Demand for air-conditioner servicing, repairs heats up in Malaysia amid prolonged hot weather

The relentless heatwave gripping Malaysia has created a booming business for air-conditioner technicians, as residents grapple with soaring temperatures and a surge in demand for repairs and servicing.

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I called for servicing but the appointment was rescheduled three times as the technicians were fully booked. It is difficult to sleep at night. My family has been using fans on full blast, but it’s just not the same.

With daytime temperatures frequently hovering between 35 and 37 degrees Celsius, many households are running their air-conditioners almost continuously. This prolonged use has led to a significant increase in breakdowns. Retiree Michael Chua, 68, described the difficulty of sleeping at night after his unit failed in April, facing multiple rescheduled appointments due to technicians being fully booked.

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I will not have to worry so much about keeping the air-conditioner running longer during hot days. And I can also check on the rising monthly electricity bills.

To combat the heat and rising electricity bills, some Malaysians are considering long-term solutions. Lee plans to install rooftop solar panels to reduce reliance on air-conditioning, while marketing consultant Daniel Wong, 38, replaced his old units with energy-efficient inverter models. Wong cited both the need for comfort for his young children and the desire to save money in the long run.

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The old units were still working but the power consumption got too high. With the heat these days, they were running almost non-stop.

Air-conditioning technicians like Gary Ong, 41, report handling over 10 service calls daily, with many customers facing waiting times of several weeks. Ong noted that most complaints stem from units failing to cool properly due to constant operation. Faizal, another technician, acknowledged the frustration but emphasized the limitations of daily workloads, adding that inquiries about energy-efficient units and cost-saving methods are also on the rise.

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We needed something more efficient for this kind of adverse weather.