1.7 million Wirecutter-recommended air conditioners recalled over mold exposure risk
Nearly two million Midea AC units, which were recently named Wirecutter's 'best air conditioner,' have been recalled ave been recalled following customer reports of mold in the appliances.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Midea issued a recall on Thursday for the brand's U and U+ Window Air Conditioners after they became aware of at least 152 customer reports of mold in the air conditioners in addition to 17 reports of consumers experiencing symptoms such as respiratory infections, allergic reactions, coughing, sneezing and/or sore throats from mold exposure.
The recalled units are white and about 22 inches wide and 14 inches tall. They are designed to fit inside windows and are available in three different levels of cooling power: 8,000, 10,000, and 12,000 BTU (British Thermal Units).
The air conditioners were sold by Comfort Aire, Danby, Frigidaire, Insignia, Keystone, LBG Products, Mr. Cool, Perfect Aire, and Sea Breeze in addition to Midea. The brand name is printed on the units with the model number on a label on the front right side of the unit when facing the air conditioner.
The list of affected models for each brand is available in the CPSC's report.
There were about 1.7 million air conditioners recalled across the U.S., plus another 45,900 sold in Canada.
The appliances were sold in Costco, Menards, Home Depot, and Best Buy locations nationwide and online at Midea.com, Amazon.com, Costco.com, Menards.com, HomeDepot.com, Lowes.com, Walmart.com, BJs.com, and BestBuy.com from March 2020 through May 2025. Each air conditioning unit sold for anywhere between $280 and $500.
The CPSC report urges anyone who has purchased an affected unit to contact Midea for a free repair or receive either a full or prorated refund based on when it was purchased.
To receive a refund, customers must send the unit back to Midea using a free shipping label or submit a photo showing they cut the unplugged power cord. Customers looking to repair their existing unit should contact Midea to arrange for a technician to install a new drain plug or send them a repair kit.
Wirecutter updated its article about the Midea air conditioners with an editor's note on Thursday addressing the recall.
'Midea has issued a recall on the Midea U Plus and is offering a new fix to reduce the risk of mold,' the note read.
'We plan on testing this new solution soon. In the meantime, we recommend the Frigidaire Gallery GHWW085TE1 or the Midea MAW08HV1CWT, a similar model from the same company with a more traditional design.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
1.7 million air conditioners recalled over reports of mold growth
(NewsNation) — About 1.7 million window air conditioning units have been recalled in the U.S. after 17 customers reported getting sick from fungal growth in the appliance. The Midea U and U+ window air conditioners may fail to drain quickly, causing mold growth that 'poses risks of respiratory issues or other infections to some consumers,' according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Nearly 46,000 units were also sold in Canada. There have been 152 reports of mold in the white AC units, including 17 reports of people saying exposure to the fungi made them cough, sneeze or have other allergic reactions. Units were sold under the brand names: Midea Comfort Aire Danby Frigidaire Insignia Keystone LBG Products Mr. Cool Perfect Aire Sea Breeze The Midea air conditioners fit in windows and resonated with consumers because of their unique design, which allows consumers to close their windows 'through' the unit. The units were sold from March 2020 through May 2025 for $280 to $500 in-store and online at Costco, Menards, Best Buy, Home Depot and more. Customers who purchased the units can get a free repair or potentially a prorated refund by contacting Midea. Consumers who choose to use their air conditioners while awaiting a repair can go to to find out how to inspect their unit before continuing to use it. For more information, consumers can visit and click on 'Recall Information' or call (888) 345-0256 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Mondays-Fridays. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Yahoo
BowFlex adjustable dumbbells recalled after dislodging injuries
BowFlex is recalling millions of units of its adjustable dumbbells because their weight plates can dislodge and cause injury to users. The recall comes after over 100 reports of injuries including concussions, abrasions, broken toes or contusions, according to the CPSC. The dumbbells are popular because of their versatility: They allow users to lift dumbbells of different weights, without owning a full set of individually weighted dumbbells, which would take up a lot of space. A total of 3,844,200 units of the product are being recalled, according to a notice from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Thursday. That includes 3.7 million units that were sold by Nautilus Inc. Nautilus changed its corporate name to BowFlex in 2023. BowFlex filed for bankruptcy protection in March 2024 and was acquired by Johnson Health Tech Retail, which will refund customers for the dumbbells' purchase price in the form of a voucher or for replacement units, so long as they were purchased from Johnson Health Tech Trading. For customers who purchased the dumbbells from BowFlex, formerly Nautilus, consumers may request a refund in the form of a prorated voucher. They are also eligible to receive a one year digital fitness membership through Johnson Health Tech Trading. Johnson Health Tech Trading is reaching out to its customers directly, according to the recall notice. Consumer Reports, the nonprofit consumer product testing organization, said the company's remedy is insufficient. "Consumers should be able to receive their money back in full, no strings attached," she said in a statement to The recalled dumbbell sets, called the "BowFlex 552, 52.5-lb Adjustable Dumbbells," and the "BowFlex 1090, 90-lb Adjustable Dumbbells," were sold in pairs and as single units. The black weights came with handles, weight plates and a plastic storage tray. The 1090 dumbbells could be adjusted to weigh between 10 and 90 pounds. The CPSC is urging owners of the recalled dumbbells to stop using them immediately, and to seek out a refund. Consumers can fill out a claim form here. Musk alleges Trump's name appeared in Epstein files as feud escalates What to know about President Trump's travel ban on nationals from 12 countries Trump says he's disappointed by Musk criticism of budget bill, Musk says he got Trump elected
CBS News
19 hours ago
- CBS News
BowFlex adjustable dumbbells recalled after more than 100 dislodging injuries
BowFlex is recalling millions of units of its adjustable dumbbells because their weight plates can dislodge and cause injury to users. The recall comes after over 100 reports of injuries including concussions, abrasions, broken toes or contusions, according to the CPSC. The dumbbells are popular because of their versatility: They allow users to lift dumbbells of different weights, without owning a full set of individually weighted dumbbells, which would take up a lot of space. A total of 3,844,200 units of the product are being recalled, according to a notice from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Thursday. That includes 3.7 million units that were sold by Nautilus Inc. Nautilus changed its corporate name to BowFlex in 2023. BowFlex filed for bankruptcy protection in March 2024 and was acquired by Johnson Health Tech Retail, which will refund customers for the dumbbells' purchase price in the form of a voucher or for replacement units, so long as they were purchased from Johnson Health Tech Trading. For customers who purchased the dumbbells from BowFlex, formerly Nautilus, consumers may request a refund in the form of a prorated voucher. They are also eligible to receive a one year digital fitness membership through Johnson Health Tech Trading. Johnson Health Tech Trading is reaching out to its customers directly, according to the recall notice. Consumer Reports, the nonprofit consumer product testing organization, said the company's remedy is insufficient. "Consumers should be able to receive their money back in full, no strings attached," she said in a statement to The recalled dumbbell sets, called the "BowFlex 552, 52.5-lb Adjustable Dumbbells," and the "BowFlex 1090, 90-lb Adjustable Dumbbells," were sold in pairs and as single units. The black weights came with handles, weight plates and a plastic storage tray. The 1090 dumbbells could be adjusted to weigh between 10 and 90 pounds. The CPSC is urging owners of the recalled dumbbells to stop using them immediately, and to seek out a refund. Consumers can fill out a claim form here.
