Heatwave in Germany: Fans and Air Conditioners Sold Out in Many Stores

Purchase Intentions Have Risen Significantly

Retailers are responding to the rush. Steffen Kahnt, Managing Director of the Bundesverband Technik des Einzelhandels (BVT), told dpa: "Die Hitzewelle habe die Nachfrage explodieren lassen." Retailers cannot hold huge stocks for hot weeks. "Das würde enorme Lagerkosten verursachen und viel Kapital binden." Inexpensive, good-quality devices also cannot be reordered at the push of a button, as production and transport take time.

According to the trade association Fachverband Gebäude-Klima, sales of room air conditioning units — mostly split air conditioners — rose from around 260,000 to 320,000 units between 2023 and 2025. As early as 2020, around 350,000 units had been sold.

Shortages at Several Retailers

The shortages extend across various retail chains. Bauhaus stated that individual fan and air conditioner models were sold out regionally, while others were only available in limited quantities: "Weitere Mengen werden in diesem Sommer jedoch nicht mehr erwartet." At Hornbach, according to a spokesperson, only isolated fans are still available, and mobile air conditioners are no longer available. "Einen Liefertermin für Nachschub gebe es derzeit nicht." MediaMarktSaturn sees "weiterhin eine sehr hohe Nachfrage nach Ventilatoren und Klimageräten": "Für die laufende Sommersaison seien dann keine Nachlieferungen mehr zu erwarten."

Other retailers see the situation as somewhat more relaxed. Euronics stated that demand frequently exceeds supply, but some models are only available in limited quantities or not at all, and replenishments are expected in the coming weeks. A spokesperson explained: "Das Ausmaß dieser Entwicklung war nur schwer vorhersehbar… Vergleichbar langanhaltende Hitzeperioden seien bislang die Ausnahme gewesen." Otto emphasized that fans and air conditioners are currently still sufficiently available; "Bei uns sind derzeit noch ausreichend Ventilatoren und Klimageräte erhältlich."

The product shortages are hitting a market that, according to the Fachverband Gebäude-Klima, is predominantly dominated by Asian manufacturers such as Panasonic, Mitsubishi, LG, and Daikin, which, however, produce to a large extent in Europe.

Long Wait Times for Installation

Not only cooling devices, but also refrigerators and freezers are in greater demand this summer. Robert Ortner, Managing Director of Sales for Liebherr's domestic appliances division, headquartered in Ochsenhausen, reported: "Wir haben derzeit Hochsaison und verkaufen sicher um 30 Prozent mehr Geräte als in den anderen Monaten." The division is one of 13 product segments of the Swiss Liebherr Group and employs more than 6,000 people, 1,300 of them in Austrian Lienz.

Anyone who buys a split air conditioner at a hardware store cannot install it themselves. According to the Verband Deutscher Kälte-Klima-Fachbetriebe, the units may only be installed by certified companies. Demand is extremely high, but "die Betriebe seien in den Sommermonaten mit Service, Reparatur und Wartung bestehender Anlagen allerdings so stark ausgelastet, dass ein Einbau nicht kurzfristig möglich sei." The average waiting time for an installation appointment is just over three months.

The German Weather Service (Deutscher Wetterdienst) has forecast tropical nights for Germany. In Germany, temperatures are again exceeding the 30-degree mark in many places.

Tips from the Consumer Advice Centre

Those who cannot get hold of an air conditioner must resort to other means. The Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband advises keeping windows and doors closed during the day whenever possible so that warm air does not enter. Ventilation should only begin once it is cooler outside than inside — ideally at night. To create a cross-breeze, windows should be opened wide. The association also recommends switching off unnecessary heat sources, such as a second refrigerator.

Meanwhile, the Liebherr Group is preparing new products: in September, the first cooling appliances with insulation made from finely ground volcanic rock (perlite) are to be launched, intended to reduce energy consumption. The company is also expanding its range to include XL and XXL built-in refrigerators — a trend Ortner attributes to changing living situations: "Wir merken, dass es in vielen Familien keine Speis mehr gibt, wo Lebensmittel gelagert werden, und daher spielt auch das Volumen des Kühlschranks eine immer größere Rolle."