Supply Shortages Affect The HVAC Industry (And Your Home) in 2022

Supply Shortages Affect The HVAC Industry (And Your Home) in 2022

How Supply Shortages Affect The HVAC Industry (And Your South Jersey Home)

Supply chain problems, increased demand, and rising energy prices have made early 2022 a perfect storm for the HVAC industry. 

It’s a global issue, and we’re feeling the crunch here in South Jersey, too. You may have already noticed prices going up for various products and repairs. Or, you’ve been told parts or whole systems are on backorder with no delivery date in sight.

We wish we could fix all these problems for you. But, as you can imagine, they’re much bigger than anything we can address. However, we can help you navigate through what’s happening and help you find ways to avoid feeling the impact too much. 

This article covers four significant issues causing backlogs and rising prices right now. And, it outlines three ways to keep your home warm all winter and cool all summer — without breaking the bank. 

Now, this is a constantly-evolving situation, and the good news is that many economists predict an upturn later this year. So, feel free to call us any time if you have questions about the latest developments or if you’re concerned about the heating and cooling in your South Jersey home.

Talk To Someone At Broadley’s About Your Home Comfort

What’s Happening

The disruptions in the HVAC industry in early 2022 are due to problems growing over the past two years. In particular, we’re dealing with:

  • Raw Materials Shortages
  • Semiconductor Shortages
  • Supply Chain Problems
  • Energy Price Increases

Let’s look at these one by one.

Raw Materials Shortages

Raw Materials Have Been In High Demand And Short Supply

Everyone remembers the price of lumber soaring in 2021. It occurred because sawmills slowed production while demand increased as people took on DIY projects and home renovations. 

There were similar problems with other raw materials, particularly steel and copper. Once again, demand peaked when the industry couldn’t get enough out to the market. These developments hit the HVAC world pretty hard, as manufacturers rely on copper for coils and other components

And, many HVAC parts are made of stainless steel — another material in short supply.

Semiconductor Shortages

Semiconductors in your heater and AC help control the flow of electricity. This process, in turn, regulates everything from air pressure to humidity to how much heat or cooling your system produces at any moment. 

And, like those raw materials, they’re in short supply. The problems are similar: Lack of the raw materials that manufacturers need to make them. And a drop in production due to the pandemic.

Supply Chain Problems

Even when manufacturers, factories, and refineries can pump out the materials and products we need, getting them is another matter. Once again, the pandemic played a considerable role. But, there’s more to this story. 

Around the world, ports where goods entered a country became congested without enough workers to process and unload the upcoming ships. In the U.S., the most significant backups occur in California, where more than 40 percent of our sea freight enters the country. 

But, the problems don’t stop at the docks: Disruptions in the railroad and trucking industries prevent products from reaching warehouses, distributors, and consumers. 

Then there was the boat that got stuck in the Suez Canal, halting around 12 percent of the world’s shipping trade for six days

Today, ports work around the clock to offload containers, and we’re seeing progress. But, plenty of items, from replacement parts to entire furnaces, air conditioners, and heat pumps, have been stuck out of reach.

Energy Price Increases

Energy Prices Have Gone Up As Well

Adding insult to injury for many homeowners are the sharp increases in gas and electricity. In New Jersey, a five-percent increase in natural gas prices caused Garden State monthly utility bills to rise by anywhere from $20 to $139.

The hike in wholesale gas prices also affects electricity. While our electric rates are overall lower than the national average, we’re still seeing increases of about four percent. 

The problem is frustrating for homeowners looking for ways to lower their bills. Many times, replacing an older system or getting your furnace repaired can increase its efficiency and lower your bills.

But, with backlogs on many units, that’s not always an option right now. 

What You Can Do

We don’t want this information to overwhelm or frustrate you any more than it should. The good news is that there’s light at the end of the tunnel: As more people go back to work and the gridlock at ports eases up, we’ll see things get back to normal. 

In the meantime, you can avoid feeling the fallout from these shortages and energy rate increases with a bit of extra attention and care to your home’s heating and cooling systems. 

Three ways to do this are: 

  • Getting Regular Maintenance
  • Using Less Energy
  • Ordering Replacements Early
  • Regular Maintenance

    Regular Service Is A Key To A Long Lasting, Healthy HVAC System

    If you didn’t get a heater tune-up this season, call for one now. Even though your furnace is already working, we can still inspect and optimize it for the rest of the season. 

    In any year, regular maintenance goes a long way toward keeping your energy bills down and preventing you from having to make a call for an emergency furnace repairs. 

    When you get a heater tune-up, a tech spends around an hour inspecting and cleaning out our entire system. If there’s a small problem, they’ll fix it before it gets worse. That could mean this difference between a tiny tweak and waiting for a backlogged part because something finally broke. 

    And, once your heater is cleaned, lubricated, and optimized, it will run more efficiently. That means less gas and lower bills, plus better comfort and peace of mind. 

    Use Less Energy

    If your heating bill is getting out of control, look for ways around the house to reduce your heating load. It could be anything from blocking drafts to closing all your blinds at night to adding weather stripping or additional insulation.

    You can check out this article outlining ten tips to stay warm and reduce your gas bill. These range from free DIY strategies to making small investments. 

    Click Here To Schedule Regular Maintenance

    Order Replacements Early

    If you know your furnace or even your air conditioner is on its last legs, don’t wait for it to fail before starting the replacement process. Instead, order your new unit well ahead of the next season. 

    This will be especially important for air conditioner replacements. With rising temperatures, more people are concerned with cooling their homes than ever before — especially as we spend more and more time in them. 

    That demand plus the current backlog means you could end up on a waiting list for months. But, if you work with us now to schedule a replacement months ahead of time, you’re more likely to get the installation when you need it. 

    Plus, you’ll save money with an off-season replacement.

    HVAC Service In Marmora, NJ

    For more than a century, homeowners have trusted Broadleys for their HVAC service in Marmora, NJ and throughout Cape May and Atlantic counties. Today, we’re here to help you weather the worst storms, whether they’re caused by Mother Nature or not. Call us at (609) 390-3907, and we’ll help keep your family comfortable and safe all year long.

    Click Here To Contact Broadley’s