"Apply Now, Service Only Available by Month-End" Early Heatwave Causes Air Conditioner AS Crisis

Air Conditioner Service Centers Switch to 'Emergency Mode' Since Last Month
Early Heatwave Causes Air Conditioner Demand to Soar Nearly 200%

Due to the early heatwave, the demand for air conditioners has increased, causing delays in installation and after-sales service. / Photo by Song Hyundo, Asia Economy intern reporter

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung, Intern Reporter Song Hyundo] #Kim (29), who lives in Mapo-gu, Seoul, contacted the AS center on the 1st after the outdoor unit of his home air conditioner broke down, but was told, "It takes at least about two weeks to schedule a service technician." Kim said, "Right now, I’m relying on a friend’s house with an air conditioner only when I sleep," adding, "Because of the heatwave, I can’t endure a day without air conditioning, but I don’t know when the technician will come."

Due to the surge in demand for air conditioners caused by the heatwave, installation services and AS are being delayed. It has been reported that after service requests, the arrival of technicians can be postponed from a few days to several weeks. Air conditioner manufacturers are even operating their service centers in 'emergency mode.'

According to the home appliance industry on the 7th, as the number of consumers seeking air conditioners increases, the demand for service technicians is also rising sharply. Lotte Hi-Mart announced that air conditioner sales from the 1st to the 6th increased by 195% compared to the same period last year. The waiting period for installation is also increasing. In some areas such as Daegu and Gangneung, installation delays of up to five days have been reported.

AS delays have also become frequent. A representative from an air conditioner repair center in Gyeonggi-do said, "Reservations have been fully booked since mid-June," adding, "Even simple services like refrigerant charging take about a week from application to technician arrival, and more complex repairs will take much longer."

On the 6th, a citizen in Seoul wiping sweat / Photo by Yonhap News

Complaints from consumers unable to receive timely air conditioner repairs continue. Mr. B, in his 40s living in the metropolitan area, said, "I requested an AS technician because cold air wasn’t coming out of the air conditioner, but they said they can only come at the end of July," adding, "I have to endure this heat without air conditioning for more than two weeks, and I’m worried that my children might collapse from heatstroke."

The earlier-than-usual heatwave seems to have increased demand for air conditioner installation and AS. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, the number of tropical nights nationwide last month was 1.2 days, the highest ever recorded in June. Tropical nights were observed for the first time in June in 13 locations including Seoul, Suwon, and Chuncheon. At the beginning of this month, high temperatures with a perceived temperature of around 35 degrees Celsius have continued.

Famous air conditioner manufacturers such as Samsung and LG have already entered emergency service mode. They are minimizing 'service gaps' by supporting engineers’ commuting to and from the field and adjusting working hours for air conditioner installation and AS tasks. Usually, the emergency mode is activated around mid-July when the heatwave peaks, but this year, due to the early arrival of the heat, the emergency system has been in operation since last month.

You can perform simple repair actions yourself through the air conditioner manufacturer's website. / Photo by Samsung Air Conditioner website capture

Air conditioner companies advised that AS time can be shortened through pre-inspection. While some causes of air conditioner malfunctions require professional technicians’ help, many problems can be resolved with simple measures such as cleaning the filter.

A repair center representative said, "Refrigerant injection or parts replacement would be difficult without a technician, but some malfunctions can be fixed just by removing dust from the filter or adjusting the outdoor unit’s position," adding, "If the AS application time is too long, it’s a good idea to first read the manual posted on the website and try to solve the problem yourself."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.