Over 1.5 Million Dehumidifiers Recalled for Fire Risk

Over 1.5 million dehumidifiers have been recalled because they can overheat, smoke, catch fire and lead to serious injury or death.

The manufacturer, Gree Electric Appliances, has received reports of at least 23 fires, 688 incidents of overheating and $168,000 in property damage, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reported.

The latest recall involves 42 models of dehumidifiers manufactured between January 2011 and February 2014. The brand names include Kenmore, GE, SoleusAir, Norpole and Seabreeze.

The products were sold from 2011 through 2014 at Home Depot, Lowe’s, Menards, Sam’s Club, Sears, Walmart and other stores nationwide for $110 to $400.

The exact model numbers and sizes recalled are outlined in an announcement posted by the CPSC. The brand name and capacity size are printed on the back, front or side of the dehumidifier. To find the model number and date code, look for a sticker on one side of the unit.

Anyone who has an affected unit should immediately unplug it and contact Gree online or call its recall hotline at 866-853-2802 to sign up for its recall wait list. You should be contacted in six to eight weeks with information on how to register for the recall.

A series of hazards

Since September 2013, a string of recalls on dehumidifiers manufactured by Gree were initiated over safety concerns that the products may overheat and catch fire.

Since then, there have been more than 2,000 reports of the dehumidifiers overheating, including 450 fires resulting in more than $19 million in property damage. Additional reports suggest that the recalled dehumidifiers may have caused house fires resulting in the deaths of four adults, with three of the fatalities in 2022.

CPSC urges all consumers to inspect their dehumidifiers and take advantage of the recalls if they own an affected product. Previously recalled brands include Danby, De’Longhi, Fedders, Fellini, Frigidaire, GE, Gree, Kenmore, Norpole, Premiere, Seabreeze, SoleusAir and SuperClima. To see if your unit was previously recalled, visit the CPSC’s warning page on stopping use of dehumidifiers manufactured by Gree, or visit GreeDehumidifierRecall.com.