Check Dehumidifier Recall Status
By Greg Gonnering, Vice President of Mutual Assistance
As summer temperatures rise, so does the humidity. With a record amount of rainfall over the past few years in the Midwest, we are seeing an increased need for dehumidifiers. Dehumidifiers are vital to controlling a home’s humidity level, especially in basements that have water problems from overflowing gutters, poor grading or high water tables. Basements are also susceptible to water vapors from condensation on the concrete walls and floor.
Homeowners should take a proactive approach to ensuring their dehumidifiers are working properly, including monitoring recalls. Certain dehumidifiers manufactured from 2003 to 2013 have been recalled due to a fire hazard, with over 5.5 million recalled due to faulty wiring. These units have been found to overheat, which can potentially cause a fire. This is mostly caused by dehumidifiers that are run with a hose to a drain as they tend to run continuously. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 550 fires that caused over $24 million in damage have been reported. Most of the recalled units were manufactured by Gree or Midea, but were sold with several different brand names, including GE, Frigidaire and Kenmore.
So, what can you do? We ask that you look up the model and serial number on the Consumer Product Safety website, on the Gree website or on the Midea website.
If you see your dehumidifier on the list, stop using it immediately and return it to the store you purchased it from or contact the manufacturer for assistance.
While you may have heard about the recalls, it is a good idea to keep checking the list because it continues to grow. We also recommend that you share the lists of recalls on your social networking pages to get the word out to your policyholders. Even if we can prevent just one recalled dehumidifier from catching on fire, it will be a success.