It’s the same every year. When the first summer heat wave hits the Okanagan, the entire valley’s stock of A/C units and fans disappears in an instant. The same goes for river floats — you finally get your friends together for an afternoon on the water, only to discover that every last tube, inflatable pizza and sparkly unicorn has already been stripped from store shelves.
Ted Fox’s solution is to plan ahead when possible, which, for the owner of Fox Plumbing, Heating, Cooling and Electrical, means getting your A/C unit cleaned and tuned up before the hot weather hits. And in 2021 there’s even more reason to be proactive.
“Everyone in the home improvement industry is facing supply issues. First there were manufacturing delays when factories shut down at the beginning of the pandemic. Labour shortages slowed production even more. Many businesses let their existing inventory dwindle, and now everyone is trying to restock at the same time,” Fox says.
A new air conditioner may take six months to be delivered. Need a part for your broken toilet? It might be on backorder. Even the adhesive used for supplier labels is in short supply! Fox is in constant contact with suppliers and other home improvement companies in the Okanagan, and they’re working together to minimize disruptions for people like you. And he says there’s one thing the average consumer can do to alleviate the threat of global supply chain issues.
“All of this makes regular maintenance even more important. Take care of your home now, before you have a major breakdown,” Fox says.
FURTHER READING: 4 Home maintenance tips to help survive the summer heat
Protect your home from allergies and wildfire smoke
If you need help remembering to schedule regular maintenance on your home’s heating, cooling, plumbing and electrical systems, the Fox Service Partner Plan can help.
Pay a small, predictable fee each month and you’ll receive annual inspections of all your homes’ systems, plus discounts and other member benefits.
With allergy season in full swing and a dry wildfire season in the forecast, now is a great time to conduct an indoor air quality assessment. Fox’s favourite tip is to replace your air filter, and technicians can also install UV air purifiers to destroy contaminants like mould and bacteria.
For home maintenance tips and exclusive savings, visit foxandsons.ca, follow them on Facebook, or sign up for their newsletter. Call 1-833-793-4569 to request service for plumbing, heating, cooling or electrical issues in Vernon and surrounding communities, or schedule service online.