Tariffs are threatening your air conditioning bill this summer

Many consumers will pay more for air conditioning this summer the trade war collides with existing price pressures, a coolant shortage and scorching forecasts.

Many consumers will pay more for air conditioning this summer as President Donald Trump’s trade war collides with existing price pressures, a coolant shortage and scorching forecasts that are set to drive up utility bills.

“It is a sad time to need a new HVAC system,” said Scott Shelton, owner of Charlotte Comfort Systems in North Carolina.

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning contractors say they’ve been weathering higher costs since the post-Covid recovery, for everything from labor and raw materials to a newly mandated refrigerant. With supply chains stretching deep into countries facing new tariffs, HVAC firms say it’s impossible to avoid passing at least some of the higher costs on to customers.

Shelton estimates his expenses have already risen by 80% since the pandemic.

It is a sad time to need a new HVAC system.