The recall covers about 6,061 Airedale by Modine heat pumps sold in the United States and an additional 735 units sold in Canada, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The systems provide heating, cooling, and ventilation in classrooms and in other school areas.
"The ventilation fan motor in the heat pumps can short circuit if water gets on the circuit board, causing the units to overheat and posing a fire hazard," according to the CPSC.
Schools should immediately stop using the affected ventilation fans and contact Modine Manufacturing Co. for instructions, the CPSC said. Schools may be directed to unplug the fan or turn its internal disconnect switch off until the unit can be serviced.
“Modine has identified an issue affecting a component part in certain Airedale by Modine™ ClassMate® DX Cooling and Air Source Heat Pumps and SchoolMate® Water/Ground Source Heat Pumps,” the company said, adding that it is working closely with the CPSC. “Modine is not aware of any reported injuries associated with this matter," it said.
The recall applies to ventilation fans in ClassMate DX cooling and air-source heat pumps and SchoolMate water- or ground-source heat pumps. Affected model numbers include CMD, CMP, CMS, SMG, and SMW with certain ventilation configurations, according to the CPSC.
The Airedale name appears on a sticker on the front of each unit. The model name and serial number are printed on a plate beneath the control unit.
Independent dealers sold the systems nationwide from August 2013 through January 2026 for $15,000 to $25,000, according to the CPSC. The ventilation fans were also sold separately for $250 to $450. The units were manufactured in the United States by Modine, based in Racine, Wisconsin.
Modine said that it began inspecting and repairing the units in March, about five months before the CPSC publicly announced the recall. While the company said almost all affected U.S. units have since been repaired, it is working to service the remaining systems.
The company said that "efforts are ongoing to address remaining units as quickly as possible while minimizing disruption to customers and local communities."
"We remain steadfast in our commitment to resolving this matter expeditiously and urge affected parties to contact our designated internal resources to promptly schedule the necessary remediation services," Modine said.