 135 reports of overheating capacitors, including 41 explosions and 32 injuries.[1]
- Remedy. A free replacement capacitor repair kit from ryobitools.com/recall, with no proof of purchase required. Owners are told to stop using the washers.[1]
Follow the notice for the remedy; a new hose or gun does not address it.
Washers sold online
CPSC's pressure washer recall listing includes recalls for electrical hazards, such as an August 2026 recall of washers sold on Amazon without an integral GFCI.[2] That notice covers about 300 YERYORK YE-006 electric pressure washers sold on Amazon.com, which lack a built-in GFCI and an adequate-length power cord, creating shock and electrocution risk; the remedy is a refund.[3]
In Canada
On August 20, 2026, Health Canada announced a recall of 657 Workbless WB0301 and WB0302 electric pressure washers in Canada because they lack a GFCI and have a short power cord, creating an electric shock hazard.[4] The notice says the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act prohibits recalled products from being redistributed, sold or even given away in Canada.
What UL 1776 covers
UL 1776, High-Pressure Cleaning Machines, is the UL safety standard covering portable, stationary and fixed machines with a hand-held discharge line for household, farm and commercial use.[5] It also covers portable rechargeable battery-powered machines.[5] CETA reports that UL canceled a planned 2021 transition from UL 1776 to UL 60335-2-79, and that machines can be investigated to either standard until a new date follows.[6]
Its scope excludes products that produce steam in a heated vessel or use an external steam source.[5] A machine standard does not certify an aftermarket hose, gun or fitting.
ETL and other marks
Intertek describes its ETL Listed Mark as proof of product compliance with North American safety standards and offers an online directory to check products that carry its marks.[7] OSHA recognizes each Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory only for a defined scope of test standards.[8] So a mark claim on a listing is worth checking in the certifier's own directory.
In Canada, Health Canada advises not buying plug-in electrical products online without a Canadian electrical certification mark such as CSA, cUL or cETL.[9]
| Claim | What it concerns | How to check |
|---|---|---|
| UL 1776 | The machine | The maker's documents and the certifier's listing |
| ETL Listed | The product carrying the mark | Intertek's online directory |
| CSA, cUL, cETL (Canada) | Plug-in electrical products | The mark on the product and the certifier |
| PWMA membership | The maker's performance testing | A maker statement, not a safety mark |
A maker's performance statement is not a safety certification. Briggs & Stratton says it is a member of the Pressure Washer Manufacturers' Association with third-party performance testing.[10] That is Briggs & Stratton's statement about performance figures.
Cordless machines and batteries
US hazardous-materials rules require each lithium cell or battery to be of a type proven to meet section 38.3 of the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, and require manufacturers and later distributors to make a test summary available.[11] For a cordless machine or a kit that includes a battery, that summary is something the seller should be able to provide.
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Questions
Is my RYOBI pressure washer recalled?
Check the model and serial number on the motor-housing data plate against CPSC's notice. Recall 25-452 covers RYOBI models RY142300, RY142300VNM and RY142711VNM within specified serial-number ranges; other models are not named in it.[1]
What does UL 1776 cover?
UL 1776, High-Pressure Cleaning Machines, covers portable, stationary and fixed high-pressure cleaning machines with a hand-held discharge line for household, farm and commercial use, and portable rechargeable battery-powered machines. It excludes products that produce steam in a heated vessel or use an external steam source.[5]
How do I check an ETL listing?
In Intertek's online directory. Intertek describes its ETL Listed Mark as proof of compliance with North American safety standards and offers a directory to check products that carry its marks.[7]
Does a UL or ETL mark on my machine cover a new hose?
No. A machine standard concerns the machine; it does not certify an aftermarket hose or fitting. Check each part's own rating against your machine.[5]