As the mercury rises and the summer heat intensifies, the market for air conditioner and cooler dealers is witnessing a marked increase in sales. However, there exists a distinct segment that not only experiences a surge in demand but also grapples with a scarcity of professionals during this period.
Air conditioner technicians are in high demand for repairs and servicing of older units, operating round the clock, yet face challenges in timely delivery to their customers. Interestingly, these technicians are the sole group that thrives during the sweltering months, only to struggle with a downturn in demand during the winter season.
"This period is ours, marked by a high volume of servicing and repairing air conditioners, representing our prime earning period. It is the only season that allows us to make substantial profits," remarked Shabeer Khan, a Pakistani national who has been engaged in the industry for two decades, alongside his four brothers.
The majority of personnel in this sector hail from South Asian backgrounds, possessing specialized skills in maintaining window units, split air conditioners, and central cooling systems. However, this industry is characterized by an influx of expatriate workers during the peak summer season, resulting in a shortage of skilled personnel during the offseason. This scarcity leads to delays in repairs and servicing.
"In the metropolitan area alone, there is a significant number of air conditioner technicians catering to both the local and expatriate community. We operate from 5:00 a.m. to midnight, endeavoring to fulfill the needs of each customer," mentioned Islamudheen, a Bangladeshi technician with a focus on split air conditioners.
To accommodate the increasing demand, many service personnel opt to hire more technicians during the summer, only to dispense with them once the season concludes, leaving their employment uncertain due to the fluctuating nature of business during other months.
"Servicing a window unit yields a profit of RO 5, with an additional RO 3 for gas. Servicing a split air conditioner can bring in a profit of RO 12 to 15, dependent on the availability of gas," elaborated Islamudheen.
As summer comes to a halt and winter looms closer, numerous workers opt to undertake long vacations in their home countries, only returning to Oman when the temperatures rise once again.
