If your air conditioning breaks, expect to pay more and wait longer.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Soaring temperatures, rising bills and a shortage of cool relief-air conditioning is about to get a lot more expensive this summer.
If you need a new air conditioner, prepare to pay more.
Contractors say costs have climbed 80% since the pandemic, with new tariffs, labor shortages and pricier materials all piling on.
A shortage of eco-friendly refrigerant has driven up prices even more-Honeywell alone hiked prices by 42% this spring.
Most air conditioners use imported parts, and new tariffs on goods from China and Mexico are raising costs across the board.
Some components that cost $1,000 last March could hit $1,400 by September.
All this comes as forecasters warn of a hotter-than-average summer, with electricity bills expected to hit a 12-year high-averaging $784 per household.
With supply chains strained and some manufacturers struggling to keep up, delays and fewer choices are the new normal.
Contractors are stockpiling what they can, but supplies are already running low.
If your AC breaks, expect to pay more and wait longer.
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