What Johnstone Supply does

Johnstone Supply is a private wholesale distributor founded in 1984 and headquartered in Portland, United States, serving HVAC, refrigeration, and plumbing contractors through a network of more than 450 company-owned store locations across the United States and Canada. The company operates as a multi-category distribution platform whose catalog spans HVAC equipment (commercial, residential, mini-split, specialty), HVACR parts and OEM components, hydronics and plumbing (boilers, pumps, valves, controls), motors, refrigeration (compressors, refrigerants, oils, equipment), general supplies, testing tools and training, thermostats, and ventilation and indoor air quality products.

The business runs a B2B e-commerce platform at johnstonesupply.com that lets licensed contractors search products, view pricing and availability at their designated local store, place orders with manager approval workflows, and manage saved product lists and cross-reference lookups. Counter-level service at the 450+ stores handles same-day pickup and account management, and complementary programs — Johnstone University training, the FTL Finance contractor and homeowner financing offering, and ServiceTitan HVAC National Championship sponsorship — strengthen contractor retention beyond pure product distribution.

Revenue is generated primarily through wholesale product sales to licensed contractors under an account-based, identification-required model. A secondary revenue stream comes from FTL Finance, a transaction-fee-based financing program that lets contractors extend credit options (including programs for credit-challenged homeowners) to close end-customer sales. The company is recognized among the largest North American HVAC/R distributors alongside Watsco and Ferguson, holding manufacturer partnerships with brands such as Resideo, Beckett, McDonnell & Miller, and Hydrolevel. Recent operational activity includes a 2026 process improvement initiative to eliminate manual billing across the store network and a 2025 sustainability award from Thermostat Recycling Corp. for mercury thermostat recycling participation.

Name

Johnstone Supply

Legal name

Johnstone Supply

Website

https://johnstonesupply.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Johnstone Supply is a private wholesale distributor serving HVAC, refrigeration, and plumbing contractors through more than 450 stores across the United States and Canada, offering multi-category equipment, parts, financing, and training services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

HVAC/R Wholesale Distribution

NAICS

Warm Air Heating and Air-Conditioning Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (423730), Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies (Hydronics) Merchant Wholesalers (423720), Refrigeration Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (423740), Hardware, and Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (4237)

SIC

Wholesale-Hardware & Plumbing & Heating Equipment & Supplies (5070), Wholesale-Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies (5040)

akta.pro primary industry

HVAC, Water Heaters & Indoor Air Quality Distribution (CRAOAFAJ)

Keywords

• HVAC wholesale distribution
• Refrigeration parts supply
• Hydronics and plumbing products
• HVACR contractor supplies
• Thermostats and ventilation products

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Wholesale HVAC/R and Plumbing Product Sales: Johnstone Supply generates revenue primarily through the wholesale sale of HVAC equipment, HVACR parts, hydronics and plumbing products, motors, refrigeration equipment, supplies, testing tools, thermostats, and ventilation/IAQ products to licensed contractors. The company operates on a wholesale-only model requiring purchaser identification.
2. FTL Finance Financing Program: Johnstone Supply offers FTL Finance, a financing program for contractors to provide homeowner financing options, including programs for credit-challenged homeowners. This generates referral/transaction-based revenue while helping contractors close sales.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Johnstone Supply is a wholesale distributor of HVAC equipment, HVACR parts, hydronics and plumbing products, motors, refrigeration equipment and refrigerants, thermostats, ventilation/IAQ products, testing tools, and installation supplies. The company sells exclusively to licensed HVAC, refrigeration, and plumbing contractors through 450+ company-owned store locations across the United States and a B2B e-commerce platform that requires local store identification and account sign-in for pricing and ordering.

Product overview

Johnstone Supply is a wholesale distributor serving the HVAC, refrigeration, and property maintenance industries with over 450 store locations across North America. The company operates as a multi-category distribution platform offering HVAC equipment (commercial, residential, mini-split, specialty), HVACR parts and components, hydronics and plumbing systems (boilers, pumps, valves, controls), motors, refrigeration products (compressors, refrigerants, oils, equipment), general supplies, testing tools and training, thermostats, and ventilation/indoor air quality products. The product portfolio includes major brand partnerships with manufacturers such as Resideo (smart thermostats, water leak detectors), Beckett (oil burners, ignitors), McDonnell & Miller (low water cut-offs, flow switches), and Hydrolevel (low water cut-offs, water feeders). The company supports contractors through complementary services including Johnstone University training, FTL Finance contractor financing programs, and product listing/account management tools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FTL Finance: Financing program offered by Johnstone Supply to help contractors and homeowners with financing options for HVAC projects.

