LG Electronics Tianjin Appliance Recalls DeHumidifiers: Fire and Burn Hazards

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.

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