[Store/Clinic AC Environment] About 90% have experienced AC trouble during business hours! 'Poor cooling' is the top issue—what do businesses want from service providers?

KT Clean Support Co., Ltd. (Location: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative: Takayuki Wakao) conducted a survey on 'Air Conditioning Environments and Maintenance Status in Stores and Clinics' targeting owners, managers, and employees of restaurants, hair salons, and clinics.

In the operation of stores and clinics, have you ever been troubled by malfunctions or sudden problems with air conditioning equipment? The impact may not just stop at 'equipment failure' but may lead directly to 'unseen opportunity loss' such as shorter stays and discomfort for customers/patients, and even a decrease in sales.

So, how many stores and clinics have actually felt the negative impact on business operations, medical treatment, and customer/patient satisfaction due to air conditioning malfunctions? KT Clean Support Co., Ltd. (https://www.kt-clean-inc.co.jp/) conducted a survey on 'Air Conditioning Environments and Maintenance Status in Stores and Clinics' among owners, managers, and employees of restaurants, hair salons, and clinics.

**Survey Overview:**
- [Survey Period] Monday, April 6, 2026 – Tuesday, April 7, 2026
- [Survey Method] Internet survey via PRIZMA (https://www.prizma-link.com/press)
- [Number of Respondents] 1,017 people
- [Target] Monitors who responded as owners, managers, or employees of restaurants, hair salons, or clinics
- [Survey Conducted by] KT Clean Support Co., Ltd.
- [Monitor Provider] Sakurisa

**About 90% have experienced AC trouble during business hours! What was the impact?**
First, when asked about 'air conditioning troubles or malfunctions occurred or felt at your workplace,' the most common response was 'Poor cooling (37.1%),' followed by 'Temperature unevenness (28.3%)' and 'Odor (15.5%).'

Troubles that directly affect physical sensation or smell, such as poor cooling, temperature unevenness, and odors, were common. This suggests internal deterioration, such as clogged filters or internal dirt that cannot be solved by daily cleaning alone, may be the cause.

So, how many people have experienced these troubles during the hours when customers or patients are present? Excluding those who answered 'none' in the previous question, when asked if 'the trouble/malfunction occurred during business or clinical hours,' about 90% answered 'Yes (88.9%).'

It was revealed that a vast majority face troubles during hours when customers or patients are staying. When those who answered 'Yes' were asked about the impact on operations, customers, or staff, 'Direct complaints about heat/cold/odor (47.8%)' was the top answer, followed by 'Requests to move seats (24.1%)' and 'Discomfort such as putting on or taking off coats (19.9%).'

Nearly half have received 'direct complaints,' showing that AC troubles cause discomfort. Also, since actions like 'moving seats' or 'clothing adjustments' were high on the list, it is clear that AC issues are not just equipment problems but factors that lower customer satisfaction and the evaluation of the store or clinic.

**About 60% prioritize 'Response Speed' when choosing an AC service provider**
Are contact points clearly ruled out at the site when AC trouble occurs? When asked 'Who do you contact first when AC trouble occurs?,' 'Manufacturer or dealer where purchased (35.5%)' was the top answer, followed by 'Management company of the store/clinic (24.5%)' and 'Not particularly decided (22.2%).'

While contacting manufacturers or management companies is the mainstream, it became clear that about 20% have no specific contact. If the contact point is not decided, the initial response is delayed, prolonging the trouble and increasing the negative impact. So, how much time does actual recovery take? When asked 'If you have had trouble requiring a service call, how long did it take to recover?'...