LG Electronics Tianjin Appliance Recalls DeHumidifiers: Fire and Burn Hazards

December 31, 2009

WASHINGTON, D.C. – THE U.S. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION AND HEALTH CANADA, IN COOPERATION WITH THE FIRM NAMED BELOW, TODAY ANNOUNCED A VOLUNTARY RECALL OF THE FOLLOWING PRODUCTS. CONSUMERS SHOULD STOP USING RECALLED PRODUCTS IMMEDIATELY UNLESS OTHERWISE INSTRUCTED.

NAME OF PRODUCT: PORTABLE DEHUMIDIFIERS

UNITS: ABOUT 98,000

MANUFACTURER: LG ELECTRONICS TIANJIN APPLIANCE CO., OF CHINA

HAZARD: THE POWER CONNECTOR FOR THE DEHUMIDIFIER’S COMPRESSOR CAN SHORT CIRCUIT, POSING FIRE AND BURN HAZARDS TO CONSUMERS.

INCIDENTS/INJURIES: LG HAS RECEIVED 11 REPORTS OF PROPERTY DAMAGE INCIDENTS INVOLVING ARCING, HEAT, SMOKE, INCLUDING FOUR FIRES THAT SPREAD TO THE BUILDING STRUCTURE AND INVOLVED SIGNIFICANT SMOKE/WATER DAMAGE. NO INJURIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED.

DESCRIPTION: THIS RECALL INVOLVES 30 PINT PORTABLE DEHUMIDIFIERS SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES IN THE CHART BELOW. THE DEHUMIDIFIERS ARE WHITE WITH A RED SHUT-OFF BUTTON, CONTROLS FOR FAN SPEED AND HUMIDITY CONTROL AND A FRONT-LOADING WATER BUCKET. “GOLDSTAR” OR “COMFORT-AIRE” IS PRINTED ON THE FRONT. THE MODEL AND SERIAL NUMBERS ARE PRINTED ON THE INTERIOR OF THE DEHUMIDIFIERS AND CAN BE VIEWED AFTER THE WATER BUCKET IS REMOVED.

BRAND	MODEL NO.	SERIAL NUMBER RANGE	SOLD AT
GOLDSTAR	GHD30Y7	611TAXX00001~08400611TAXX08401~40600612TAXX00001~20400612TAXX21001~30600	HOME DEPOT
GOLDSTAR	DH305Y7	612TAXX00001~00600701TAXX00001~16800702TAXX00001~03000	WAL-MART
COMFORT-AIRE	BHD-301-C	611TAXX00001~01697612TAXX00001~04200701TAXX00001~00578710TAXX00001~00599	HEAT CONTROLLER INC.

SOLD AT: THE HOME DEPOT, WALMART AND HEAT CONTROLLER INC. NATIONWIDE FROM JANUARY 2007 THROUGH JUNE 2008 FOR BETWEEN $140 AND $150.

MANUFACTURED IN: CHINA

REMEDY: CONSUMERS SHOULD IMMEDIATELY STOP USING THE RECALLED DEHUMIDIFIER, CONTACT LG TO DETERMINE IF IT IS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND RETURN IT TO AN AUTHORIZED LG SERVICE CENTER FOR A FREE REPAIR.

CONSUMER CONTACT: FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT LG TOLL-FREE AT (877) 220-0479 BETWEEN 8 A.M. AND 7 P.M. CT MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AND BETWEEN 8 A.M. AND 2 P.M. CT ON SATURDAY FOR THE LOCATION OF AN AUTHORIZED LG SERVICE CENTER FOR THE REPAIR, OR VISIT THE FIRM’S WEB SITE AT WWW.30PINTDEHUMIDIFIERRECALL.COM