Midea recalling 1.7 million of its popular air conditioners due to mold concern
The news comes as temperatures are rising across the U.S. and the official start of summer rapidly approaches.
The Midea air conditioners fit in windows and resonated with consumers because of their unique design, which allows consumers to close their window 'through' the unit.
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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said that the recall also includes approximately 45,900 units sold in Canada.
There's been at least 152 reports of mold in the air conditioners. This includes 17 reports of consumers experiencing symptoms such as respiratory infections, allergic reactions, coughing, sneezing and sore throats from mold exposure.
The white air conditioners have brand names including Midea, Comfort Aire, Danby, Frigidaire, Insignia, Keystone, LBG Products, Mr. Cool, Perfect Aire and Sea Breeze. They were sold in three sizes of cooling power: 8,000, 10,000 and 12,000 BTU.
The air conditioners were sold from March 2020 through May 2025 for between $280 and $500 at Costco, Menards, Home Depot, Best Buy and other stores across the country. They were also sold online through various websites including those of Midea, Amazon, Costco and Home Depot.
Consumers can contact Midea for a repair or a refund that will be based on the purchase date or manufacture date. Individuals who want a refund will need to send the unit back to Midea with a free shipping label or submit a photograph showing that they cut the unit's unplugged power cord.
Those who want a repair should contact Midea to have a technician install a new drain plug or be sent a repair kit that includes a new drain plug and bubble level, depending on the model.
Consumers who want to continue using their air conditioners while waiting for a repair should visit www.MideaUrecall.expertinquiry.com to find out how to inspect their unit before continuing to use it.
Individuals can visit www.midea.com/us and click on 'Recall Information' for more information or call 888-345-0256 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.
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Globe and Mail
2 days ago
- Globe and Mail
The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights Costco Wholesale, Dollar General, Ross Stores and Target
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Globe and Mail
2 days ago
- Globe and Mail
Best Stock to Buy Right Now: Costco vs. Kohl's
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The selection Clearly, Costco is the better-run company. It's been executing well for a very long time, and growth opportunities remain. While the valuation looks rich, and certainly more expensive than Kohl's, I'd rather pay a premium for a well-run company. Despite the valuation, I'd stay away from Kohl's since a turnaround seems unlikely right now. Should you invest $1,000 in Costco Wholesale right now? Before you buy stock in Costco Wholesale, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Costco Wholesale wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $674,281!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,050,415!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,058% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 179% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 15, 2025 John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Lawrence Rothman, CFA has positions in Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon and Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Globe and Mail
3 days ago
- Globe and Mail
Better Stock to Buy Right Now: Costco vs. Home Depot
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Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Learn More » Low prices, quality merchandise, and no frills are Costco's not-so-secret recipe Costco's value proposition could not be clearer. It offers high-quality goods across a wide range of categories at low prices. Its loyal customers know they are foregoing a fancy shopping experience, as Costco's warehouses are a no-frills environment. What it offers instead are bulk quantities of merchandise and a treasure hunt atmosphere. Customers love Costco, as evidenced by its steady growth. The company's same-store sales increased 5.3% in its fiscal 2024 (which ended Sept. 1), and they've climbed in each of the past three fiscal quarters. Despite macroeconomic uncertainty, it remains a top shopping destination. During its fiscal 2025 Q3 (ended May 11), Costco collected $62 billion in net sales. This makes it one of the largest retailers on the planet. 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But they declined in the previous two fiscal years. Demand for home improvement goods was strong in the first few years after the onset of the pandemic, but things have cooled. However, there are some favorable industry tailwinds blowing for Home Depot. U.S. housing supply is low relative to demand. On average, the nation's housing stock is getting older. And there are trillions of dollars in untapped home equity that owners could use to help pay for renovations and upgrades. Home Depot should see better demand if and when the economy improves. Moreover, the company is playing offense, making acquisitions to strengthen its position. Last year, Home Depot purchased building materials distributor SRS Distribution for more than $18.2 billion. And it was recently announced that the SRS subsidiary bought peer GMS for $4.3 billion. The moves have a clear objective, which is to further entrench Home Depot as a top destination for professional customers such as contractors, roofers, plumbers, and electricians. This is an extremely valuable customer group, mainly because they spend a lot more than DIY customers. The best stock pick is not the best business Costco's regularly strong financial results regardless of the economic backdrop show that the warehouse club operator is the better business. The market agrees. As of July 14, its shares trade at a lofty price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 55. Home Depot might be struggling right now, but it's still the undisputed leader in the home improvement industry, which will return to better growth eventually. With its stock trading at a P/E multiple of 25, it's the better investment right now. Should you invest $1,000 in Home Depot right now? 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