From Products Liability Law Daily, September 12, 2013

Gree Electric recalls over two million dehumidifiers due to fire and burn hazards

By Joseph Bichl

Gree Electric Appliances, of China, has recalled 12 brands of dehumidifiers (totaling approximately 2.2 million) in the United States and some 52,500 units in Canada after receiving 165 incident reports involving the products, including 46 fires and $2.15 million in property damage. No injuries have been reported. (CPSC Recall Notice, No. 13-183, September 12, 2013). Gree indicated that the dehumidifiers can overheat, smoke, and catch fire, posing fire and burn hazards to consumers.

Product description. The recall involves 20-, 25-, 30-, 40-, 45-, 50-, 65, and 70-pint dehumidifiers with brand names Danby, De’Longhi, Fedders, Fellini, Frigidaire, Gree, Kenmore, Norpole, Premiere, Seabreeze, SoleusAir, and SuperClima. Recalled model numbers and date codes can be found at http:///www.cpsc.gov. The brand name and the pint capacity are printed on the front of the dehumidifier. The model number and date code are printed on a sticker on the back, front or side of the unit. The dehumidifiers are white, beige, gray or black plastic and measure between 19 and 24 inches tall, 13 and 15 inches wide, and 9 and 11 inches deep. The humidifiers, which were manufactured in China, were sold at AAFES, HH Gregg, Home Depot, Kmart, Lowe’s, Menards, Mills Fleet Farm, Sam’s Club, Sears, and other stores nationwide and in Canada, and online at http://www.Amazon.com and http://www.Ebay.com, from January 2005 through August 2013 for between $110 and $400.

Remedy. Consumers should turn off and unplug the dehumidifiers immediately and contact Gree to receive a full refund.

Importers: The importers involved in the recall include Airwell of France; CNA of Wood Dale, Illinois; Danby of Ontario, Canada; De’Longhi of Italy; Frigidaire, of Charlotte, North Carolina.; Gree USA Sales Ltd. of City of Industry, California; IRP of Pineville, North Carolina; MJC America Ltd. dba Soleus International Inc. of Walnut, California; and Sunrise of Quebec, Canada.

Consumer Contact: For more information, consumers can contact Gree toll-free at (866) 853-2802 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time Monday through Friday, and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., or online at http://www.greeusa.com and click on Recall.

Companies: Gree Electric Appliances; Airwell; CNA; Danby; De’Longhi; Frigidaire; Gree USA Sales Ltd.; IRP of Pineville; MJC America Ltd. dba Soleus International Inc.; and Sunrise.

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