Can Dehumidifiers Catch Fire? What the Recalls Show

Last Updated on October 25, 2026 by Umar Farooq

Can dehumidifiers catch fire? Yes: it is rare for any one machine, but millions of units have been recalled for overheating, so a recalled or neglected dehumidifier is a genuine fire risk. Check yours against the recall lists before you do anything else.

A dehumidifier runs for hours, unattended, in a basement or a back room, with a compressor and a lot of wiring inside a plastic shell. That is the profile of an appliance that deserves one careful look, not a panic.

Can dehumidifiers catch fire? What the recalls show

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is the clearest public record. Its warning about Gree dehumidifiers states that there have been reports of four deaths potentially associated with them, more than 2,000 reported incidents of the recalled units overheating, and about 450 fires causing more than $19 million in property damage.

Gree is not alone. A forensic engineer’s review of dehumidifier fires lists earlier recalls too, including a Midea recall in 2016 of about 4.2 million units after 38 reports of smoke and fire and about $4.8 million in property damage, and a 2013 Gree recall of about 2.5 million units. Many of those machines were sold under other brand names, so the badge on the front is not a reliable guide to who built it.

These are US figures, and the models sold in the UK and Europe differ. They still show what can go wrong inside the type of appliance, which is why they are worth knowing.

Five causes of dehumidifier fires

The same review explains the failure modes. In plain terms:

1. Overheating compressor. Overheating is described as the most common failure. A compressor has a thermal protector that cuts power before it gets dangerously hot; if that fails, the unit can overheat and ignite.
2. A defective electrical connection or wiring. Several recalls involved an internal connection that could overheat and ignite the plastic housing.
3. A failed capacitor. It can cause short cycling and compressor overheating.
4. Blocked airflow. Dust on coils, a blocked grille or boxed-in sides make the fan and compressor run hot.
5. A frozen coil from running too cold. Using a unit below about 18 C (65 F) or letting ice build up can freeze the coil and overheat the compressor. How a defrost cycle protects the machine is worth understanding if yours lives in a cold room.

Check yours against the recall lists

If your dehumidifier is on a recall list, or smells of burning, crackles or is hot to the touch: switch it off, unplug it at the wall socket, and stop using it. Do not open it. Contact the manufacturer or retailer.

• Find the make, model and serial number on the label, usually on the back or base.
• Search the CPSC dehumidifier recall page and, in the UK, the GOV.UK product safety alerts and recalls database, for the brand and model.
• Do not trust the brand alone. Check the model number, because the same factory made units sold under many names.
• If recalled, stop using it and follow the recall instructions for a refund or replacement.

How to lower the risk with a machine that is not recalled

The forensic review’s prevention advice is practical:

• Leave space. Keep about 20 to 30 cm (8 to 12 inches) clear around the unit and do not block the louvres. Where to put a dehumidifier covers placement.
• Clean it. Vacuum the grilles and clean the filter and coils periodically, following the maker’s instructions.
• Use it in its temperature range. Below about 18 C (65 F), use a low-temperature model, and let the defrost cycle run.
• Do not set the humidity target absurdly low. A target the room cannot reach makes it run non-stop.
• Empty the tank, or use the drain hose or pump, so it is not hunting for a float switch. See can you leave a dehumidifier on overnight.
• Plug it straight into a wall socket, not a thin extension lead. A cheap lead that heats up is a fire risk in its own right.

What a burning smell means

A burning smell is not a fault to work through; it is a stop sign. Unplug and read what causes a dehumidifier burning smell, then decide whether the fix is cleaning or replacement. A one-off dusty smell on first switch-on after months in a cupboard is common; a smell that persists is not.

A recalled or neglected dehumidifier is a fire risk, and a clean, recall-free one almost never is

The risk is real but concentrated: recalled models, dust-choked machines and cold, ice-prone rooms. Check the recall lists, keep the grilles clear, plug into the wall, and treat a burning smell as a reason to unplug.

FAQ

Is it safe to leave a dehumidifier on overnight?

For a recall-free, clean, correctly placed unit, generally yes, and modern units shut off when the tank is full. If yours is old, recalled, smells hot or sits boxed in, do not run it unattended.

What causes a dehumidifier to overheat?

Blocked airflow, a failing thermal protector or capacitor, a faulty internal connection, or running with a frozen coil in a cold room.

How do I know if my dehumidifier has been recalled?

Find the make, model and serial number on the label and search the CPSC dehumidifier recall page or the UK government recall listings. Check the model number, not just the brand.

Can a dehumidifier catch fire when it is turned off?

A unit that is unplugged is not live. A plugged-in machine with a fault can still be a risk, so unplug anything that smells of burning or has been recalled.

Should I use an extension lead with a dehumidifier?

Plug it directly into a wall socket where you can. A thin or overloaded lead can overheat, and a dehumidifier draws power for hours.