Teco Dehumidifier Used for 20 Years Catches Fire, Consumer Sues for NT$1.59 Million – Court Rules in Favor of Compensation

A woman in Taipei experienced a fire caused by her Teco dehumidifier, which had been in use for nearly 20 years. On November 2, 2024, while she was away at a work meeting with the dehumidifier still running, a fire broke out. Upon returning home, she found that the fire had extinguished itself, but her furniture, clothing, and household items were severely damaged. The most severely burned item at the scene was the Teco dehumidifier.

The plaintiff claimed that the fire caused extensive damage to furniture, bedding, clothing, cosmetics, and daily necessities. During the repair period, she also had to rent temporary housing. An insurance adjuster calculated her losses at NT$798,866. Citing the Consumer Protection Act, she requested an additional punitive compensation equal to the loss amount, totaling NT$1,597,732 in damages from Teco.

In response, Teco Electric raised three main defenses:

- Dispute over fire cause: The fire investigation noted "electrical factors" as the cause, and Teco argued that short circuits from other damaged power cords could not be ruled out. - Product age and maintenance responsibility: The dehumidifier model was manufactured between 2005 and 2006. Teco stated that units over three years old should undergo factory maintenance, and those over ten years should be replaced. - User negligence: Teco claimed users should unplug appliances when not in use or during extended absences, suggesting the plaintiff failed to follow proper usage guidelines.

However, the New Taipei City Fire Department's investigation confirmed that the Teco dehumidifier was the ignition source. Crucially, after the fire, Anxin Technology, a subsidiary of the Teco Group, retrieved the burned unit. Their service record clearly listed the model as "MD-1214B," with a handwritten note stating "Model MD-1214B confirmed" and "chassis conforms to original design," serving as key evidence that the Teco-manufactured unit caused the fire.

The Shilin District Court ruled that operating a dehumidifier while away from home still falls within the scope of "reasonable and expected safe use." The court emphasized that manufacturers must ensure their products meet safety expectations under normal usage conditions. As a result, the court ordered Teco Electric to pay the plaintiff NT$687,313 in compensation. The ruling is subject to appeal.