Alternative dehumidifier options to buy amid big recall

Looking for relief from the muggy weather? You may want to think twice before plugging in your dehumidifier.

On Wednesday, August 16, Gree USA Inc. issued a recall of over 1.56 million of its dehumidifiers, citing concerns over fire and burn hazards. Gree has received reports of at least 23 fires caused by the dehumidifiers in question, in addition to overheating incidents and property damage. This recall comes months after Gree plead guilty to failing to notify the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) that these dehumidifiers could catch fire.

Owners of these dehumidifiers are urged to cease use immediately and contact Gree USA Inc. for a refund.

Which dehumidifiers have been recalled?

42 models of dehumidifiers sold at various stores across the country including The Home Depot, Lowe's, Menards, Sam's Club, Sears, and Walmart from 2011 to 2014 have been recalled. The recall impacts 1.56 million units across five brands under Gree, including Kenmore, GE, SoleusAir, Norpole, and Seabreeze.

The recalled units are as follows:

Kenmore

• 407.53530310

• 407.53550310

• 407.53570310

• 407.53571310

GE

• ADEH50LPQ1

• ADEH50LQQ1

• ADEH50LRL1

• ADEL30LRQ1

• ADEL50LRL1

• ADEL70LRL1

• ADER30LPQ1

• ADER30LQQ1

• ADER40LPQ1

• ADER40LQQ1

• ADER50LPQ1

• ADER50LQQ1

• ADER50LRL1

• ADER50LSL1 (date code 01/14)

• ADER65LPQ1

• ADER65LQQ1

• ADER70LRL1

• ADEW30LPQ1

• ADEW30LQQ1

• ADEW50LPQ1

• ADEW50LQQ1

• ADEW50LRL1

• ADEW65LPQ1

• ADEW65LQQ1

• ADEW70LRL1

SoleusAir

• GL-DEH-45F-2Q3

• GL-DEH-70EIP-6L3

• GL-DEH-70F-2L3

• GM-DEH-30M-1Q3

• GM-DEH-45-1Q3

• GM-DEH-70-1L3

• SG-DEH-25-4

• SG-DEH-30E-1Q3

• SG-DEH-45E-1Q3

• SG-DEH-70E-1L3

• SG-DEH-70E-2L3

Sabreeze

• DH470SB

Norpole

• NPDH30PG-1

“Consumers should check their dehumidifier’s serial number to see if it’s part of the recall,” says Reviewed Chief Scientist Dr. Dave Ellerby. “Even if they don’t have a problem product, there are some safety tips they should follow. Larger dehumidifiers use a lot of power, so running them using an extension cord is generally unsafe. Dehumidifiers also need regular cleaning. Check the filter regularly to remove dust, and clean the water reservoir to prevent mold. A clean dehumidifier will use less power and last longer.”

Alternatives to replace your dehumidifiers

If you’re looking to replace your recently recalled dehumidifier, or you’re just in the market for an upgrade, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve tested several dehumidifiers in our labs evaluating how easy they are to operate, how easy they were to clean, and, of course, how effectively they remove moisture.

The best dehumidifier we’ve tested is LG’s Puricare. This sleek, 50-pint dehumidifier is easy to empty and quickly reduces humidity. Its touch screen controls make it intuitive to use and it’s among the most portable dehumidifiers we’ve tested, too.

$274 from the Home Depot

For a more budget-friendly option, we recommend our value pick, the Hisense DH7021K1W because it’s efficient and easy to empty. The other dehumidifiers we’ve tested require a minimum temperature of ~40ºF to work properly. The Hisense dehumidifier has the lowest operational temperature at 38ºF, meaning that it works in a wider range of areas than the competition, including basements.

$259 from Lowe's