EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 As temperatures climb across El Paso, air conditioning technicians are seeing a sharp increase in service requests while working through challenging conditions under the summer sun.<\/p>\n
Marco Grimaldo, an HVAC technician with Barrett Airworks, said his team has been responding to a growing number of air conditioner-related calls as the region heats up.<\/p>\n
“By now we’re just getting nothing but no-cool diagnostic calls, and it’s picking up pretty bad,” Grimaldo said. “We’re getting about six to seven calls a day.”<\/p>\n
According to Grimaldo, many service calls stem from a simple maintenance issue: dirty air filters.<\/p>\n
Grimaldo said homeowners should replace filters regularly, ideally once a month, to help systems run efficiently and prevent unnecessary breakdowns.<\/p>\n
RECOMMENDED: El Paso hits triple-digit temperatures for first time this year<\/a><\/p>\n The rising temperatures are also creating difficult working conditions for technicians, who often spend hours repairing units on rooftops.<\/p>\n Grimaldo said rooftop surface temperatures can feel significantly hotter than the air temperature recorded at ground level.<\/p>\n “Right now, maybe like 100 degrees, when you’re up on the roof, it’s more like 150, 160. Really hot,” Grimaldo said.<\/p>\n To protect workers from heat-related illnesses, Barrett Airworks provides water, ice, and electrolyte drinks, while technicians wear sun-protective clothing and take frequent breaks in air-conditioned vehicles.<\/p>\n Crews are also trained to recognize signs of heat exhaustion, including dizziness and ringing in the ears, and are encouraged to stop work and cool down before symptoms worsen.<\/p>\n With summer temperatures expected to remain high, HVAC technicians are reminding residents to stay on top of routine maintenance and ensure their cooling systems are prepared for the hottest months of the year.<\/p>\n RECOMMENDED: El Paso, Las Cruces open cooling centers citywide as summer heat builds across the region<\/a><\/p>\n