Heat wave sends air conditioning use and service calls soaring in Windsor

Amid the ongoing heat warning, many are thinking about air conditioning and the cost that comes with it. CTV Windsor’s Sanjay Maru has more.

As an ongoing heat event peaks across Ontario, Windsor HVAC technicians say air conditioners are working overtime — and residents should expect that extra use to show up on their electricity bills.

Environment Canada says temperatures between 30 and 38 C are expected Tuesday, with humidex values ranging from 38 to 45 C. The heat is expected to continue through Wednesday evening and could linger into Thursday or Friday near Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.

Steve Jamma, owner of Pro Star HVAC, said air conditioners may run nearly around the clock during a heat wave, significantly increasing household electricity use.

To give the system a chance to cycle off, Jamma recommends setting the thermostat to 22 or 23 C instead of trying to maintain a temperature of 20 C.

He said residents should also avoid shutting the system off overnight during periods of extreme heat. While that may appear to save electricity, the air conditioner could have to work harder the next day to cool the home again.

“You don’t want your house to be struggling with the heat,” Jamma said.

Closing curtains to block sunlight, replacing dirty furnace filters and keeping the outdoor condenser clean can also help the system operate more efficiently.

Jamma said an air conditioner pulls hot, humid air from inside the home and circulates cooled air back through it. A clogged filter restricts that circulation, potentially leaving the thermostat above the desired temperature while the system continues to run.

“If you have a dirty filter, you will have a lack of circulation,” he said.

Residents who are uncomfortable cleaning an outdoor condenser themselves should contact a qualified contractor, Jamma added.

The age of the system also matters. Jamma said homeowners still using an air conditioner that is around 20 years old should consider replacing it because newer units are generally more efficient.

Technicians fielding dozens of calls

Sukhdev Singh, owner of Dave Heating and Cooling, said his team has been handling roughly 20 service and installation calls a day during the heat event.

“I’m very crazy busy,” Singh said.

“My phone is always ringing.”

According to Singh, cooling costs depend on several factors, including the age and efficiency of the air conditioner, how well the home is sealed, and how frequently doors or windows are opened.

The size of the air conditioner also needs to match the size of the home.

Singh said an undersized system may run continuously while struggling to reach the temperature set on the thermostat. An oversized unit can cool the home too quickly without running long enough to properly remove humidity.

He also recommends programmable or smart thermostats, which can automatically allow the temperature to rise slightly while nobody is home and begin cooling again before residents return.

Singh said filters should generally be replaced every two or three months, while outdoor condenser units and ductwork should also be kept clean.

New air conditioning rules for Ontario renters

Changes to Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act that took effect July 1 allow tenants to install and use a window or portable air conditioner when their landlord does not provide cooling.

Tenants must first notify their landlord in writing and ensure the unit is installed safely and securely, does not damage the property, and complies with municipal bylaws and other applicable laws.

If the landlord pays for electricity under the tenancy agreement, the tenant must provide any available information about the unit’s energy efficiency and anticipated use.

The landlord may increase the rent to cover the actual cost of the electricity used by the air conditioner — or a reasonable estimate if the actual cost cannot be determined. That increase must be reversed when the unit is removed or when the tenant stops using it seasonally. The full rules are outlined in Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act.

However, the changes do not require landlords to provide air conditioning or establish a maximum allowable temperature inside the rental unit.

Windsor West NDP MPP Lisa Gretzky said the new protections were long overdue but do not go far enough.

“What we do know is there is no current legislation to ensure that there are maximum temperature allowances,” Gretzky said.

Ontario requires landlords to maintain a minimum indoor temperature of 20 C during the colder months, unless tenants control the temperature themselves and the primary heating system can maintain that minimum. There is no equivalent provincewide maximum for extreme heat.

Gretzky said the NDP has introduced legislation aimed at establishing a maximum allowable temperature inside rental units, arguing that extreme indoor heat is a health and safety issue — particularly for seniors and people with underlying medical conditions.

“This is not just about someone being comfortable,” she said.

“It is about their safety and potential health risk.”

Gretzky also raised concerns about tenants being required to take on additional costs to use air conditioning.

She pointed to her mother, a senior living in an apartment building, who Gretzky said was told she could no longer use the air conditioner she had relied on for years. Instead, she was required to obtain one through a particular provider and sign a monthly agreement.

Although electricity had previously been included in her rent, Gretzky said her mother now faces an additional cost whenever she uses the new unit.

“More needs to be done to ensure that tenants not only have the cooling mechanisms and the air conditioning in their units, but they’re not being taken advantage of,” Gretzky said.