Local businesses busy with customers looking to stay cool during the heatwave

“With the heat, even like today with the promise of the 40 degree temperatures, were getting a lot of people in picking up another fan, or looking at the room style air conditioners,” said Craats

The shelves are starting to become more empty and Craats says that’s the way they will stay.

“They’re selling out of the warehouses all across Canada,” said Craats. “That’s one of the reasons and there is only a limited supply that the manufactures produce because if it’s not hot, they do not sell, period.”

The heat has kept refrigeration companies busy. Mark Emmess, general manager Medicine Hat Refrigeration, has noticed an increase in people wanting to upgrade to a/c but says it takes time to have a unit installed.

“Well obviously, we try to get to everyone as quick as possible, however there are some realities. We only have so many qualified techs to go around,” said Emmess. “Lead times can vary but right now we’re about a week.”
If you already have central air conditioning Emmess says some people aren’t using their unit correctly.

“There is a tendency (for) some people I see, to turn the unit on midday or they wait until it gets hot. That’s the worst thing you can do. Really we’d like to see whatever your desired temperature is going to be 21, 22. Set it at that desired temperature and leave it,” says Emmess.

He says the unit will then run when needed which is better for it overall.

It looks like the air conditioning and fans will be running for awhile yet, as the high temperatures continue into next week.

by Matt Pouncy

Local businesses busy with customers looking to stay cool during the heatwave

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