Out of all kinds of workers, a group that is particularly in demand amidst the scorching summer heat is nonetheless, the AC technicians.
Repair shops for AC units are thriving as citizens attempt to maintain a cool head and sane state of mind as physical temperatures touching above 50 degrees centigrade.
Edward Saison, owner of a repair shop in Al Barsha, stated that during the summer season, they work on 50 to 60 jobs in one week only.
‘We got a call yesterday and replaced 13 AC units in a villa,’ he was quoted saying when a customer asks about the lifespan of their units, we make suggestions.
If a compressor is faulty or repair only offers a temporary solution in which the equipment is costly to fix but will only last awhile, then our advice is to get a new unit,’ reveals Saison and his team has noted a surge in AC issues as well.
The French expat went on to say: “Our fleet is out there on the road 24/7 attending to several complaints all over the city.”
Window AC
Repairs of different window ACs cost around Dh80- Dh100 damages for window AC repairs and for split-type AC, it costs around Dh150- Dh200.
Interviewee Shiraz from Olive Green Building Maintenance in International City, Dubai stated that he received 80 percent more calls related to chiller and split AC maintenance.
Competition intensifies
Nevertheless, competition emerged as an issue highlighted by Usman from Faran Technical Services in Al Satwa, implying that the business tempo slowed down due to increased rivalry among companies.
When interviewing respondents themselves in Sharjah, it was clear that the community’s need for car AC repair is still high, it was underlined by the respondent, Mohammad Nizam who works and manages a car garage in the industrial area of the region.
If while driving with AC on, the air is initially warm or goes from cool to warm or just remains warm, then there might be leakage, blockage in the coils, or even there might be major component failure such as the compressor, which might need replacement.
Sometimes, the compressor requires replacement although new compressors are available for Toyota Prado in the UAE for Dh1,200, one can get a secondhand one for Dh600 In the case of mid-range.
Car AC mechanics for Al Quoz and Al Barsha also complained of this rise in demand. Vijoy, from Al Quoz, noted: ‘We notice that almost every third or fourth car has AC problems,’.
They said, ‘Many complain of weak airflow and discomfort due to heat, we are always charging the refrigerants, looking for leaks and blockages that restrict the flow of the gas.’
According to the specialists, drivers should park in the shady to provide the best conditions for the AC, use the recirculation mode, and turn off the air conditioning system before turning off the car engine.
The conditions in summer will reach 40-45ºC along the coast, 45-49ºC in the internal regions, and 40-43ºC in the mountainous areas while the humidity levels will be between 75-90%.
In the subsequent three days, it is foreseen that the sky will be clear to partly cloudy with low clouds to set in over the east coast in the mornings. The cumulus clouds in varied extents may be formed in the east and south in the afternoons.
UV levels will be low during the evening and morning and humidity levels will be high giving prospects of light fog over some coasts. Winds will be slightly too strong, gusty at times, and dusty most of the time with speeds ranging 10 – 25 kmph with peak gusts of up to 40 mph at times. The sea will be Slight to moderate and at times Rough only in the Arabian Gulf and Oman Sea.