A highly rated window air conditioner has been voluntarily recalled for mold buildup.
Midea AC units have been reported on and raved about by The New York Times for five years.
The Wirecutter team — the Times’ product recommendation service — describes these window ACs as a game changing product that provides “quiet, efficient cooling.”
However, early this month, approximately 1.7 million units made by Midea and sold under brand names like Midea, Comfort Aire, Danby, Frigidaire, Insignia, Keystone, LBG Products, Mr. Cool, Perfect Aire and Sea Breeze were recalled due to mold growth from pooled water in the air conditioners not draining quickly enough, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
And for those unaware, “mold exposure poses risks of respiratory issues or other infections to some consumers,” explained the CPSC.
Although the recall went into place on June 5, this isn’t the first time this issue has been brought up.
After hearing from readers complaining about apparent mold on their Midea products, Wirecutter looked into the issue back in 2023.
It turned out that in order to prevent any mold growth, owners should keep the AC’s fan running to dry it out and make sure it’s installed at a slight backward angle to drain excess water.
However, despite this helpful advice, mold complaints continued to roll in.
There have been 152 reports of mold in these AC units, with 17 of them being respiratory infections, allergic reactions, coughing, sneezing and sore throats from mold exposure, according to the CPSC.
This may be a mechanical issue — “if there’s something wrong with the plastic or there’s not enough airflow to prevent mold growth,” Jonathan Midgett, PhD, the consumer ombudsman at the CPSC, told Wirecutter.
“Consumers with the recalled air conditioners should immediately contact Midea for a free repair or a full or prorated refund, which will be based on the purchase date or date of manufacture,” the CPSC advised on its site.
Air conditioners aside, you could be living in a moldy home without even realizing it.
A 42-year-old woman and her two-year-old toddler suffered horrible allergic reactions, complete with painful red rashes and blisters, due to mold growing in an apartment they recently moved into, according to SWNS.
Supposedly, mold was growing on the walls of Joanna Hayes’ home and at the bottom of her cupboard.
And one of the grossest discoveries was mushrooms visible growing on the living room couch.
“I initially treated it myself, but the mold got worse and worse, the colder it got, to the point where the wallpaper was falling off,” she said, according to the outlet.
“We are sorry that Ms Hayes has been experiencing problems with damp and mold in her home. We have been working closely with her to rectify the problem and deal with other repairs she has reported,” a spokesperson said.
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