Cheaper option: BL Thomson workers preparing air coolers for delivery. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star
GEORGE TOWN: Air coolers and air-conditioners are flying off the shelves with the hot weather showing no signs of easing.
BL Thomson sales manager Kok Huey Jing said sales of air coolers have gone up by 50% since early January, with orders continuing to pour in.
She said the company also rented out air coolers to coffee shops and eateries.
“Orders to cool event venues have also increased. Some who expect to be using the cooling units for longer periods ended up buying them.
“At present, we are selling between 12 and 15 units daily,” she said recently.
Kok added that each unit is priced between RM1,500 and RM3,000, while rental starts from about RM100 daily.
She said demand for portable units less than 1m high had also increased among households.
“If they are not purchasing an air-conditioner, they would buy the small coolers priced at about RM500 each.
“These portable coolers, while not as effective as an air-conditioner, are easy to operate and can be moved anywhere.
“They just need to be filled with water to aid the cooling. They can bring the room temperature down to about 26°C or 27°C,” she said.
7Star Electricare manager Steven Teh said sales of air-conditioners have increased by 30% due to the hot spell.
“Many customers at home wanted to replace their old air-conditioners or install additional units.
“Business is good, thanks to the government’s initiative that offers a RM200 rebate to each household to purchase energy-efficient air-conditioners.
“Most customers ended up buying inverter units priced between RM1,200 and RM1,500 each because they cost almost the same as ordinary types after the rebate,” he said.
To ensure smooth operation of air-conditioners, Teh advised users to do regular cleaning.
“Clean the filter regularly, about once weekly. It is all right to leave the air-conditioner running non-stop the entire day, but it is not advisable to turn it to extreme temperature settings as it will accelerate wear and tear.
“Running air-conditioners at between 20°C and 24°C is considered ideal as it can reduce stress on the compressors and other components.
“Modern air-conditioners do not require any professional servicing for the first two years of their lifespan. They only need servicing once yearly thereafter,” he said.
At the Esplanade, fruit seller Ng Beng Huat, 58, said his pre-cut fruit business has improved due to the hot weather.
“Watermelons and honeydews are most popular among customers, who would come at lunch time when it is hottest,” he said, adding that some prefer fruit juices.
A Stage One Alert notification was issued for three out of five districts in Penang last Friday by the Meteorological Department of Malaysia.
This was after temperatures between 35°C and 37°C were recorded for three consecutive days in the northeast, north and central Seberang Prai Districts.
