As spring shifts to summer, the fancies of homeowners and business decision-makers alike turn to … AC units. At The SmartVan we’re always checking out the latest HVAC news — by the way, be sure to check out our one-of-a-kind news section, featuring all the important field service headlines of the day in one place — and the amount of news about HVAC firms is almost as overwhelming as the heat in some places.

  • Temps in the upper 90’s in Oklahoma City have local HVAC firms’ phones ringing off the hook. “We’re overwhelmed,” said Jerry Ellis, who works for First Time Heat and Air. ” … You get more calls than you can handle, and you just try to work long hours and satisfy every customer you can get.”
  • Techs are working 50, 60, even 70 hours a week at Rock Branch Mechanical Heating and Cooling in South Charleston, W.V., often servicing AC units in attics where the temperatures range from 110-120 degrees.
  • With summer seemingly coming out of nowhere after a mild spring, HVAC repairmen are bringing Gatorade, towels and extra shirts to jobsites in an attempt to beat the heat in York County, Penn.

Most of the increased HVAC business isn’t the purchasing of new AC units, rather the maintenance and repair of existing units. Of course, customers often wait to call their HVAC company until units stop working completely, often neglecting the yearly service and monthly filter changes recommended by HVAC technicians. However, not all air conditioning news is about hot weather through pockets of the United States.

U.S. Central Air Conditioning Systems Market to Increase

According to a report on companiesandmarkets.com, value of the air conditioning market is projected to grow. While the amount of units isn’t projected to grow by the same rate, the overall value is expected to grow 5% through 2015 due to fluctuating equipment prices. The U.S. market was valued at $9.2 billion in 2010, representing 4.5 million units. By the end of 2011, the US market is expected to reach $9.7 billion in value, representing 4.8 million units — and if you ask HVAC technicians in heat-stricken areas, all 4.8 million units will probably need to be serviced in the first half of June.

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