Demand for HVAC Services Soars Amid Minnesota’s Early Heat Spell

(KNSI) – Minnesota’s early heat wave is driving up demand for air conditioning maintenance and repair.

Julie Preusser, office lead at Opie’s One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning in St. Joseph, says they are extremely busy and that the company’s owner, Don Opheim, says he has never seen it be this warm for this long this early in the summer.

“The way the [A/C] units are having to work harder and harder, that’s when you see them breaking down,” Preusser said. “So, our demand for our technicians — we can’t keep up.”

Preusser said the company has hired more technicians and installers to keep up with the high volume of maintenance and installation requests. Another complication: The national shortage of computer chips is affecting manufacturers of HVAC-related appliances.

“When it gets really hot, the appliances work harder to cool themselves and also to keep up with cooling the items in the freezers and refrigerators,” Preusser said. “When that happens, they start breaking down also. We’re noticing the demand for appliance repair has gone up tremendously also.”

Preusser said the chip shortage makes it harder for technicians to get the parts they need to fix those appliances.

Progressive Insurance says some ways to keep your A/C running in the summer are to clean filters and vents regularly, turn the unit off when you’re not home and using ceiling fans to bring the indoor temperature down a degree or two.

Preusser says Opie’s One Hour is still hiring technicians and installers to help address air conditioning and other appliance needs in the area.

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