Recall of the Week: GE brand dehumidifiers due to serious fire and burn hazards

Gree is expanding its recall of dehumidifiers to include about 350,000 GE brand dehumidifiers in the United States and 2,700 in Canada.

Gree previously recalled 2.2 million dehumidifiers under 12 other brand names in September 2013.

The dehumidifiers can overheat, smoke and catch fire, posing fire and burn hazards to consumers, the company and U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said.

The firm has received 16 reports of incidents with the recalled GE-brand dehumidifiers, including 11 reports of overheating with no property damage beyond the units, and five reports of fires beyond the units, which were associated with about $430,000 reported in property damage. This is in addition to more than 71 fires and $2,725,000 in property damage reported with other brands of Gree-manufactured dehumidifiers in the previous recall.  No injuries have been reported.  

This recall involves 30, 40, 50, 65-pint dehumidifiers with the GE brand name. The brand name, model number, pint capacity, and manufacture date are printed on the nameplate sticker on the back of the dehumidifier.

The dehumidifiers are light gray plastic and measure between 19 and 23 inches tall, 13 and 15 inches wide, and 9 and 11 inches deep. 

The dehumidifiers were sold at Sam’s Club, Walmart, and other stores nationwide and in Canada, and online at Amazon.com and Ebay.com, from April 2008 through December 2011 for between $180 and $270.

Consumers should immediately turn off and unplug the dehumidifiers and contact Gree to receive a refund, the company and commission advise.

Call Gree toll-free at 866-853-2802 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET, or visit www.greeusa.com and click on Recall for more information.

For details on other recalls, see www.recalls.gov.