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By Derek Craddock

KEEPING UP WITH THE CALLS

Extreme cold leads to surge in furnace calls, sales of electric heaters

Dec 22, 2022 | 5:00 PM

The extremely cold temperatures that have hit Prince Albert and the surrounding area have led to more calls for heating repairs in homes and a rise in sales for certain items.

Many of the city’s plumbing and heating companies said they’ve seen an increase in the number of no-heat-related inquiries.

Loretta Smith, office manager with Super Service Plumbing and Heating said it’s been hard for them to keep up.

“We’re prioritizing heating calls, doing very little plumbing because we have so many people having problems with furnaces,” she said.

The same could be said for Prince Albert Plumbing and Heating who noted that every time extreme temperatures like this come around, they see an increase in calls.

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It’s not just plumbing and heating companies seeing a surge in business as retailers can’t seem to keep heaters and furnace parts on the shelves.

Shellbrook Home Hardware said it has seen a flood of customers inquiring or purchasing electric heaters along with items like hot water heaters, bearings for furnaces, and plumbing supplies. Extension cords have also become a big-ticket item at the store which services people from Shellbrook, Debden, Big River, Parkside, and Prince Albert.

Thankfully, they still have supplies and are expecting another truckload to come in by Thursday evening.

As for how long customers are waiting for heating repairs, Smith said their employees are putting in overtime in the evenings to try to get as many calls as they can.

“Generally, we make it but for those who can’t are using small heaters to get them through the night, and we look after them the next morning.”

Even outside of Prince Albert, many companies are trying to keep up with the demand for furnace services. Shell-Town Plumbing & Heating in Shellbrook said before the extreme cold, they were getting plenty of calls. So far this week, they have seen a big increase in inquiries, saying it’s been a struggle to keep up.

Meanwhile, SaskPower and SaskEnergy confirmed to paNOW that there has been an increase in electricity and heating consumption in the province but so far, no records have been broken.

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derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @PA_Craddock