Will the New U.S. Tariffs Affect the HVAC Industry?

Recently, the U.S. Government introduced hefty tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum that will directly impact a wide range of industries and products. Since steel and aluminum are used in the components that make up home heating and cooling systems, HVAC manufacturers are going to be hit with added costs. As a homeowner, now’s the time to learn more about these HVAC industry changes and their potential effects.

What are the New Tariffs and Who Pays Them?

Beginning March 23, the U.S. government imposed a 25 percent tariff on steel imported from many foreign countries like China, and 10 percent duty on imported aluminum. A few countries including Mexico, Canada, Brazil, Argentina and Australia are at least temporarily exempt from the tariffs. What’s not yet clear is how the new tariffs will affect the cost of HVAC equipment manufactured in and then imported from an exempt country.

The HVAC industry’s leading contractor association, the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), advises that U.S. consumers can expect to see an increase in the price of new HVAC equipment, regardless of where it’s manufactured. The ACCA is also concerned that tariff-related increases in HVAC prices will impact the equipment quality and efficiency level that homeowners can afford when replacing their existing systems. Or, because of the higher costs, homeowners may end up making temporary repairs to components that really should be replaced.

Deciding How the Tariffs Might Affect You

If you’ve recently invested in a new furnace, heat pump or air conditioner, you may not feel the effect of a tariff-related equipment price hike for several years. However, if your home currently has older heating and cooling equipment, or you’ve faced repeated HVAC repair bills recently, you may want to begin weighing your replacement options sooner rather than waiting, since prices are expected to continue trending upward.

To learn more about the possible effects of HVAC industry changes caused by recently imposed steel and aluminum tariffs, or for advice about different options for upgrading the comfort equipment in your Lorain-area home, contact us at Energy 1 Heating and Air Conditioning today.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 440-201-2959.