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Will Tariffs Increase Prices on Parts and Equipment?

Will the current tariffs on China and other countries impact the prices on parts and equipment used in the heating and plumbing business? What types of plumbing and heating parts and equipment comes only from China? Have you seen the costs of material rise in recent days?

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Comments

  • Long Beach Ed
    Long Beach Ed Member Posts: 1,757
    edited April 12

    I think you will see spikes in some parts. While **** has snuck into most manufacturing, there will also be downward pressure on spending caused by an overall recession. Generally, I think the price of many parts will increase owing more to increased money creation than to tariffs.

    DerheatmeisterCLamb
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 7,616

    Yes

    NJ Steam Homeowner.
    Free NJ and remote steam advice: https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/new-jersey-steam-help/
    See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el

    SuperTech
  • Mad Dog_2
    Mad Dog_2 Member Posts: 8,077

    Nope...no movement. Mad Dog

    Intplm.
  • kcopp
    kcopp Member Posts: 4,550

    Just got a price increase notification on State water heaters yesterday.

    Anywhere between 10-15%

    Effective May/1/2025

    DerheatmeisterJohnMansolf
  • Steamhead
    Steamhead Member Posts: 17,756
    All Steamed Up, Inc.
    Towson, MD, USA
    Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
    Oil & Gas Burner Service
    Consulting
    Intplm.
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 7,616

    Wait till the already-imported stock runs out. But they might be cancelled before that happens. Things are quite random right now.

    NJ Steam Homeowner.
    Free NJ and remote steam advice: https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/new-jersey-steam-help/
    See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el

  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 16,642

    Apparently electronics, phones etc are now exempt. Except drones, they aren't.

    Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.

  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 7,616

    I guess DJI didn’t make the same “donation” that Apple did 😂

    NJ Steam Homeowner.
    Free NJ and remote steam advice: https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/new-jersey-steam-help/
    See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el

  • SlamDunk
    SlamDunk Member Posts: 1,742

    How can it not?

  • DCContrarian
    DCContrarian Member Posts: 1,117

    If the economy collapses so hard there's no demand for anything and prices fall.

    Long Beach EdHVACNUT
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 7,616

    I'm talking about the millions of dollars that Apple, FB, and other companies "donated" to the last inaugural party.

    NJ Steam Homeowner.
    Free NJ and remote steam advice: https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/new-jersey-steam-help/
    See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el

  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 7,616
    edited April 13

    Maybe, and maybe eventually, but first comes higher prices that reduce sales. The demand is still going to be there and the ones with enough money and desire will pay the higher prices.

    Parts seem likely to rise regardless. These are not really optional systems to have running in people's homes and businesses. If they don't replace old stuff they are going to be wanting to buy more parts to keep things running. Those parts will be subject to tariff.

    NJ Steam Homeowner.
    Free NJ and remote steam advice: https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/new-jersey-steam-help/
    See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el

  • SlamDunk
    SlamDunk Member Posts: 1,742

    I think the electronics exemption was just reversed.

    Yippee!, No, I mean I'm getting very yippie. Maybe a little sick.

    ethicalpaul
  • psb75
    psb75 Member Posts: 1,037

    Yippie: Youth International Party?

    Long Beach Ed
  • GGross
    GGross Member Posts: 1,490
    edited April 14

    We received increase notifications from the majority of our manufacturers, anywhere between 7-20% (this was before the most recent additional tariffs..) Not one of them issued a statement walking back the increases when there were chances they would see exemptions. Even companies that manufacture their goods domestically announced increases, their cost of living will likely go up so they have to charge more. Most independent wholesalers just stocked up recently so more than likely they are all trying to ride out current stock to see if the tariffs thing blows over, nobody wants to be the first to raise the price to the contractor

    edit: looking at my emails a couple did postpone their tariff increases, honeywell for sure did as they said they need to look at all skus to determine the exact increases based on whatever the tariffs end up being

    2nd edit: honeywell tariff surcharge just went through effective immediately, and it applies to backordered items

  • RTW
    RTW Member Posts: 227

    Gotta hand it to all above posters that clearly and undeniably make clear one thing : Tariffs are NOT paid by the country importing the goods, they are paid by USA importers that pass the increases along to consumers

    Believe it or not, many people, some smart, some not so smart, still argue the tariffed country pays the tariffs - smh

    All the Best,

    RTW

    Sal SantamauraHVACNUT
  • KC_Jones
    KC_Jones Member Posts: 5,883

    The last time the tariffs were put on, the company I work for did an emergency 5% price increase to cover the increased material costs we incurred. The tariff wasn't high enough to change the buying habits, so we just paid the increased cost and passed it on.

    I haven't heard anything about price increases this time, but I'm sure it's coming. I think some time needs to go by and stabilize on what is happening so they know how to handle it.

    2014 Weil Mclain EG-40
    EcoSteam ES-20 Advanced Boiler Control
    Boiler pictures updated 2/21/15
    RTW
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 7,616

    And one really, really dumb person.

    The smart ones are just lying.

    NJ Steam Homeowner.
    Free NJ and remote steam advice: https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/new-jersey-steam-help/
    See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el

    Sal SantamauraSteamheadPC7060
  • SuperTech
    SuperTech Member Posts: 2,581

    My brother is building a house and I am installing two ducted Mitsubishi heat pump systems for him. Over the last week the price of the one 2.5 ton system and one 1.5 ton system increased over $4000 on one popular online supplier.

