UPDATE: Health Canada has expanded the dehumidifier recall, which now affects an estimated 55,251 units sold in Canada. The full list of affected products is included in this story and is also available online.
VANCOUVER – A Chinese company is recalling more than 2.7 million dehumidifiers (52,546 of them in Canada) because of a risk of overheating and catching fire.
Health Canada said manufacturer Gree Electric Appliances knows of at least 165 incidents where the machines overheated, began smoking or caught fire in the U.S. In 46 of those cases, the dehumidifiers caught fire.
There haven’t been any reports of any such incidents or injuries in Canada, but Health Canada warns anyone using one of the recalled machines should stop using it immediately.
Gree Electronics sells the dehumidifiers under the labels Danby, Fellini, Frigidaire, Gree and Premiere.
“The dehumidifiers are white, beige, gray or black plastic and measure between 48 and 61 centimetres tall, 33 and 38 centimetres wide, and 23 and 28 centimetres deep,” the Health Canada alert read.
View the full list of brands and model numbers of dehumidifiers recalled in Canada below
According to Health Canada, which issued the recall jointly with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) the dehumidifiers were sold in Canada between Aug. 2008 and Aug. 2013, and in the U.S. between Jan. 2005 and Aug. 2013.
CPSC said there has been more than US$2 million in property damage reported because of the issues with the machines.
Health Canada said consumers should call the recall service provider Stericycle at 1-866-853-2802 or go to the Gree Electric Appliances website to get a refund.
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