Summer is just around the corner, and that generally means it’s time to use your air conditioner regularly. But this year, millions of window ACs pose a mold risk. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (USCPSC) recently issued a recall brief warning consumers about the danger.
Why Aren’t These AC Units Working Correctly?
Most window AC units produce condensation while they work to keep your space at a reasonable temperature. But if this condensation doesn’t drain right, it can cause issues. The USCPSC warns that in the affected AC units, “pooled water…can fail to drain quickly enough, which can lead to mold growth.” This is a major problem; mold exposure can cause respiratory issues and infections.
The firm is aware of at least 152 reports of mold in the air conditioners, including 17 reports of consumers experiencing symptoms such as respiratory infections, allergic reactions, coughing, sneezing and/or sore throats from mold exposure.
Which Window ACs Pose a Mold Risk?
The recall includes nearly 1.7 million Midea U and U+ Window Air Conditioners sold in the USA and an additional 45,900 units that were sold in Canada. The associated brand names include:
- Midea
- Comfort Aire
- Danby
- Frigidaire
- Insignia
- Keystone
- LBG Product
- Mr. Cool
- Perfect Aire
- Sea Breeze
These are all window units that came in three sizes: 8,000, 10,000 and 12,000 BTU. Regardless of brand or size, they’re white, about 22 inches by 14 inches in dimension and have both a remote control and an associated app. These units were sold at stores and online, including:
- Costco
- Menards
- Home Depot
- Best Buy
- Midea.com
- Amazon.com
- Costco.com
- Menards.com
- HomeDepot.com
- Lowes.com
- Walmart.com
- BJs.com
- BestBuy.com
Is There a Fix?
If you own one of the affected AC units, the USCPSC recommends contacting Midea “for a free repair or a full or prorated refund, which will be based on the purchase date or date of manufacture.”
If you want a refund, you will have to send the unit back or submit a photograph showing proof that you’ve destroyed the unit’s power cord of the unit. However, if you’d rather have the unit repaired, the USCPSCP says you need to “contact Midea to arrange for a technician to install a new drain plug or send consumers a repair kit that includes a new drain plug and bubble level, depending on the model.”
Source
- Midea Recalls About 1.7 Million U and U+ Window Air Conditioners Due to Risk of Mold Exposure, United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, 2025.
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