Beating the heat: Shazlina Rosli, (left) shopping for an air-conditioner at an electrical appliance store. — AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star
PETALING JAYA: While it has been hot these past few days, it is “raining” orders for air-conditioners, with households trying desperately to beat the heat.
Electrical shops have been seeing a surge in sales of air-conditioners and ceiling fans with the rise in temperature.
Electrical appliance proprietor Datuk Ling Lek Foo, 57, said air-conditioner sales have increased by 35% since a month and a half ago, when the hot spell started.
“We have increased our orders from the air-conditioner supplier to meet demand.
“Our air-conditioning and fan business is doing well, but sales of other electrical appliances have remained the same,” he added.
Ling said the price of a 2HP air-conditioner unit would usually cost RM1,800 and above.
The 1HP and 1.5HP models are very popular.
An electrical shop assistant in Kepong said sales had spiked since the hot spell began.
“The manufacturers are working overtime to meet the rise in orders. People are even buying display units,” he added.
Another electrical appliance salesperson, who only wanted to be known as Se, said many customers have also been asking him to service their air-conditioners.
“We are receiving calls from people every day asking us to send technicians to service their air-conds at home,” he added.
An air-conditioner repair and service specialist, who wanted to be known as Chia, said he has been overwhelmed with repair requests for the past three months and was in need of new spare parts to fix them.
“There is almost a 50% increase in air-conditioner repair requests and 30% for new air-conditioner installations,” he said, adding that demand has increased as more people work from home.
Customers of electrical stores have also reported using their air-conditioners more than usual during the hot spell, which has led to higher electricity bills.
Former accountant Nga Poh, 63, and his wife Lee Chow Foong, 55, said their electricity bill had risen by about RM50 monthly due to increased air-conditioner use at home.
“We have enough air conditioners at home but have trouble servicing them whenever they run out of gas,” he said.
An electrical shop in Sepang said demand for ceiling fans was also going up.
“Our stock is sold out very fast and we have to re-order in no time.
“Because of the extreme heat, people are switching on their air-conditioners together with their ceiling fans,” he added.
