By Barbara Lehrer
Real Talk
Barbara Lehrer
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is sending a strong message. All Gree Electric-manufactured dehumidifiers are recalled, as they can overheat, smoke and catch on fire. The CPSC announced this recall in August, right around the time that one of our own, on East Slope Road, had the misfortune of running one of these units and thus resulting in a fire.
It is tricky to uncover, because there are 42 models with brand names Kenmore, GE, SoleusAir, Norpole or Seabreeze. These dehumidifiers were manufactured between January 2011 and February 2014.
These units come in various shapes, sizes and colors, and you must look at the stickers with date codes and model numbers to determine if there is a danger. The list of model numbers is huge and is available quite easily when you look online.
Maybe you knew about the recalls. Maybe you heard about the fire in Orange being due to a faulty dehumidifier. But let this be a huge reminder to check your own equipment. These units were sold at local stores like Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walmart, Sears and Sam’s Club.
Gree Electric heads up the red flag here, as they created the units and then sold them through well-known companies like Kenmore. Dehumidifiers serve a strong purpose, and their mechanisms can overheat as they strain to remove all the dampness in your basement.
Certainly, these recall details are a concern for us all. Spread the word, tell your friends and your kids to unplug each dehumidifier in their home and research the company.
As a good habit, most appliances should be unplugged when not in use. If you travel, for example, be sure to set up a professional basement company with the proper equipment. In this manner, you can feel confident that whether you are at home sleeping or away for days at a time, a company that warrantees their product will oversee all safety issues. If you hook up to a plug and you blow a circuit, that is a sign that the electric current running in your home has an issue. Immediately stop using that plug and call your electrician.
Dehumidifiers are a great investment, especially if you are emptying them regularly or hooking them up to a drain. However, take heed when a recall comes into play: this is no joke, as there were close to 700 incidents, 23 fires and huge property damage. Do not ignore this information. If you do not need your unit until next summer, then still see if the manufacturer was Gree. Get a refund or throw it away. Practice your due diligence.
If you need more information on these issues, email Barbara.Lehrer@cbmoves.com.