Products and services

• HVAC Equipment Complete line of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment including commercial systems, manufactured housing units, mini-split systems, residential unitary products, and specialty equipment such as evaporative coolers, geothermal units, generators, and infrared heaters, sold wholesale to HVAC contractors.
• HVACR Parts Replacement parts and components for HVAC and refrigeration systems including accumulators, receivers, capillary tubing, condensers, evaporators, defrost heaters, expansion valves, filter-driers, refrigeration valves, solenoids, and OEM parts, distributed to HVACR contractors.
• Hydronics and Plumbing Boilers, hydronic heaters, indirect storage tanks, water heaters, pumps, baseboard, expansion tanks, radiant heat systems, and valves and controls including mixing valves, ball valves, backflow preventers, zone valves, pressure reducing valves, and low water cut-offs, supplied to plumbing and hydronics contractors.
• Motors Blowers, draft inducers, motors for HVAC and refrigeration applications, and motor accessories including bearings, belts, capacitors, fan blades, pulleys, sheaves, and motor starters, distributed to HVACR contractors.
• Refrigeration Compressors (hermetic, scroll, semi-hermetic), refrigeration oils (alkylbenzene, mineral, POE, PVE), refrigerants (R134A, R22, R32, R404A, R407C, R410A, R454B), and refrigeration equipment including condensers, chillers, ice machines, and unit coolers, supplied to refrigeration technicians.
• Supplies Air distribution products (grilles, sheet metal, ducting), electrical installation and maintenance supplies (circuit breakers, conduit, wire, lighting), and installation supplies (adhesives, batteries, brazing supplies, cleaners, insulation, pipe, tapes), supplied to contractors.
• Testing, Tools and Training Test instruments (airflow measurement, combustion analyzers, leak detectors, meters), hand and power tools, refrigeration tools, safety equipment, and training materials including books and software, with Johnstone University providing contractor training programs.
• Thermostats Connected/wifi thermostats, digital programmable and non-programmable thermostats, line volt thermostats, mechanical thermostats, and thermostat accessories including connected accessories and guards, distributed to HVAC contractors.
• Ventilation and IAQ Indoor air quality products (air cleaners, filtration, dehumidification, humidification, UV systems), ventilation equipment (air curtains, ventilators, exhaust fans, make-up air ventilators), and zoning systems, supplied to HVAC contractors.
• FTL Finance Financing program offered to contractors to provide homeowner financing options for HVAC projects, including programs for credit-challenged homeowners, helping contractors close sales.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Thermostat Recycling Corp.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJohnstone Supply participates in the Thermostat Recycling Corp.'s mercury thermostat recycling program, operating collection sites nationwide. Johnstone Supply won the 2025 BMOP contest for its recycling efforts, demonstrating a significant environmental partnership commitment.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Watsco: Watsco is the largest HVAC/R distributor in North America, operating ~600+ locations across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. It is Johnstone Supply's most direct competitor in the contractor-channel HVAC/R distribution business.
• Hajoca Corporation: Hajoca is a large privately held wholesale distributor of plumbing, heating, cooling, and industrial products with hundreds of branches across the U.S. It is a direct comparable to Johnstone Supply in the contractor-focused HVAC/plumbing distribution channel.
• Winsupply: Winsupply is a private, decentralized wholesale distribution company with locations across the U.S. serving HVAC, plumbing, and other trades. Its owner-operator branch model and contractor customer base are highly comparable to Johnstone Supply's model.

Broad incumbents

• Ferguson Enterprises: Ferguson is a large public plumbing, HVAC, waterworks, and industrial products distributor with a substantial contractor-facing branch network in North America. It overlaps directly with Johnstone Supply's HVAC and plumbing categories while operating a much broader portfolio.
• Carrier Global (Distribution arm): Carrier is a major HVAC manufacturer with its own distribution operations and joint ventures (including a long-standing JV with Watsco). Its branded product line and distributor relationships make it a meaningful competitive counterpart to Johnstone Supply in HVAC equipment.
• Trane Technologies: Trane Technologies is a leading global HVAC manufacturer that sells through independent distribution networks, including distributors serving the same contractor base as Johnstone Supply. It is comparable as a key upstream supplier and channel competitor.
• Lennox International: Lennox is a major HVAC and refrigeration equipment manufacturer selling through independent dealer and distributor networks. Its products are stocked and sold through Johnstone Supply's network and competing distributors.
• Rheem Manufacturing: Rheem is a major manufacturer of HVAC, heating, and water heating products distributed through HVAC/plumbing wholesalers. It is comparable as a key upstream vendor and a competitor for contractor mind-share and shelf space.
• Goodman Manufacturing (Daikin): Goodman, a Daikin brand, is a large residential and light commercial HVAC manufacturer distributed through independent wholesalers. It is a relevant upstream supplier and channel competitor to Johnstone Supply's HVAC equipment business.

Emerging players

• Reliance Worldwide Corporation: Reliance Worldwide manufactures and supplies plumbing, heating, and water control products, including SharkBite and other plumbing brands. It is comparable to Johnstone Supply's plumbing/hydronics category and is increasingly relevant as plumbing and HVAC distribution converge.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/JohnstoneDSM138

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Johnstone Supply