1.5 Million Dehumidifiers Recalled Over Fire Concerns

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a recall for over 1.5 million dehumidifiers, according to the AP, spanning 42 models across five brands: Kenmore, GE, SoleusAir, Norpole, and Seabreeze, after reports of around two dozen fires. Manufactured by Zhuhai's Gree Electric Appliances and sold between January 2011 to February 2014, these products have led to 23 fires, 688 overheating events, and $168,000 in property damages. Affected consumers should unplug and cease using the dehumidifiers immediately and contact Gree for refunds. The recall can be identified by its brand, model number, capacity, and price, which are detailed in the CPSC's notice.

This is not Gree's first recall due to fire risks. Another recall, first announced in 2013 and reiterated in 2016, covered Gree dehumidifiers sold from January 2005 through January 2014 under various brands, resulting in over 2,000 overheating events and 450 fires, causing $19 million in damages and four potential deaths. In 2021, Gree and its subsidiary settled for $91 million for not informing U.S. regulators about the overheating risk. Further, Gree USA was fined $500,000 in 2022.