Air con demand 'unprecedented' as stocks run low

Homeowners face lengthy waits to have air conditioning units installed amid "unprecedented" demand and low stocks, business chiefs say.

Leaders at Storm Gas, based in Bridgwater, Somerset, said since this summer's two heatwaves, their phone has not stopped ringing. But due to low stock, people are having to wait until September or October.

Chris Bradley, a director for Storm Gas, said: "Getting hold of air con parts and stock at the moment is like getting toilet rolls in Covid."

Meanwhile, a director of Wilkins Plumbing and Heating in Glastonbury said the severity of the heatwaves has taken the industry by surprise.

Director James Wilkins said Wilkins Plumbing and Heating in Glastonbury is dealing with about 100 calls a week.

"People are just not able to tolerate the heat in their house in these temperatures in the late 30s.

"With our building regulations, new builds are really well insulated to keep heat in and that's having an adverse effect with temperatures in the late 30s. It's like stepping into a sauna," he said.

And air conditioning manufacturer, Worcester Bosch, confirmed that the first five months of 2026 have already surpassed sales from 2025.

Richard Martin, a director for Somerset Air Conditioning, which works across Somerset, Bristol, Gloucester and Swindon, said demand has been "unprecedented".

"We are booked up for the next three months and have hundreds of installations lined up; 95% of them are for homes.

"We had 50 inquiries in one day this week, nearly all from homeowners and all of them understood they won't get it this summer but just want it ready for next summer," he added.

Phil Davis, from Island HVAC Systems, said there are pros and cons for both fully installed air con and portable units.

He said: "Portable units are definitely the cheapest option and they're usually available immediately. But they can be really noisy and you need a hose to put out the window.

"I can see the cost side of installed air cons units but they can be used all year around with heat pumps as well. It completely depends on your budget."

While portable units cost between £300 to £600, people pay between £1,500 to £3,000 to have air con installed in one room.

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