Effects of Supply Chain Issues

     We have all seen how recent supply chain issues have reached virtually every industry, and we have all felt its effects: price increases, product shortages, and increased lead times to name a few.  With both manufacturing and shipping upended, the HVAC Industry has been no exception to this trend.  

Increased Lead Times

     One major thing we are seeing in the HVAC industry has been increased lead times for parts and equipment, sometimes drastically increased.  Some equipment that normally would have a 3-4 week lead time is now taking longer than 6 months to ship.  Even parts that normally would take a few days are in some cases taking weeks to arrive.

A Proactive Response

     As detailed in this Forbes Magazine Article from August, 2021, the best approach to deal with these increased lead times is to be as proactive as possible.  It’s always been good practice to regularly audit HVAC equipment and plan for replacements before the equipment fails.  Given these increased lead times, this has never been as important as it is now.   

     Pomeroy writes in his Forbes Article, “The best way to mitigate the pitfalls in this new way of doing business is to be prepared. It’s one of the golden rules in HVAC; evaluate systems and plan for repairs and replacement. It’s more important than ever. Planning and scheduling lead times for projects will help create a sense of control over the evolving marketplace.”

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Other Effects of Supply Chain Issues      Long lead times and increased prices may be the immediate result of these supply chain issues, but we may see some other effects as well.  This ASHRAE Article from December, 2021 (page 3) suggests the possibility of manufacturers simplifying their product lines and reducing the options of the equipment they offer in repsonse to these supply chain issues.  We have not seen this happen yet, but it stands to be a reasonable assumption and should be kept in mind when planning upcoming projects.

Click The Images Below to Read the Articles from Forbes & ASHRAE: