If part of your summer cooling strategy involved buying a fan from TJMaxx, Marshalls, or Sierra, here’s an important alert from our safety experts in the Good Housekeeping Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a product recall for about 18,000 Merkury Innovations Hot + Cool Heating and Cooling Fans sold at those retailers nationwide from October 2024 through October 2025. According to the commission, “the fan can overheat, posing a risk of serious injury or death from a fire hazard.” There have been two reports so far of a plugged-in fan catching fire, including one that caused smoke damage to a property.
No injuries have been reported.
What to do if you own this fan
Consumers who purchased the Merkury Innovations Hot + Cool Heating and Cooling Fan should stop using it immediately. To see if your fan is part of the recall, look for the model number MI-DHC02 printed on a white label at the bottom of the product and on the packaging. The fan retailed for about $30.
Next, unplug the product, cut the cord, and write the date, your initials, and the word “Recalled” in permanent marker on the device. Upload a photo of the destroyed product and send it to the manufacturer’s website. Once registration is confirmed, you’ll receive a full refund and instructions on how to dispose of the fan properly.
If you want to replace the fan, our team has several recommended models, including the Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool HP07, which offers the same multifunctionality as the recalled unit, though it costs much more.
Having written thousands of product reviews and how-to articles on all aspects of home ownership, from routine maintenance to major renovations, Dan (he/him) brings more than 20 years of industry experience to his role as the director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. A one-time roofer and a serial remodeler, Dan can often be found keeping house at his restored Brooklyn brownstone, where he lives with his wife and kids.
Source: Home Ideas - goodhousekeeping.com
