White countertop microwave on a kitchen counter
3 components covered

Field manual · Fundamentals

Asian OEMs behind store brands: Midea (Comfee, Toshiba appliances), Gree, New Widetech, LG/Goldstar, Hisense, Haier and Galanz

Covers: Window/portable air conditioners, dehumidifiers, compact refrigeration, microwaves and some TVs sold in the US under retailer or licensed names but built by Midea, Gree, New Widetech, LG, Hisense, Haier or Galanz, ~2003-2025. Based mainly on CPSC recall notices, which name the real factory.

Cross-checkedBrands: Midea, Comfee, Toshiba, Insignia, Frigidaire, Danby, Keystone, Mr. Cool, Perfect Aire, Comfort-Aire, Arctic King, GE, Kenmore, SoleusAir, Norpole, Amana, Whirlpool, Haier, Friedrich, Honeywell, Goldstar, Hisense, Galanz3 components

In small appliances one badge can hide several factories, and the factory can change from one year to the next. CPSC recall notices are the best evidence: they list the manufacturer and every brand it shipped under. Example: Frigidaire-branded dehumidifiers came from Gree (2007-2008 production) and from Midea (2016 recall), and Comfort-Aire units came from LG (2007-2008) and from Midea later. Identify the factory by model number and date, never by badge.

Safety first

  • Check for an open recall before repairing any dehumidifier or room AC; several store-brand dehumidifiers were recalled for fire hazards.
  • Refrigerant circuit work is blocked (EPA 608): diagnose and refer.

How it works

Midea: makes window ACs sold as Midea, Frigidaire (GHWQ), Insignia (NS-AC...), Keystone, Mr. Cool, Perfect Aire, Comfort Aire, Danby (DAC...) and others (CPSC 2025, U-shaped units sold 2020-2025); made dehumidifiers for Arctic King, ComfortAire, Continental, Frigidaire, GE, Kenmore (Canada), Keystone and Midea (CPSC 2016). Owns Comfee (its own value brand) and since 2016 holds the Toshiba home-appliance business with a 40-year Toshiba brand license.

Gree: made dehumidifiers for Danby/Premiere, De'Longhi/SuperClima, Fedders, Fellini, Frigidaire, GE, Gree, Kenmore (407.xxx), Norpole, Seabreeze and SoleusAir (sold 2005-2013), and later for Kenmore, GE, SoleusAir, Norpole and Seabreeze (made 2011-2014).

New Widetech: made dehumidifiers sold 2009-2017 as AeonAir, Amana, ArcticAire/Classic/Generations/Danby (several Danby lines), De'Longhi, Edgestar, Friedrich, Haier, Honeywell, Idylis, Ivation, Perfect Aire, SuperClima, Whirlpool and Whynter. So an 'Amana' or 'Whirlpool' dehumidifier is not a Whirlpool platform.

LG: built Goldstar and Comfort-Aire 30-pint dehumidifiers (2007-2008) and Kenmore 580.xxx dehumidifiers (made 2003-2005) at its Tianjin plant.

Hisense: owns 95% of Toshiba's TV business (deal 2017-2018, 40-year brand license in some markets) and Gorenje with ASKO (2018). Haier owns GE Appliances (2016) and Fisher & Paykel. Galanz describes itself as the world's largest microwave maker since 1998 and builds for other brands (OEM), so many store-brand microwaves are Galanz-made, but we found no verified brand-by-brand list.

Toshiba is two different things: Toshiba-branded appliances (microwaves, fridges, laundry) = Midea; Toshiba TVs = Hisense outside North America; North American Fire TV editions are covered in qs-insignia-toshiba-fire-tv.

Components & tests

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Official manufacturer documentation

Always confirm values against the tech sheet for the exact model.

OnCall Tech is a reference tool for trained technicians and can make mistakes. Always disconnect power and confirm with the manufacturer's documentation before you work. © 2026 OnCall Tech. Original content; not a reproduction of any manufacturer document.Generic part photos (not of this brand): White countertop microwave on a kitchen counter by cottonbro studio, Pexels License

Diagnostic guides for this appliance

Guide · Fundamentals

Blower runs nonstop and no cooling on a new HVAC system: A2L refrigerant leak sensor

A2L systems carry a refrigerant leak sensor near the indoor coil. When it reports a leak, or when the sensor fails or loses communication, the control stops the compressor and runs the blower to dilute any refrigerant. This guide separates a sensor or wiring fault from a possible real leak; any real leak is referred to an EPA 608 technician.

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Confirming an inverter board's DC bus is discharged before you touch it

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Load will not turn off: shorted triac or welded relay (board vs load)

When a load runs with no command, the board output that feeds it is usually shorted: triacs most often fail shorted and relay contacts can weld closed after inrush. Confirm the output is truly on with the load connected (not a ghost reading), then test the load itself, because a shorted or seized load is what usually kills the output.

8 steps ~40 minmoderate

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Asian OEMs behind store brands: Midea (Comfee, Toshiba appliances), Gree, New Widetech, LG/Goldstar, Hisense, Haier and Galanz · OnCall Tech