Description
Large swaths of Florida are being blanketed by the cold this week, which has left some homeowners without heat scrambling to stay warm.
The demand for heating can be felt by local HVAC professionals, including the president of Air Bros Air Conditioning and Heating, Ricky Orta.
"We want heat, we need heat," Orta said. "Every single one of them has been a no-heat call."
Orta said he's fielded calls from customers who have never used their heat before to those who want heaters installed in their HVAC system.
But in some cases, speed bumps may slow down the process of installation.
"There is a shortage of equipment right now because of the new refrigerant laws that went into place," Orta said.
10 Tampa Bay first highlighted changes to the manufacturing of new HVAC systems after the Environmental Protection Agency rolled out updated regulations that require the use of more environmentally friendly chemicals at the start of the new year.
MORE: https://www.wtsp.com/article/weather/heating-havac-installation-florida/67-63886d74-ddd1-4ba7-b9b5-a0ffa4ff2231