Recalled Dehumidifiers Still Causing Fires
Gree Electric Appliances, a Chinese manufacturer, originally recalled 2.5 million of the dehumidifiers in September 2013. It has reannounced the recall, CPSC reported, after the number of reported fires has grown.
Gree Electric Appliances, a Chinese manufacturer, has reannounced its recall of about 2.5 million dehumidifiers in the United States because the number of reported fires associated with the use continues to rise, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced May 15. The recall was originally announced in September 2013, covering that many units in the United States and 55,000 more in Canada.
They are 20-, 25-, 30-, 40-, 45-, 50-, 65-, and 70-pint dehumidifiers with brand names Danby, De’Longhi, Fedders, Fellini, Frigidaire, GE, Gree, Kenmore, Norpole, Premiere, Seabreeze, SoleusAir, and SuperClima. A list of the recalled model numbers and date codes is posted at CPSC's website. They were sold at AAFES, HH Gregg, Home Depot, Kmart, Lowe's, Menards, Mills Fleet Farm, Sam's Club, Sears, Walmart, and other stores nationwide and in Canada, and online at Amazon.com and Ebay.com, from January 2005 through August 2013 for between $110 and $400.
These units can overheat, smoke, and catch fire; the number of reported overheating incidents has risen to 471, and the number of reported fires rose from 46 in the original recall to 121, with associated property damage now at nearly $4.5 million, according to CPSC.
Consumers are asked to unplug the units and contact Gree at 866-853-2802 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. EDT weekdays or online at www.greeusa.com, and click on Recall for more information.