Tariffs raise air conditioner costs for Canadian consumers ahead of summer

Canadian households may face higher prices for air conditioners, furnaces and water heaters this summer as U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs, along with Canada’s countermeasures, continue to affect heating and cooling equipment costs. Industry officials say the biggest impact is on metalheavy products, with some distributors and contractors seeing cost increases of about 20% to 30% in their purchase prices. In Windsor, a heating and cooling business owner said the added costs are being passed on to customers because margins are too thin to absorb them. The article says the sector relies heavily on manufacturers outside Canada, especially in the United States, which limits alternatives for buyers. It also notes that a recent U.S. tariff change is set to lower duties on some residential HVACrelated products from 25% to 15% starting June 8, although the broader cost pressure remains for consumers.