Tariffs impacting cost of keeping heating and air conditioning units working

THANKS, AMY. TIME RIGHT NOW IS 537. AS TEMPERATURES RISE THIS SUMMER, WE EXPECT TO SEE HIGHER ENERGY BILLS. BUT THIS SUMMER, YOUR UTILITY BILLS COULD SKYROCKET. YEAH, THAT’S THE REALITY. TARIFFS IN THE ONGOING TRADE WAR IMPACTING COSTS ACROSS THE BOARD FOR HVAC COMPANIES. �� 13 S MYA CALEB IS JOINING US IN STUDIO THIS MORNING. SO MYA HOW ELSE WILL CUSTOMERS BE IMPACTED. WELL SCOTT AND CARLA CUSTOMERS WILL BE LOOKING TO KEEP THEIR THERMOSTAT TEMPERATURE LOW, BUT THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DO THE SAME FOR THE COST OF AN HVAC UNIT. IF IT NEEDS REPLACING. ELDRIDGE HEATING AND AIR TELLING US THAT WHILE A LOT OF THE PRODUCTS THEY USE ARE AMERICAN, MADE, SEVERAL PARTS FOR UNITS ARE IMPORTED. THE MANUFACTURER PASSES THE COST FROM THE TARIFFS ONTO ON THOSE PARTS TO THE BUSINESSES, AND THE BUSINESSES PASS IT ON TO THE CUSTOMER. BUT THE TARIFFS AREN’T THE ONLY FACTOR. HVAC COMPANIES ARE ALSO FACING A COOLANT SHORTAGE. I’VE SEEN UPWARDS OF 15, 16, 18% PRICE INCREASES TO US. THE DEALER OR CONTRACTOR. HOW MUCH OF THAT IS ADDED ON TO TO THE CUSTOMER? YOU CAN DO SOME MATH AND IT’S A LOT. A BASIC SMALL SYSTEM. NOW IT COULD BE ANYWHERE FROM 7500 TO 8000 UP TO 15 20,000. ANOTHER FACTOR IS A MANDATED CHANGE ON REFRIGERANT FOR HVAC UNITS. THE EPA IMPLEMENTED THIS CHANGE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR TO

Now that summer weather is here, some costs of keeping houses and businesses cool may be going up. And new tariffs could play a part in that.Replacing an HVAC unit could cost anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000, according to Ethridge Heating and Air. Alhtough Ethridge's products are American made, some components for the units are imported. “So, Trane for instance. So, a lot of their products are made in Tyler, Texas, carriers in Tennessee," said John Morris, the owner of Ethridge Heating and Air. "So, while they're American made, some of the components that go into those units are sourced globally. So, you might have a board that's made in China or a different fitting that's made somewhere else." >> YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD: Community coverage from �� 13When the tariffs are applied to these imports, the costs get passed to the businesses and the businesses pass the costs on to customers.Ethridge is looking to make affording a new HVAC unit easier for its customers. "We have to get creative, and a lot of ways that we do that is through financing those systems, offering creative ways to pay for them, and offering a cash discount as well," said Morris. Preventive measures could help your HVAC unit make it through the summer before needing to replace it. >> FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL: Facebook | X | Instagram | YouTube "The one thing that the homeowner can do is change the filters regularly, probably more than you do now," said Morris. "Have that system cleaned out professionally once or twice a year. There are steps to take to prolong that system going down. And I think, a lot of homeowners either don't know about it or don't want to spend that money to do it, but it is saving them money in the long run.">> YOUR FORECAST: The latest from �� 13 meteorologists

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. —

Now that summer weather is here, some costs of keeping houses and businesses cool may be going up. And new tariffs could play a part in that.

Replacing an HVAC unit could cost anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000, according to Ethridge Heating and Air.

Alhtough Ethridge's products are American made, some components for the units are imported.

“So, Trane for instance. So, a lot of their products are made in Tyler, Texas, carriers in Tennessee," said John Morris, the owner of Ethridge Heating and Air. "So, while they're American made, some of the components that go into those units are sourced globally. So, you might have a board that's made in China or a different fitting that's made somewhere else."

>> YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD: Community coverage from �� 13

When the tariffs are applied to these imports, the costs get passed to the businesses and the businesses pass the costs on to customers.

Ethridge is looking to make affording a new HVAC unit easier for its customers.

"We have to get creative, and a lot of ways that we do that is through financing those systems, offering creative ways to pay for them, and offering a cash discount as well," said Morris.

Preventive measures could help your HVAC unit make it through the summer before needing to replace it.

>> FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL: | | |

"The one thing that the homeowner can do is change the filters regularly, probably more than you do now," said Morris. "Have that system cleaned out professionally once or twice a year. There are steps to take to prolong that system going down. And I think, a lot of homeowners either don't know about it or don't want to spend that money to do it, but it is saving them money in the long run."

>> YOUR FORECAST: The latest from �� 13 meteorologists

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Tariffs impacting cost of keeping heating and air conditioning units working

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