Long Lead Times & Price Increases Still Face the HVAC Industry

Supply chains have steadied since the worst of the pandemic disruptions, but the lessons from that period still hold: lead times, material costs, and freight reliability can shift fast, and the buyers who plan ahead come out better than the ones who wait.

What drives coil lead times and pricing

A few factors move together to determine how quickly you can get a coil and what it costs:

Labor and skilled trades

The manufacturing skills gap is real and ongoing. When skilled labor is tight, every step from sourcing raw materials to fabrication to final inspection can slow down, and bottlenecks compound through the supply chain.

Raw materials

Copper is the material that matters most in heat transfer, and its price swings with demand from green energy, EVs, and everyday goods, plus mining and recycling capacity. Steel follows its own cycle tied to construction and automotive demand. When either spikes, coil pricing and availability move with it.

Shipping and freight

Logistics capacity, driver availability, and terminal staffing all affect how fast a finished coil reaches you. Periods of high shipping demand also tend to bring more freight damage, which is why careful receiving matters.

What you can do about it

1. 1
   Order early.

   Placing orders ahead of need works around longer lead times and can lock in pricing before any market spikes.

2. 2
   Consider alternative materials.

   When copper is expensive or scarce, alternatives may fit your application. For coils that use copper for corrosion protection, aluminum fins with an e-coating can be an option. Our coil selection experts can help optimize for performance and suggest materials.

3. 3
   Stock critical-facility spares.

   For facilities where a down heating and ventilation system isn't an option, keep spare parts for critical areas on hand so an emergency doesn't become a shutdown.