Investigators believe a recalled dehumidifier started a fire in the basement, though they haven’t confirmed it yet. It was put out before it spread to the rest of the house.
- To search if your dehumidifier is part of the recall, click here.
- For the latest recall information from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, click here.
A YouTube video shows why the recalled Gree dehumidifiers are deemed so dangerous.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, 2.5 million dehumidifiers have caused at least $4.4 million in damages because they can overheat, smoke and catch fire.
They were initially recalled in September of 2013, then again in October 2013 and January 2014, and the CPSC even re-issued the recall one year ago as fires continued to be reported.
Now, as firefighters here respond to yet another dehumidifier fire this month, there is again urgency and frustration.
“It’s that time of year. Basements getting a little humid, people are bringing out those dehumidifiers, and some of those are still on the recall list,” says Lt. Nick Craig, Green Bay Metro Fire Department.
Despite repeated warnings, Craig is finding people are simply not checking for recalls or just don’t know about them.
“It’s a little surprising, but one of the only ways people are hearing about this is through local media. If they didn’t send in their registration card that came with the product, they have no clue that theirs has been recalled,” he says.
Those product registration cards are attached to nearly all new products.
Craig says that information you send back to the company is kept strictly for recalls or safety alerts, so the company can notify you of recalls instead of trying to track them yourself.
“It’s to let people know multiple ways, phone, email, they’ll send a letter. So if you’ve moved or changed your phone number, there’s multiple ways for the company to contact you to let you know what needs to be done or what you have to do to fix the problem,” he says.
A company can then alert you to any recall instead of having to track it down yourself.
It is illegal to resell a recalled product, but firefighters worry people can still buy them.
We found dozens of used dehumidifiers for sale locally on Craigslist and at garage sales, though there’s no way to know if any are recalled.
Craig wants people to consider that when they’re shopping.
“If anyone has a smartphone and you’re out rummage saling and you need a dehumidifier, you can very quickly look that up and see if it’s included,” says Craig.
To search if your dehumidifier is part of the recall, click here.
For the latest recall information from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, click here.
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Dehumidifier recall warning following Kaukauna house fire
KAUKAUNA, Wis. (WFRV)
With wet damp basements around our viewing area, no doubt many people pulled out their dehumidifiers.
But, we have a warning about the appliance. More than two million units are being recalled because of fire danger.
A Kaukauna family was forced from their home last night, after their dehumidifier started on fire.
They
have no idea if it was part of a massive nationwide recall, but they do
know it stared a fire that caused extensive damage to their home.
"Being
a basement fire, obviously fire goes up and could have taken the whole
house" says Kaukauna's Assistant Fire Chief Chad Gerrits.
Thanks to quick action from the Kaukauna Fire Department the Henry Street home is still standing.
From the outside it looks ok, in the basement it is a different story.
"There is quite a bit of smoke damage" Assistant Chief Gerrits says.
The homeowners invited Local 5 inside to see the damage done by their dehumidifier.
It will be weeks before they can live here again. They hope to encourage other families to check if their unit is recalled.
"It
is easy to do, people just forget to do it. They forget to check.
Obviously it can turn into a pretty big deal if you do not check it"
according to Assistant Chief Gerrits.
It is important to remember this appliance is not only used in your home.
Many businesses use dehumidifiers.
In fact, Lawrence University found almost two dozen units on the recall list.
"We
were very conscious about the danger that could have done to the campus
here" says Patrick Connor, Trades Manager, for the University.
The dehumidifiers are used all over the University, in residence halls and classroom buildings.
But, the recall is not the only reason the appliances can start on fire.
According to the Assistant Chief "a lot of people use their extension cords as permanent wiring and that is a big no no".
Though the recall started in 2013 many people have yet to check their dehumidifiers.
Common name brands including GE, Frigidaire, and Kenmore are impacted. It is simple to get a free replacement.
"I
went through the process" Assistant Chief Gerrits says. "You send them a
cord, they send you a check. You get a new dehumidifier and you are
good to go. You do not have to worry about your family being in
danger".
The
homeowners in Kaukauna say they had heard about the recall, but had not
checked their unit. They may never know if it was part of the recall.
To check if your dehumidifier is a danger click here. The search takes just a few moments.