Around 1.7 million units sold in the US and Canada are affected.
by Andrew Liszewski
Midea is recalling around 1.7 million of its U and U Plus window air conditioners sold in the US, plus another 45,900 sold in Canada. The air conditioners launched in 2020 with a unique U-shaped design that allowed windows to close with the unit installed, reducing the amount of noise heard while they were running. But the design can sometimes prevent water from draining quickly enough resulting in mold growth that “poses risks of respiratory issues or other infections to some consumers,” according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (USCPSC).
The USPSC says it’s 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.”
The affected units were sold under brand names that also include Danby, Frigidaire, Insignia, and Comfort Aire at stores like Costco, Menards, Home Depot, Best Buy, and Amazon. A full list of the recalled models is available on the USPSC and Midea websites, which includes 8,000, 10,000, and 12,000 BTU options.
