Fires lead to recall of Kenmore dehumidifiers

WASHINGTON — Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Kmart Corp. are recalling about 795,000 Kenmore dehumidifiers because of potential fire and burn hazards.

The company, in conjunction with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, said Thursday that the dehumidifiers can overheat, smoke, melt and catch fire.

The company has received 107 incident reports, three of those for smoke inhalation injuries. The reports include more than $7 million in property damage.

The dehumidifiers were made between 2003 and 2005 and sold in 35-, 50-, and 70-pint versions for between $140 and $220. They were sold at Sears and Kmart stores in the U.S. and on the Sears and Kmart websites.

The product is made of white plastic, with a Kenmore logo on the front top of the unit. The dehumidifiers are between 21 and 24 inches tall, about 15 inches wide and about 13.5 inches in depth. They have fan and humidity controls on their top front panels and come with front-loading water buckets. Some models include remote controls.

Model numbers include:

Ÿ 35-pint (2004) - 580.54351400

Ÿ 50-pint (2003) - 580.53509300

Ÿ 70-pint (2003) - 580.53701300

Ÿ 70-pint (2004) - 580.54701400

Ÿ 70-pint (2005) - 580.54701500

The model number can be found on the right side of the unit’s interior once the bucket is removed.

Consumers are advised to immediately turn off and unplug the dehumidifier. Individuals can contact the recall fulfillment center at (855) 400-4641 or www.Kenmoredehumidifierrecall.com. Consumers will receive a Sears gift card for either $75, $80, $90 or $100. The gift card amount will depend on the dehumidifier’s capacity and the year it was made. The gift cards can be used at any Sears or Kmart store or at the stores’ web sites.

Those consumers not wanting a gift card can request a refund in the form of a check. All consumers impacted by the recall will also receive a $25 coupon that can be used at Sears stores or on Sears’ web site to buy a new Kenmore dehumidifier.