The post-pandemic period has seen a succession of unusual shortages, of everything from coins to lumber to microchips to even fireworks.

Now there are reports of another shortage that’s especially scary heading into the summer-air conditioning units.

Fox Business reported that shipping delays have affected the supply chain in that industry, leading to delays in the delivery of AC units. Adding to the problem is that many offices are reopening after more than a year—and some are finding that they need to replace air conditioning units that have sat dormant since prior to the pandemic.

Like with many other things, supply chains for air conditioning were affected during the pandemic, and have not yet begun to recover now that the pandemic conditions are dissipating.

There were also local news reports about similar, localized shortages, including in Washington state. KING 5 in Seattle reported on how things look in that state.

“The hard to get are the air conditioners of course, the portable air conditioners they’re really hard to get. I don’t think there is probably a retailer out there that has any right now. Especially after yesterday, we sold our last one yesterday,” the manager of an area hardware store said. The story also said that the Lowes and Home Depot stores in Tacoma are out of air conditioners.

“If you can get a fan in the highest elevation of your house and blow out and get the screens downstairs be open, especially for night time sleeping, it will create a cross draft and get that heat out and bringing the cool air from the night into the house to cool it down fast,” the hardware store manager told the TV station, by way of advice.

The shortages are also being felt in Texas, the TV station KSAT reported this week.

“We are dealing with some serious supply issues in terms of getting our hands on new AC equipment,” Chase Anderson, president and CEO of Shafer Services, told that TV station. “We are dealing with some serious supply issues in terms of getting our hands on new AC equipment.” Anderson also had advice for those whose AC is “on the fritz,” when they’re not able to order a new one yet.

“Get your service provider out to make sure that everything is clean. Repair some of the pieces that are worn out, so you don’t have a major catastrophic failure of the system,” Anderson said. “If you need a new AC system, it will be harder this year to get your hands on one.” He added that the market should return to regular supply in three to six months.

Stephen Silver, a technology writer for The National Interest, is a journalist, essayist and film critic, who is also a contributor to The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philly Voice, Philadelphia Weekly, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Living Life Fearless, Backstage magazine, Broad Street Review and Splice Today. The co-founder of the Philadelphia Film Critics Circle, Stephen lives in suburban Philadelphia with his wife and two sons. Follow him on Twitter at @StephenSilver.

Image: Reuters.