8/9/21 - Dehumidifier recall

Dehumidifiers sold at Walmart, Lowe’s, Costco recalled after causing $17M in fire damage

(Mlive) - More than 2 million defective dehumidifiers sold under 20 different brands at Walmart, Lowe’s, Costco and Menards are being recalled because they can overheat and cause a fire hazard.

So far, the products have caused $17 million in fire damage.

The dehumidifiers were sold under brand names including Whirlpool, Friedrich, Danby and AeonAir. A full listing of their make and model numbers can be found on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website.

“The recalled dehumidifiers can overheat and catch fire, posing fire and burn hazards,” according to a notice posted this week by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Manufacturer New Widetech in China noted 107 incidents where the dehumidifiers caught fire or overheated, resulting in property damage. No injuries have been reported as a result of the defective products.

About 2 million dehumidifiers were sold at U.S. retailers across the country between Feb. 2009 and Aug. 2017, ranging in price between $120 and $430 each, according to CBS News.

An additional 380,000 dehumidifiers were sold in Canada and approximately 25,000 were sold in Mexico.

Consumers who bought the affected products should stop using them and contact the company for a pro-rated refund that will be determined by the product’s age.

New Widetech can be reached on its website or by phone Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST at (877) 251-1512.