Dehumidifiers, like furnaces or refrigerators, are appliances that run as needed, unattended, 24/7. These portable household dehumidifiers are notorious for overheating. This can be caused by product defect, improper use, or poor maintenance. Over the past decade there have been a considerable amount of home fires caused by these dehumidifiers.
As a result 5.6 million dehumidifiers have been put onto the recall list in the U.S. since 2003. We use dehumidifiers in our homes to help whisk away the extra moisture that tends to accumulate during the hot summer months. They keep the air you breathe comfortable, your basement dry and help deal with pesky mold growth. Portable dehumidifiers work extremely hard in the spring and summer, in several cases too hard. Over 500 fires causing an estimated $20 million in damages have been reported since 2003.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that Gree Electric Appliances of China and GD Midea Air Conditioning Equipment Ltd. of China have recalled millions of portable dehumidifiers from popular brands like Frigidaire, GE, Kenmore, Premiere, SoulesAir, Honeywell, and Sunbeam, just to name a few. For a complete list, see the CPSC’s recall page.
Humid indoor air causes damage to your belongings and your home. Purchasing a whole home dehumidifier is the best way to combat the humid summer air. Thankfully, here at Cardinal Heating & Air Conditioning we make the process simple. We will help you determine the size of dehumidifier you need based on the size of your home and budget. Call us today at (608) 837-9367.
