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Many suffering without A/C for weeks at a time due to supply shortages

For the last year, heating and cooling companies in the state and across the country have been dealing with delays in AC repairs because of a shortage in parts - and that has a lot to do with the pandemic.

Posted Updated

By
Leslie Moreno
, WRAL reporter

For the last year, heating and cooling companies in the state and across the country have been dealing with delays in AC repairs because of a shortage in parts – and that has a lot to do with the pandemic.

“Factories have been hit really hard because if one person on the line in the factory catches COVID or symptoms of it, it sort of shuts down that entire line so the factory itself is really imperative in turning out those parts,” said JD Anderson, owner of 919 Fix-MyAC.

He receives about 30 calls for repairs a day.

Mike Winkfield is one of his many clients.

He’s been waiting for three weeks. With a puppy at home, the heat can be unbearable – even dangerous.

“We’re waiting for a coil for our AC, but it’s leaking freon,” said Winkfield.

Anderson says he has at least 20 recent back orders and those people have been waiting over four weeks now.

“May 15 of this year, and they’re still at least three weeks out from what we understand,” Anderson said.

He’s looking for parts all over the country.

Fortunately, he’s been able to deliver temporary AC units to his most vulnerable clients until parts come in

“You have to wait. It’s a hard thing to swallow when you’re talking about your AC. You have children, puppy dogs, pregnant moms that just can’t live without AC,” said Anderson.

No word yet on how much longer the shortage will last. Anderson says it all depends on the factories making the parts.

The hope is that companies can catch up on these back orders before winter.

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