Recently, over two million dehumidifiers sold by major outlets such as Walmart and Lowe’s have been recalled due to a potential fire hazard. According to reports, the dehumidifiers can catch fire due to overheating.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the dehumidifiers were sold by retailers between 2009 and 2017. The price per unit ranged from $120 to $430 dollars and carried such brand names as Whirlpool, Honeywell, Amana, Aeon Air, Commercial, and Super Clima. Although the dehumidifiers were sold under different brands, the actual manufacturer of the product was New Widetech.
As of August 2021, there have been over 107 reported incidents of these models of dehumidifiers overheating and then catching fire. The Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website advises owners of these products to stop using them immediately. Consumers can visit the New Widetech website or the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website for a full list of models recalled.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates over 29 million consumers are injured annually by defective products, resulting in over 21,000 deaths. In the past, I have met with potential clients who have had their dwellings burned and suffered severe burn injuries due to defective products. A defective product that can cause a fire to one’s dwelling is a serious design defect that may even lead to the loss of life.
If you or someone you know has suffered injuries or the loss of a family member due to the negligence of a product manufacturer, contact an attorney at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz, & Stogner or call Barney Dill at 713-222-7211 or toll-free at 1-800-594-4884.