The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission announced that the LG Electronics Tianjin Appliance Company of China has begun a voluntary recall for its line of Portable Dehumidifiers. Both the USCPSC and LG Electronics are urging consumers to cease using the various models of recalled humidifiers and to contact the manufacturer or distributor immediately.
More than 98,000 portable dehumidifiers have been recalled because the power connectors on the varying models pose potential fire and burn hazards to consumers through short circuiting in the compressors. There have been 11 reports of property damage filed to LG, of which four cases involved serious fire and water damage to residential property. There have yet to be any injuries reported.
Thirty different types of portable humidifiers manufactured by LG under the brands Goldstar and Comfort-Aire are affected by the recall. Goldstar models sold at Home Depot include the model GHD30Y7 and the specific product numbers of 611TAxx00001~08400, 611TAxx08401~40600, 612TAxx00001~20400, and 612TAxx21001~30600. Goldstar models sold at Wal-Mart include the model number DH305Y7 and the specific product numbers of 612TAxx00001~00600, 701TAxx00001~16800, and 702TAxx00001~03000. Comfort-Aire models sold by Heat Controller, Inc., bear the model number BHD-301-C and the specific product numbers of 611TAxx00001~01697, 612TAxx00001~04200, 701TAxx00001~00578, and 710TAxx00001~00599.
The products and models in question were sold between January 2007 and June 2008 for as low as $140 and as much as $150. LG strongly suggests that consumers using any model of Goldstar or Comfort-Aire humidifier stop using them immediately to check if their model is among the aforementioned eligible for recall. Consumers who are currently using an affected model can contact LG toll-free at (877) 220-0479 between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday and between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. ET on Saturday for the location of an authorized LG service center for free repairs. Consumers can also visit the following Web site for further details and contact information: www.30pintdehumidifierrecall.com.