As much as our experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab love the convenience and performance of battery-powered tools, the lithium-ion cells that most of them run on are another safety concern in the home. For example, the batteries can overheat if you leave them in their charger for too long.
In the case of the latest product recall by Greenworks Tools, affecting 554,780 Kobalt-branded outdoor power tools sold at Lowe’s, the issue has to do with the USB-C port that can be used to charge the batteries while they’re inserted in the equipment (as opposed to the standard method of removing the battery and inserting it into a separate charger). Use of Kobalt’s USB-C port can cause the batteries to short-circuit, posing a risk of serious injury from a fire hazard.
Greenworks has received 34 reports of the batteries producing smoke, sparking, or catching fire, though fortunately no injuries or property damage have been reported.
Products included
The affected Kobalt tools were sold at Lowe’s stores nationwide and online at Lowes.com from January 2026 through May 2026.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, trimmers, blowers, mowers, chainsaws, and pruning saws from the brand that use “24V Kobalt-branded batteries with a USB-C charging port” are impacted.
If you think you might have a defective product, check the model numbers listed with the official safety notice from CPSC.
What to do if you have a recalled battery
Stop charging the battery with the USB-C port immediately and complete a registration form at the Greenworks website.
At that point, you’ll receive replacement batteries for your Kobalt tool (without the USB-C port), a charger adapter, a warning label to affix to the power tool, an updated product manual, and a prepaid shipping label along with instructions for returning the recalled batteries.
More battery safety tips to live by
Remember that even nondefective batteries can be hazardous if not handled properly. Here’s how to play it safe.
- Never charge a battery on or near flammable materials, like a bed, couch, or carpet. And when the batteries are not in use, store them away from anything that can catch fire.
- Once the battery is fully charged, remove it from the charger and unplug the charger from the wall.
- Store batteries at or as close to room temperature as possible. Never charge them at temperatures below freezing or above 105°F.
- Only use the battery for devices that are deemed compatible by the manufacturer; when in doubt, check the user manual.
- Stop using the battery if you notice a strange odor, change in color or shape, excessive heat, odd noises, or any sign of leaking.
Having written thousands of product reviews and how-to articles on all aspects of home ownership, from routine maintenance to major renovations, Dan (he/him) brings more than 20 years of industry experience to his role as the director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. A one-time roofer and a serial remodeler, Dan can often be found keeping house at his restored Brooklyn brownstone, where he lives with his wife and kids.
Source: Home Ideas - goodhousekeeping.com
