About 18,000 portable heating-and-cooling fans have been recalled across the United States after reports that the devices overheated and caught fire while connected to a power source.
The recall affects Merkury Innovations Hot + Cool Heating and Cooling Fans with model number MI-DHC02. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warned that the fan can overheat, creating a risk of serious injury or death from fire. Consumers have been told to unplug the affected product immediately and stop using it.
The official CPSC recall notice includes photographs, model-identification details and instructions for receiving a full refund.
Which Heating-and-Cooling Fans Are Recalled?
The recall covers Merkury Innovations Hot + Cool Heating and Cooling Fans carrying model number MI-DHC02.
The product is a small white bladeless appliance that functions as both a portable fan and a heater. It measures approximately 13 inches tall, five inches wide and five inches deep and weighs around two pounds.
Owners can find the model number on a white label attached to the bottom of the unit. The same number may also appear on the original packaging.
Only the identified Merkury Hot + Cool model is included in this recall. Consumers should not assume that every bladeless fan, heater or Merkury-branded product is affected.
The recall number is 26-539. That number may help consumers confirm the campaign when contacting the company or discussing the product with a retailer.
Where the Recalled Fans Were Sold
The affected fans were sold nationwide through TJ Maxx, Marshalls and Sierra stores from October 2024 through October 2025.
Each unit cost approximately $30. The product’s low price and compact design may have made it attractive for bedrooms, offices, dorm rooms and small living spaces where consumers wanted both heating and cooling from one appliance.
Because the fans were sold through discount retailers, some buyers may no longer have the original receipt or packaging. Neither item should be required simply to determine whether a fan is affected, since the model number can be checked directly on the product.
Consumers who purchased a similar-looking fan during the sales period should turn it over carefully after unplugging it and compare the bottom label with the recalled model number.
Two Fans Reportedly Caught Fire
Merkury Innovations received two reports of the fan catching fire while connected to a power source. One of those incidents resulted in smoke damage to property.
No injuries had been reported when the recall was announced. However, a product does not need to cause an injury before regulators consider it dangerous enough to remove from homes.
A fire involving a portable heater or fan can spread quickly if the appliance is positioned near bedding, curtains, furniture, clothing or paper. Smoke can also cause significant property damage even when flames are contained before reaching the surrounding room.
The reported incidents show why owners should not continue using the device simply because their own fan has not yet shown signs of trouble.
Why a Small Fan Can Become a Serious Fire Hazard
Heating appliances use electrical resistance to produce warmth, which means internal components may operate at high temperatures during normal use.
A properly designed product must control that heat, maintain safe electrical connections and shut down when conditions become unsafe. When a component fails or excessive heat builds inside the housing, surrounding plastic or wiring may melt and ignite.
Combination products can place additional demands on internal components because the same compact enclosure contains a fan motor, heating element, wiring and electronic controls.
The CPSC did not provide a detailed public explanation of the specific internal defect responsible for the Merkury fan overheating. The confirmed danger is that the product can become hot enough to catch fire while connected to electricity.
Owners should not attempt to open the housing, replace an internal part or test the product again to identify the failure. A recalled electrical device should be treated as unsafe unless the manufacturer offers an approved repair.
Warning Signs Should Not Be Used as a Safety Test
An electrical appliance may begin showing warning signs before a serious failure. These can include a burning smell, discoloration, melting plastic, unusual noises, flickering controls, excessive heat or a plug that feels hot.
However, the absence of those signs does not mean a recalled fan is safe.
An internal electrical connection may fail suddenly, and the first obvious indication could be smoke or flames. Continued operation also gives heat damage more time to develop inside areas the owner cannot see.
The safest response is therefore based on the model number rather than the fan’s current appearance or performance.
Consumers should also avoid leaving any portable heater operating while sleeping, away from home or in a room without adult supervision. The National Fire Protection Association’s heating-safety guidance recommends keeping portable heaters at least three feet away from items that can burn.
What Owners Should Do Immediately
Consumers should unplug the recalled fan and stop using it immediately.
Merkury Innovations is offering a full refund rather than a repair or replacement. To receive the refund, the owner must permanently mark and disable the product so that it cannot return to use.
The company requires consumers to write the date, their initials and the word “Recalled” on the fan using a permanent marker. The power cord must then be unplugged and safely cut. A photograph of the disabled product must be uploaded through the company’s recall-registration page.
The official Merkury Innovations recall portal provides the registration form and submission instructions.
After the registration has been confirmed, the company will provide guidance on how the disabled fan should be discarded.
Why the Power Cord Must Be Cut
Cutting the power cord prevents the recalled product from being connected and used again.
This step is important because a fan discarded without being disabled could be retrieved by another person, donated accidentally or sold through a secondhand marketplace.
Federal law prohibits the sale of a product covered by a voluntary recall conducted in cooperation with the CPSC. That prohibition applies to individual sellers as well as retailers.
Owners should never cut the cord while the product is plugged in. The fan must first be disconnected from the electrical outlet, and the cord should be cut only when the owner can do so safely.
The product should not be donated to a charity, passed to a friend or placed outside with a sign saying it still works.
How to Contact Merkury Innovations
Consumers can contact Merkury Innovations by telephone at 888-232-3143 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
The company can also be reached by email at support@merkuryinnovations.com.
Anyone experiencing difficulty obtaining the promised refund may submit a recall complaint through the CPSC. The agency’s complaint process allows consumers to report situations in which a company appears unresponsive or the announced remedy is unavailable.
Owners should save photographs, emails and confirmation numbers connected to the refund request until the process has been completed.
Portable Heaters Need Direct Wall Connections
Portable heating devices can draw substantial electrical current. For that reason, they should generally be connected directly to a wall outlet rather than a power strip or extension cord.
An unsuitable extension cord can overheat, especially when its wire is too thin to carry the appliance’s electrical load. Multiple high-power products connected to the same circuit can also create excessive demand.
The CPSC’s home heating safety information advises consumers to keep portable heaters away from combustible materials and avoid using them in ways not permitted by the manufacturer.
These precautions apply to functioning products. They do not make the recalled Merkury fan safe to continue using.
Moving it away from curtains or plugging it directly into the wall cannot correct the overheating defect identified by the recall.
Smoke Alarms Remain an Essential Backup
Every home should have working smoke alarms on each level, inside sleeping areas and outside bedrooms.
Smoke alarms cannot prevent an appliance from catching fire, but they may provide critical warning during the early stages of a fire. Batteries should be tested regularly, and alarms should be replaced according to the manufacturer’s recommended service life.
A home containing portable heaters should also have a clear escape plan. Household members should know how to leave quickly and where to meet outside.
Anyone who sees flames or significant smoke should leave the building and contact emergency services from a safe location. Attempting to carry a burning electrical appliance outside can cause burns or spread the fire.
The Recall Requires Action Even Without Visible Damage
The recalled Merkury Hot + Cool fan may look normal, operate quietly and continue producing warm or cool air. None of those observations removes the fire risk.
Two units have already caught fire while connected to power, including one incident that caused smoke damage. The product is being recalled because regulators and the company determined that continued use presents an unacceptable hazard.
Owners should identify model MI-DHC02, unplug the fan and follow the refund instructions. The appliance should remain unused while the claim is processed.
A portable device intended to provide comfort should not remain in a home once it has been shown capable of becoming an ignition source. Disabling the unit and completing the recall remedy is the safest way to prevent another fire.
