Technicians work overtime as brutal cold puts heaters to the test

CHARLOTTE -- While thousands in the Charlotte area are bundling up for the brutally cold temperatures, heating technicians are outside working overtime.

The possible near record lows mean homeowners are tuning up their heaters, or even worse, getting replacements before the mercury plummets into single digits.

For technician Eric Timmons, when the temperature plummets, business heats up.

"Next couple of days it will be more demand calls, less maintenances and tuneups," said Timmons.

Timmons and other technicians at Brothers Heating Cooling and Plumbing Works were twice as busy as normal Monday as temperatures dipped well below freezing.

"We're expecting it to get a lot busier the next few days especially with the wind chill getting as low as it is," said Timmons.

Timmons' workload included the south Charlotte home of Janet Young who relied on an indoor heater while Timmons replaced a leaky part in her heater.

"I feel fortunate, especially since the temperatures are going to be so low," said Young.

Heating experts said the colder temperatures get, the more strain it puts on heaters and a home's energy, even more so with older models.

"Below 40, the heat pump, you'll start bringing on electrical auxiliary heat to help it out, and the heat pump is just going to run constantly," said Timmons.

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Technicians work overtime as brutal cold puts heaters to the test