It looks like a small summer fan, but it can catch fire: check your Merkury unit now

Checked on

• Checked at: 2026-06-12 15:55 KST
• Source basis: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recall notice dated June 11, 2026, and Merkury Innovations’ official recall registration page

Who this is for

• People using small personal cooling or heating fans at home, on desks, or in bedrooms
• Shoppers who buy low-cost seasonal appliances from TJMaxx, Marshalls, or Sierra
• Families with imported, gifted, or travel-bought household devices that may not be tracked carefully
• Anyone pulling out small cooling devices again as summer starts

Start here

On June 11, 2026, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a recall for the Merkury Innovations Hot + Cool Heating and Cooling Fan. The hazard is overheating while connected to power, creating a fire risk. The official instruction is immediate: stop using the product and begin the refund process.

This is not a giant premium appliance recall. That matters. The product is a compact bladeless hot-and-cool fan/heater, about 13 inches tall and around 2 pounds, the kind of small appliance people put on a desk, near a bed, in a child’s room, or in a corner of the house and forget about.

The main model identifier in the CPSC notice is MI-DHC02. Merkury’s own recall page also shows MI-DHC02-199. The official guidance says to check the white label on the bottom of the unit and the packaging. The recalled units were sold at TJMaxx, Marshalls, and Sierra stores in the U.S. from October 2024 through October 2025 for about $30.

Three things worth knowing now

1. This is a stop using it first recall, not a keep using it while you look into it recall.
2. Small personal appliances are easy to overlook, so the bottom label matters more than memory or appearance.
3. The refund process is not just a contact form. It requires marking the unit, photographing it, cutting the power cord, and registering it properly.

Three common situations

1. You have several small desk or room fans at home

That is exactly when a product like this can be missed. A compact seasonal appliance may stay plugged in near a desk, under a table, in a child’s room, or in a guest room for long periods.

2. You bought it casually and do not remember where

Products from off-price retail stores are easy to forget because they are often impulse or convenience buys. If you remember the shape but not the model, checking the bottom label is the fastest path.

3. It is currently stored away

Storage does not remove the need to check. The problem appears when it is connected to power, which means the best time to identify it is before it gets plugged back in for summer use.

Practical checks

• Look for small Merkury cooling or heating fans in your home first.
• Check the white label on the bottom for MI-DHC02.
• If it matches, unplug it immediately and stop using it.
• Review the official Merkury recall registration page.
• Follow the instructions to mark the unit with the date, your initials, and the word RECALLED.
• Take the required photos and safely cut the power cord.
• Wait for the official registration confirmation before disposal if the instructions tell you to do so.

Easy to miss

This kind of recall is easy to miss because the product is small, inexpensive, and seasonal. Those are exactly the devices people tend to keep around without remembering model numbers.

The reported incident count may also sound low at first glance, but that is not the right way to read a fire recall. The CPSC notice says the firm received two reports of the fan catching fire while connected to power, including one report of smoke damage to property. No injuries were reported, but the point of a recall like this is to stop using the product before the damage gets worse.

Official links

• CPSC recall notice: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2026/Merkury-Innovations-Recalls-Hot-Cool-Heating-and-Cooling-Fans-Due-to-Risk-of-Serious-Injury-or-Death-from-Fire-Hazard
• Merkury official recall registration page: https://merkuryinnovations.com/pages/fanrecall
• Merkury main website: https://merkuryinnovations.com/

Common questions

Q. What if the unit says MI-DHC02-199

Merkury’s recall page uses MI-DHC02-199 while the CPSC notice highlights MI-DHC02. If your unit shows the same root model or a very close match, verify it through the official recall page.

Q. What if it is currently in storage

It is still worth checking now. The safest time to identify the unit is before it gets plugged in again for summer use.

Q. Why do they ask people to cut the power cord

This refund process is built around proof that the product will no longer be used. That is why the instructions require marking the unit, photographing it, and cutting the cord.

Q. Does this matter outside the United States

Yes, if the unit entered your home through gifts, travel, import, or resale. The model check still matters regardless of where you are using it now.

One-line takeaway

This Merkury recall is the kind where the size and price of the appliance make it easier to ignore, and that is exactly why checking the bottom label right now matters.