This summer in Germany has been incredibly hot ! Seriously, these heat waves have been scorching the Germans, and even families who normally wouldn't use air conditioning have jumped on the bandwagon to install air conditioners. But do you think you can get your AC installed instantly after paying? Wrong! Installing an AC in Germany now requires a wait of several weeks at the earliest, meaning you'll definitely miss out on this year's heatwave.
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Air conditioning installation company: We haven't yet digested the orders for April...
Mark Schmitz , an air conditioning installer from Cologne, said: "Although we receive installation requests all year round, in the past two weeks people have finally realized that air conditioning is an urgent need."
Their schedule is already fully booked, with orders for April and May still unfulfilled. Even if a patient or funeral home has a cooling system problem, residential customers will have to wait in line.
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Want to install an air conditioner? You need a license before you can start!
You read that right. Installing air conditioning or refrigeration systems using fluorinated gases in Germany requires a professional license . However, relevant courses are currently difficult to find in the Cologne area. This has led to a shortage of skilled workers, and the speed of air conditioning installations has not kept pace with the volume of orders.
However, this industry isn't entirely unpopular. Schmitz revealed that companies offer a number of perks to attract apprentices: tablets, electric scooters, above-market salaries, and stable job prospects. It's fair to say that in this blisteringly hot summer, air conditioner installers are truly the winners.
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So how much does it cost to install an air conditioner?
According to price comparison website Idealo , searches for air conditioners in Germany surged 230% in June alone compared to May, while searches for fans also saw a 149% increase . This heatwave has not only driven everyone crazy, but has also driven up prices.
According to Statista , the average price of an air conditioner was € 1,080 in 2020 , but has now soared to € 1,270 , an increase of over 17% . High-end models from the Chinese brand Midea cost around € 1,400 .
What's more, these prices only include the air conditioner itself, not installation! If you want a system with one outdoor unit and one or two indoor units, the total cost is around 3,000 to 5,000 euros. This can keep one or two rooms cool.
Furthermore, if the installed unit can double as a winter heating heat pump, there's a chance to apply for subsidies from Germany's Federal Energy Efficiency Building Fund ( BEG ). However, this requires both money and luck, as approval from the residents' association is required, and the inability to install an outdoor unit on an exterior wall or roof is a significant hurdle.
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Conclusion: Forget about relying on air conditioning to beat the summer heat this year
Whether it's waiting times or overall costs, it's probably too late to rely on a new air conditioner to weather this year's heat wave. However, the good news is that the German Weather Service (DWD) predicts that this heat wave will soon be broken by thunderstorms!
In places like Baden - Württemberg, Bavaria and Hesse, strong thunderstorms may occur from noon today, and some areas may even have strong gusts of wind over 90 kilometers per hour, hail and heavy rain.
So hang in there, everyone! Get through these few days, and the days of fresh air and good sleep will return! (Spread the flowers~)
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📌 Small supplement: some tips on buying air conditioners in Germany
• For air conditioning subsidies please check: BEG ( Bundesförderung für effiziente Gebäude )
• Before installation, please confirm whether you need to declare or obtain permission from the residents' association
