Here’s hoping your holidays were merry and bright! Last year around this time, we offered three New Year’s resolutions for your home: Make your water better (with a filtration system), change your HVAC filters (which should always be on the list), and get those small electrical projects done (like putting an outlet behind that TV you have mounted on the wall).
It’s been a looooooong couple of years, though, and we’re guessing you probably feel like you already have enough people telling you what you should and shouldn’t do (and have for a while now). So we’re skipping the resolutions for 2022, and instead just celebrating the fact that we all made it through another year of this whole COVID nightmare.
Of course, it’s true that the more things change, the more they stay the same. And as we get ready for a third year of our new normal, some of the challenges we faced last year at Patriot are stubbornly sticking around (just like a certain virus). Here are a couple of big ones, and what to consider if you think they might affect you, too.
Equipment shortages
From Toyotas to toilet paper, it seems that we’ve seen shortages of just about everything over the past 18 months; “pivot” was the word everyone got tired of hearing in 2020, and we’re sure you’d be happy to never hear the phrase “supply chain” again. But there’s a reason you’ll keep hearing it, and that’s because it’s impacting all kinds of things—including furnaces, AC units, and other appliances
What does this mean? The new heat pump that is available to order today might be on backorder tomorrow, which could be the difference between having it installed in February and getting in in June. You might be forced to choose a different model than you want, maybe one that isn’t as efficient, or one that costs more.
What’s the solution? If you’re in the market for a new HVAC system in 2021, or you think you will be, it’s a good idea to plan ahead—now is the time to start shopping, even if you don’t need it for months. Working well in advance will give you the best chance of getting exactly what you want, when you want it.
Parts problems
You might be thinking, “Well, in that case, maybe I’ll just have our old furnace/AC unit/whatever repaired if and when it conks out.” In normal times, that might be an OK plan—but manufacturing and supply-chain issues are affecting parts, too. In all our years, we’ve never seen anything like it.
What does this mean? If your HVAC system breaks down, the parts you need to have it fixed might not be available—not from us, not from anybody. That could mean a long wait to get things working again, or as you saw above, potentially a long wait even if you decide to have a new unit installed.
What’s the solution? Even if everything is working as it should, it’s probably a good time for a checkup from one of our skilled professionals. They often can spot potential problems before they occur—which means we might be able to order the parts you will need and get them installed before you have a system failure. It might be a good time to become a Patriot VIP member, too: For a low monthly fee, you’ll get priority service, special discounts, and much more.
No matter what your new year brings, make sure you build in a little maintenance as well—because little things like changing your filters regularly make a big difference. (Sorry. We told you we were skipping resolutions, and then before you know it, we’re telling you to change your filters again. What can we say? It works.)
We’ll help you start 2022 right!
Need an expert opinion on your HVAC system? Want to add an outlet for that sweet new TV you got for Christmas? We handle all kinds of jobs, large and small. Just give Patriot a call at 509-662-6262!