FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 25, 2004
Release # 04-104 Firm's Hotline: (866) 857-8015
CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

CPSC, Fedders Corporation Announce Recall to Repair Window Air
Conditioners with Electric Heat
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC), Fedders Corporation, of Liberty Corner, N.J., is
voluntarily recalling about 13,500 window air conditioners with electric
heat. If the outside fan blade becomes blocked when operating in the
heating mode, this unit could present a fire hazard. Fedders has
received 10 reports of fires with these units. There have been no
reported injuries and no serious damage has resulted.

The units included in the recall are 8,000 BTU window air conditioners
with electric heat sold under the brand names and model numbers shown
below. The model and serial number is located on the air conditioner
cabinet near the bar code. The serial number of included units of the
listed models begin with the following two letter code:

Brand Name Fedders
Model Number AEQ08F2E
Serial Number Begins With AR, AS, ER, MR, JP, KP

Brand Name Maytag
Model Number MEQ08F2E
Serial Number Begins With AR, AS, ER FR, KR, KP, LR, MP, MR

Brand Name Comfort-Aire
Model Number RED-81
Serial Number Begins With DR, ER, KP, KR, LP

Major home centers and department stores, including The Home Depot and
Wal-Mart, sold the units from January 2003 through February 2004 for
about $400.

Consumers should turn off and unplug the unit and call Fedders toll-free
at (866) 857-8015 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. ET Monday through
Friday to arrange for a free, in-home repair. The repair will involve
the installation of a heat shield on the unit by an authorized service
technician. Information concerning the repair can be found on Fedders
Web site at www.fedders.com/safetyrecall.