1.7 million air conditioners recalled over mold exposure, respiratory issues
1.7 million air conditioners recalled over mold exposure, respiratory issues
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A home appliance company whose window air conditioners were chosen as the New York Times' best units has recalled 1.7 million of the devices due to possible mold growth leading to sickness.
The New York Times (NYT) listed the Midea U Window Air Conditioner as the number one contender on the newspaper's list of six best air conditioners of 2025, while the U+ model won runner-up. The units were recently recalled because pooled water in the air conditioners may not drain quickly enough, leading to mold growth and possible health issues.
'Mold exposure poses risks of respiratory issues or other infections to some consumers,' according to Midea.
The recall was issued on June 5, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). About 1.7 million of the devices have been recalled, and about 45,900 were sold in Canada, according to the announcement.
There have been at least 152 reports of mold in the air conditioners, including 17 reports of customers suffering from respiratory infections, allergic reactions, coughing, sneezing or sore throats from mold exposure, Midea said.
Read more: USA TODAY's recall database
Where were the recalled air conditioners sold?
The recalled air conditioners were made in China and Thailand and sold under brand names such as Comfort Aire, Danby, Frigidaire, Insignia, Keystone, LBG Products, Mr. Cool, Perfect Aire and Sea Breeze.
The units were sold at Costco, Menards, Home Depot, Best Buy and other stores nationwide and online at Midea.com, Amazon.com, Costco.com, Menards.com, HomeDepot.com, Lowes.com, Walmart.com, BJs.com, BestBuy.com, and other websites between March 2020 and May 2025. The unit prices were listed between $280 and $500.
"This U-shaped Midea air conditioner is the quietest model we've ever tested, and it's designed in a way that still allows you to open your window. But the installation process isn't fun," the New York Times wrote about the U model.
Regarding the runner-up U+ model, the NYT said the "Plus has improved efficiency and some minor feature upgrades. A redesigned bracket improves the installation process (slightly)."
The NYT added an editor's note once the paper got wind of the recall.
How to determine if you have a recalled air conditioner?
The recalled air conditioners were designed to fit in windows, and they were sold in three sizes of cooling power, including 8,000, 10,000 and 12,000 British Thermal Units (BTU).
The air conditioners measure about 22 inches wide and 14 inches high, and the model number can be found on a label on the front right side of the unit, Midea said. The units have remote controls and can also be controlled with a mobile app.
Impacted model numbers include:
Comfort Aire: RXTS-101A, RXTS-121A, RXTS-81A
RXTS-101A, RXTS-121A, RXTS-81A Danby: DAC080B6IWDB-6, DAC080B7IWDB-6, DAC100B6IWDB-6
DAC080B6IWDB-6, DAC080B7IWDB-6, DAC100B6IWDB-6 Frigidaire: GHWQ125WD1, GHWQ105WD1, GHWQ085WD1
GHWQ125WD1, GHWQ105WD1, GHWQ085WD1 Insignia: NS-AC8WU3-C, NS-AC8WU3
NS-AC8WU3-C, NS-AC8WU3 Keystone: KSTAW12UA, KSTAW10UA, KSTAW08UA
KSTAW12UA, KSTAW10UA, KSTAW08UA LBG Products: QB-8K CO
QB-8K CO Midea: MAW08AV1QWT, MAW08AV1QWT-C, MAW08U1QWT, MAW08V1QWT, MAW08V1QWT-S, MAW08V1QWT-T, MAW08W1QWT, MAW10U1QWT, MAW10V1QWT, MAW10W1QWT, MAW12AV1QWT, MAW12AV1QWT-C, MAW12U1QWT, MAW12V1QWT, MAW12V1QWT-M, MAW12V1QWT-S, MAW12W1QWT
MAW08AV1QWT, MAW08AV1QWT-C, MAW08U1QWT, MAW08V1QWT, MAW08V1QWT-S, MAW08V1QWT-T, MAW08W1QWT, MAW10U1QWT, MAW10V1QWT, MAW10W1QWT, MAW12AV1QWT, MAW12AV1QWT-C, MAW12U1QWT, MAW12V1QWT, MAW12V1QWT-M, MAW12V1QWT-S, MAW12W1QWT Mr. Cool: MWUC12T115, MWUC10T115, MWUC08T115
MWUC12T115, MWUC10T115, MWUC08T115 Perfect Aire: 1PACU8000, 1PACU12000, 1PACU10000
1PACU8000, 1PACU12000, 1PACU10000 Sea Breeze: MWAUQB-12CRFN8-BCN10, WAU310YREX, WAU312YREX, WAU38YREX
What is Midea doing to fix the issue?
Customers with recalled air conditioners must contact Midea, the company said, for a free repair or a full or prorated refund based on the purchase date or the date the product was made.
Customers who want a refund will have to send the unit back to Midea using a free shipping label or submit a photograph showing that they cut the unplugged power cord of the unit.
Those who want their units repaired must contact Midea so a technician can install a new drain plug or send customers a repair kit that includes a new drain plug and bubble level, depending on the unit model.
Customers who continue using the air conditioners while awaiting a repair should visit www.MideaUrecall.expertinquiry.com for instructions on how to inspect their unit prior to continuing use.
What should I do if I have one of the recalled units?
Consumers have multiple options to contact the company, including:
Calling Midea toll-free from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET at (888) 345-0256.
Emailing midea4028@midea.com.
Visiting https://mideaurecall.expertinquiry.com
By visiting www.midea.com/us and clicking 'RECALL INFORMATION' for more information.
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.
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Laumbach suggests wiping down the inside and outside of your air conditioner regularly to remove dust, and to regularly clean and change your filter. "Dust can be enough food for mold to grow," he says. "You want to keep those coils and the filter clean." You may even want to consider using an additional air purifier with a HEPA filter, or seeing if your AC unit can use a HEPA filter to tamp down on mold spores circulating in your air, Tony Abate, a certified mold inspector and vice president and chief technology officer at AtmosAir Solutions, tells Yahoo Life. (Check out our favorite air purifiers here.) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also recommends keeping your air conditioning drip pans clean and the drain lines unobstructed and flowing properly. Again, mold can be an issue in any air conditioner — not just the models recalled by Midea. Mold exposure can raise the risk of a range of health issues, from allergy symptoms to full-blown infections, making it important to stay on top of the spores in your home. Doing routine air conditioner maintenance and cleanings will help to lower the risk of mold issues happening in the first place. Omero Flores, CEO of American AC & Heating in Harlingen, Texas Jamie Alan, RPH, PharmD, PhD, associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University Robert Laumbach, MD, MPH, CIH, associate professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Justice at the Rutgers School of Public Health Sean Goddard, product manager of indoor air quality and coils at Trane Technologies Tony Abate, a certified mold inspector and chief technology officer at AtmosAir Solutions Our health content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional on questions about your health.