  • SlamDunk
    SlamDunk Member Posts: 1,742
    edited April 14

    Unfortunately, after the election, the question: “what is a tarriff?” spiked on Google.

    ethicalpaul
  • JohnMansolf
    JohnMansolf Member Posts: 8

    Being a small company has its benefits during times like these. I hated having laying off people

    Mad Dog_2
  • Long Beach Ed
    Long Beach Ed Member Posts: 1,757
    edited April 17

    If buyers and importers have other options, they simply get their supplies elsewhere. Buyers will only absorb so much increase if they have other choices, and they usually do. They go elsewhere, forgo their purchase, or design differently.

    Tariffs are only a part of the picture and are used to control others. Inflation, dollar devaluation, interest rates and control of the central bankers are all involved and all affect industrial goods.

    Mad Dog_2
  • ethicalpaul
    ethicalpaul Member Posts: 7,616

    If buyers and importers have other options, they simply get their supplies elsewhere.

    there are two problems remaining:

    1. Supply from those other sources will be under higher demand, causing shortages and price increases
    2. Even with plenty of supply, a domestic vendor will raise their price because they know their price competitor is gone

    You simply can’t avoid price increases due to tariffs

    NJ Steam Homeowner.
    Free NJ and remote steam advice: https://heatinghelp.com/find-a-contractor/detail/new-jersey-steam-help/
    See my sight glass boiler videos: https://bit.ly/3sZW1el

    Sal Santamaura
  • ChrisJ
    ChrisJ Member Posts: 16,642

    I've heard rumor that American suppliers have raised prices as soon as tariffs were implemented because they knew they could. Rather than leveling the playing field it simply raised prices across the board and kept the difference the same. This is going back years, not the current situation.

    Single pipe 392sqft system with an EG-40 rated for 325sqft and it's silent and balanced at all times.

    ethicalpaulSal Santamaura
  • Intplm.
    Intplm. Member Posts: 2,617

    If history has a say in how tariffs raise prices, look at what happened somewhere around the 1890s and the 1930s. With tariffs, prices went up. This "helped" to put the U.S. in a mode of isolationism. Imposing tariffs can not be done recklessly. The U.S. betrayed the trust of our trade partners, causing terrible losses.

    It's like when you deal with a customer. If you do not have a good, trusting business relationship, things tend to fall apart. And prices can and have gone up, or you lose their business at a cost.

    ethicalpaulSal SantamauraCLamb
  • RTW
    RTW Member Posts: 227

    All good follow-up on tariffs. I suggest revisiting the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930 under President Hoover that led to the Great Depression. Dont take my word, here is a Link to Wikipedia on what happened:

    Smoot–Hawley Tariff Act - Wikipedia

    Regards,

    RTW

    Sal SantamauraIntplm.ratio
  • RTW
    RTW Member Posts: 227

    Here is the core of what happened - see LInk above for more info. NOTE: does this 1930's argument to pass Smoot - Hawley sound familiar?? Regards, RTW

    The Tariff Act of 1930, also known as the Smoot–Hawley Tariff Act, was a protectionist trade measure signed into law in the United States by President Herbert Hoover on June 17, 1930. Named after its chief congressional sponsors, Senator Reed Smoot and Representative Willis C. Hawley, the act raised tariffs on over 20,000 imported goods in an effort to shield American industries from foreign competition during the onset of the Great Depression, which had started in October 1929.[1]

    Hoover signed the bill against the advice of many senior economists, yielding to pressure from his party and business leaders. Intended to bolster domestic employment and manufacturing, the tariffs instead deepened the Depression because the U.S.'s trading partners retaliated with tariffs of their own, leading to U.S. exports and global trade plummeting. Economists and historians widely regard the act as a policy misstep, and it remains a cautionary example of protectionist policy in modern economic debates.[2] It was followed by more liberal trade agreements, such as the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act of 1934.

    Sal SantamauraIntplm.
  • RTW
    RTW Member Posts: 227

    George Santayana

    • According to 2 sources

    One of the most common arguments in favor of studying history, the famous quote by George Santayana, which states " Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it" means that people who do not learn from the mistakes of the past are going to make the same mistakes.

    Regards,

    RTW

    Sal SantamauraIntplm.
  • Mad Dog_2
    Mad Dog_2 Member Posts: 8,077

    Whatever will be will be...not going to fret...We have very, very little control over these things. Mad Dog

  • RTW
    RTW Member Posts: 227

    "Que sera', sera' " as the song goes….sung by Doris Day in movie (1956) that still has meaning today

    All the Best,

    RTW

    Intplm.
  • SlamDunk
    SlamDunk Member Posts: 1,742

    one thing fo’ sho’… we be learning something about economics and foreign relations. Hope we can ride it out.

  • SlamDunk
    SlamDunk Member Posts: 1,742

    Businesses are preparing for a recession. Mine certainly is.

  • RTW
    RTW Member Posts: 227

    To quote Long Beach Ed above"

    "If buyers and importers have other options, they simply get their supplies elsewhere. Buyers will only absorb so much increase if they have other choices, and they usually do. They go elsewhere, forgo their purchase, or design differently."

    My response: here are a few countries to consider as options to get supplies elsewhere:

    Does not have tariffs

    The US does not have tariffs against Russia and Belarus12These countries are not on the list of countries targeted by Trump's reciprocal tariffs2.

    Regards,

    RTW

    Intplm.SlamDunk
  • RTW
    RTW Member Posts: 227

    P.S.

    According to the Office of the US Trade Representative, trade between the US and Russia was worth $3.5bn (£2.7bn) in 2024.

    All the Best,

    RTW

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