Air conditioning service calls rise with temperature

By JULIE M. McKINNON
Toledo Blade

With unbearable heat enveloping the region, many air conditioning repair businesses have had a spike in service calls. But the tepid economy has caused some customers to delay needed repairs.

At American Heating & Cooling in Monroe, service calls recently jumped 50 percent. About a quarter of those customers, however, decide against getting repairs after a $79 diagnostic test is run to determine problems, especially if costs are $600 or more, said Don Janiszewski, owner.

"People don't seem to want to be spending the money," he said. "It's sad, but some people don't have the money to have it repaired."

But saving money on electricity bills is part of the reason why Pugh Heating & Air Conditioning in Holland has had twice as many service calls than normal over the weekend and this week.

Some service calls are for repairs, but others result in new installations, said Mark Nowak, president.

"A lot of people are changing their equipment over to new, more efficient equipment," he said.

Trying to save money is haunting other area residents as temperatures continue to flirt with 100 degrees.

Some homeowners this spring didn't want to pay roughly $90 to Fry Heating & Air Conditioning Co. of Toledo to have their air conditioners checked and cleaned, so now they end up needing repairs that cost $250 to $500 on average, said Tom Fry, vice president.

"Cleaning pays for itself," said Mr. Fry, whose company's service calls are up about 40 percent the last couple of weeks.

Service calls are up about 25 percent at Wilbur & Son Standard Water in Findlay, primarily from people who mistakenly believe their air conditioners aren't working properly, said James Stahl, owner.

Air conditioners will run more frequently in scorching weather, and they may not be able to keep houses as cool as residents would like, Mr. Stahl said. Homeowners can try to improve performance themselves by making sure their furnace filters are clean and hosing off outside units after temporarily shutting off electricity to them, he said.

Despite the heat, car repair stations didn't seem to be inundated with broken air conditioner complaints.

Years ago, temperatures in the 90s would have sent 50 customers flocking to the Earl Bros. shop in Toledo, but that number dwindled to 10 in the last couple of days, said Jeff Booth, manager.

Like financially troubled homeowners, some drivers with air conditioning problems are putting off repairs because they can't afford them, said owners at both Kevin's Automotive & Transmission in Toledo and Perrysburg Radiator.

The centers attributed some of the reduced business to improved vehicle designs and more repair centers spreading out the work.