Montreal heat wave pushes air conditioning demand to breaking point
As humidex climbs above 40°C, AC companies double fleet size to keep up with surging installations across the city.
The day's top stories, food & events — every morning at 7. Unsubscribe anytime.
Montreal's air conditioning companies are overwhelmed. The humidex topped 40 degrees Celsius Thursday as a heat warning blanketed southern Quebec, and residents desperate for relief are flooding AC installers with requests faster than crews can handle them.
AT Climatisation, a Montreal-based installation company, has nearly doubled its fleet to 11 trucks this year from six last year. Even so, crews are completing five to 10 jobs a day and running double installations to keep pace. "It's very, very long days and it's hard on the guys as well," said co-owner Alexandre Renaud. To help customers stuck waiting for permanent systems, the company has begun lending portable air conditioners.
Environment and Climate Change Canada forecast daytime highs between 31°C and 33°C through Friday, with overnight lows between 20°C and 24°C offering little relief. For some Montrealers, the heat has become genuinely dangerous. Sarah-Anne Léger said temperatures inside her home can reach 32°C to 33°C without air conditioning. She's been staying at her mother's place while waiting for installation.
Welcome Hall Mission and other support organizations are preparing for the heat's toll on vulnerable residents. "People who are unhoused are sometimes at greater risk for heat stroke," said Sam Watts, CEO of Welcome Hall Mission. The organization is stocking extra water and ensuring people accessing services know how to stay safe.
