With air conditioners from major brands reaching record prices this year, demand for traditional coolers has surged.
Temporary stalls offering special dry grass (khas) refills for old room coolers have popped up across markets and intersections. The cost of khas stuffing has also seen a record hike.
Last year, filling a large cooler cost Rs2,200 to 2,500; this year, it’s gone up to Rs3,300. Medium-sized coolers cost Rs2,700 to refill, and small ones Rs2,400.
Special stuffing in larger units now costs up to Rs3,600.
Manufacturers have also begun producing compact coolersmeasuring one foot by 1.5 feetfor use in small kiosks and cabins, priced between Rs5,000 and Rs6,000.
These compact units are powered by small Chinese motors and are available for purchase both in cash and on instalment plans, although manufacturers sell them in cash to retailers, who then offer instalment options to customers.
Air conditioner cleaning has also become a profitable seasonal business, with mechanics charging Rs3,000 to 3,500 per unit.
If gas refilling is required, the cost can go up to Rs10,000. Good technicians are now in high demand, with bookings being made days in advance.
Local cooler maker Haji Ibrahim stated that Lahori coolers are affordable and durable, lasting up to five years with only the khas needing occasional replacement.
“We’re making a lot of these on order now. Demand for the smallest models has gone up the most,” he added.
A worker at Committee Chowk shared that this is their prime earning season. “We earn Rs400 to 500 per cooler, including labour.
The season lasts just two to two-and-a-half months, ending around June 30.”