As the Arizona heat intensifies, with the Valley already witnessing triple-digit temperatures, the necessity of functioning air conditioning units is becoming a stark reality for residents. The surge in heat is causing A/C units to falter under pressure, leading to an increased demand for repairs just as the summer is taking hold. Oscar Zeballos of All Area A/C & Heating revealed to FOX 10 Phoenix that the calls for service are pouring in simultaneously, as the relentless heat gives no respite to the machines or the people. In a similar vein, Sissie Roberts Shank, CEO of Chas Roberts Air Conditioning & Plumbing, confirmed a spike in service bookings, stating, "The last four days, it has just been crazy. Our schedule is booked every day."
However, the challenge isn't merely a matter of workload. Roberts Shank expressed concern for her technicians who brave attics that "can be 130 and 140 degrees." The cost of parts, too, is on the rise according to Zeballos, who notes increases ranging from 6% to 12% compared to previous years. This, inflation coupled with the spike in part costs, is hitting families hard, with one resident, Amy Smick lamenting to FOX 10 Phoenix, "We've got a lot of electricity going on right now, too, so that's going to be higher to just accommodate. But it's still staying 80, 90 degrees in the home."
Looking forward, the situation for Arizona homeowners grappling with air conditioning issues may see compounded challenges. Industry changes are on the horizon with Paul Howard, general manager of Benefit Air Conditioning reporting significant alterations within the last year and a half. "Starting in January of this coming year, they're rolling out two new refrigerants, which is going to kind of throw the whole A/C industry on its head a little bit," Howard explained in a FOX 10 Phoenix interview.
The shift comes as the Environmental Protection Agency aims to phase out current refrigerants like R-410A in favor of options with lower global warming potential. Despite the prospective environmental benefits, homeowners are advised to prepare for substantial cost implications. "With the changes in refrigerant, they're factoring in about a 20 to 25% cost increase for an A/C install overall once the new refrigerant comes out. That's due to testing of new equipment, producing the new equipment, training," Howard told FOX 10 Phoenix. While current A/C units can still be serviced up to their end of life, the impending changes suggest that homeowners might have to shoulder even higher costs for air conditioning in the near future.
