Rockford Homeowners Should Check For Recalled Dehumidifiers

It does seem strange that a device that is intended to collect water could be a nasty fire hazard, but that's exactly the reason about two million dehumidifiers are being recalled.

As a kid, I found it weird that my parents had both a humidifier and a dehumidifier, and that each of these appliances had their own season. Like clockwork, when winter rolled around they'd drag out the one that spews water into the air. When summer arrived, out came the one that sucks it back in.

Because of that seasonal cycle, I've always appreciated this from comedian Steven Wright:

For my birthday I got a humidifier and a de-humidifier... I put them in the same room and let them fight it out.

Like a lot of kids, I swore that I would never get myself caught up in that endless humidifier-dehumidifier loop like my parents were. So, after growing up and buying a house...I quickly purchased both of the stupid things. Now, I have to run home to see if one of the recalled units is sitting in my basement waiting to lay waste to the house.

Here's What's Being Recalled

The product recall, announced earlier today, is from a company called New WideTech, and the worry is over the dehumidifiers that were sold by Lowe's, Costco, Walmart, Menards, and other retailers throughout the United States from February 2009 through August 2017 for between $120 and $430.

New WideTech, in a statement announcing the recall:

New Widetech, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission along with Health Canada and Profeco, is recalling certain AeonAir, Amana, ArcticAire (Danby), Classic (Danby / Home Hardware Stores), Commercial Cool, Danby, Danby Designer, Danby Premiere, De’Longhi, EdgeStar, Friedrich, Generations (Danby), Haier, Honeywell (JMATEK / AirTek), Idylis, Ivation, perfect aire, SuperClima, Whirlpool, and Whynter brand dehumidifiers manufactured before September 1, 2017, because under certain circumstances these dehumidifiers can overheat and catch fire posing fire and burn hazards.

If you need to check yours at home like I do, and you're finding it difficult to figure out brand name and model number, the brand name, model number, and pint capacity are printed on the nameplate sticker on the back of the dehumidifier. The company says to stop using the unit immediately, and contact them for a refund (which will be pro-rated based upon the age of the unit).

You can contact New Widetech toll-free at 877-251-1512 from 7am to 6pm (Rockford time) Monday through Friday, or online at www.recallrtr.com/nwtdehumidifier.