While many air conditioning repair and installation businesses are experiencing record levels of customers, heating issues, supply issues, and waiting lists are complicating things for businesses and customers.
“Business this year is off the charts,” said Anna Copeland, service manager at Paducah Heating and Air Conditioning.
“It’s a record even without the heat wave. We have record demand right now. That’s easily double or triple our typical workload. During the previous heat wave, we had about 40 residences for our three service technicians.
The extreme heat only aggravates the problems that already existed.
“We still have inventory issues due to COVID and supply chain issues as well,” Copeland said. “Part shortages, unit shortages and the industry are also changing. The EPA and the government have changed efficiency rules and the industry is changing to meet these demands. Big brands like Linux have stopped commercial sales.Because they change to unity new style which must be done by the first of the year.
“They don’t have the staff to run two production lines for current models and future models. So they focus strictly on future models. Some clients have a waiting list of at least 40 weeks.
Paducah Heating and Air Conditioning also has commercial customers and had to make some adjustments to accommodate its customers.
“We also do commercial heating and air,” Copeland said. “Refrigeration, repair and commercial kitchens. We still have that consistent demand from those customers, while also having increased demand on the residential side. The only thing we have been able to do is keep a technician free (to help commercial customers)…we just have to limit our service to our dedicated customers.
Other businesses have also felt the strain of this heat and shortages on their operations.
“What’s really affecting people right now, of course, in the heat is air conditioners, because we really rely on air conditioners when this heat is happening,” said Jim Hank, co-owner of Hank Brothers True Value Hardware store.
“We have air conditioners on sale and we sell them very well. What people don’t realize is that air conditioners are supposed to cycle.
When air conditioners don’t work like that because of too high temperatures and people set the air conditioner too low, they burn them out and can damage the compressors.
“They’re burning their compressors,” Hank said. “We receive people after their air conditioners have burned out. Another thing that complicates things because we are in this crazy economy where there are plenty of shortages. They just can’t get the parts. Can you imagine someone saying “we’ll fix your air conditioner in four weeks at this temperature?” ”