What Refrigeration Supplies Distributor does

Refrigeration Supplies Distributor (RSD) is a privately held, independently owned wholesale distributor of refrigeration parts and HVAC equipment serving licensed HVAC and refrigeration contractors across the western United States. Founded in 1907 as the Pacific Division of the Starr Piano Company and renamed Refrigeration Supplies Distributor in 1978, the company operates 80 branch locations across 10 western states (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington), with corporate headquarters in Lake Forest, California. RSD positions itself as the largest independently owned wholesaler in its region, with most branches opening at 6:00–7:00am to serve contractor workflows.

The company distributes a broad multi-manufacturer product portfolio organized into 20+ categories, including air conditioning and heating equipment, compressors, controls, refrigerants (including low-GWP A2L refrigerants), motors, chemicals, tools, pipe and fittings, water pumps, and welding products. Key manufacturer partnerships include Copeland, Ruud/Rheem, Honeywell, Johnson Controls, Heatcraft, Bohn, Hoshizaki, Pelican, Nu-Calgon, and Gates. Beyond traditional parts distribution, RSD operates four specialized Total Control branches focused on building automation systems and DDC training, sells a proprietary line of fiberglass cooling towers under the RSD Cooling Towers brand, and offers the RSD Notes mobile app for contractors. The company also runs the RSD Refrigerant Suite as a centralized regulatory and technical information resource.

RSD generates revenue primarily through wholesale hardware sales to licensed contractors via a combination of in-branch purchases, an e-commerce platform at rsd.net with registered-account pricing and online order management, and four Total Control building-automation branches. Pricing is account-based and not publicly disclosed. The company has no disclosed outside institutional ownership, no public listing, no recorded funding rounds, and no disclosed acquisitions or divestitures; it remains a long-standing family/management-owned distribution business operating under its original 1907 corporate lineage.

Name

Refrigeration Supplies Distributor

Legal name

Refrigeration Supplies Distributor

Website

https://rsd.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1907

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Refrigeration Supplies Distributor is the largest independently owned wholesaler of refrigeration parts and HVAC equipment in the western United States, operating 80 branch locations across 10 states to serve licensed HVAC and refrigeration contractors with a 20-category product portfolio and dedicated building automation services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

HVAC and Refrigeration Parts Wholesale Distribution

NAICS

Refrigeration Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (423740), Warm Air Heating and Air-Conditioning Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (42373), Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies (Hydronics) Merchant Wholesalers (423720)

SIC

Wholesale-Hardware & Plumbing & Heating Equipment & Supplies (5070), Refrigeration & Service Industry Machinery (3580), Wholesale-Machinery, Equipment & Supplies (5080)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Refrigeration Components & Controls (Compressors, Valves, Sensors) (IMAHAKAH), Compressors, Refrigeration Components & Condensing Units (IMADANAG)

Keywords

• Wholesale HVAC distribution
• Refrigeration parts supply
• HVAC contractor supplies
• Building automation systems
• Commercial refrigeration equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Anaheim

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices80 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Parts and Equipment Distribution: RSD generates revenue through the wholesale distribution of refrigeration parts, HVAC equipment, and related supplies to licensed contractors. Products include compressors, controls, refrigerants, motors, tools, and specialized equipment across 20+ product categories.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Refrigeration Supplies Distributor (RSD) wholesales refrigeration parts and HVAC equipment to licensed contractors through 80 branch locations across 10 western states and an e-commerce platform. The product portfolio spans 20 categories including compressors, refrigerants, controls, motors, tools, chemicals, and water filtration, sourced from leading manufacturers. Specialized offerings include Total Control building automation services, RSD Fiberglass Cooling Towers, the RSD Refrigerant Suite information resource, and the RSD Notes mobile application.

Product overview

Refrigeration Supplies Distributor (RSD) is the largest independently owned refrigeration parts and HVAC equipment wholesaler in the western United States, operating 80 locations across 10 western states since 1907. The company offers a multi-category product portfolio organized into 20 distinct product categories spanning the full spectrum of HVAC/R needs: Air Conditioning/Heating Equipment (residential and commercial units, condensing units, heat pumps, furnaces, coils), Air Filters, Chemicals/Lubricants, Compressors, Controls, Electrical Components, Evaporative Cooler Parts, Fans/Blowers/Belts/Bearings/Pulleys, Hydronic Components, Motors, Pipe/Tubing/Fittings/Insulation, Pneumatic Controls, Refrigerants (including low-GWP A2L refrigerants), Refrigeration Equipment, Refrigeration/AC Parts, Tools/Instruments, Truck Stock, Water Filtration, Water Pumps, and Welding Products. Beyond parts distribution, RSD operates specialized divisions including RSD Notes (mobile app for contractor note-taking), Total Control (building automation systems and DDC training), RSD Fiberglass Cooling Towers (5-500 ton models), and the RSD Refrigerant Suite (centralized refrigerant information resource). The company distributes products from major manufacturers including Ruud, Copeland, Rheem, Honeywell, Johnson Controls, and many others.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Total Control: Building automation systems, products, professional services, training, and support for HVAC contractors.
• RSD Cooling Towers
• RSD Notes
• RSD Refrigerant Suite

Products and services

• Air Conditioning / Heating Equipment Residential and commercial air conditioning and heating equipment including condensing units, heat pumps, rooftop units, furnaces, and coils from leading manufacturers, sold to licensed HVAC contractors.
• Air Filters Full range of HVAC air filters including pleated, fiberglass, washable, and specialty filters for residential and commercial systems.
• Chemicals, Lubricants Complete selection of HVAC and refrigeration chemicals including coil cleaners, degreasers, leak detection dyes, scale removers, and compressor lubricants from Nu-Calgon, Rectorseal, and CRC.
• Compressors Large inventory of refrigeration and air conditioning compressors including scroll, reciprocating, semi-hermetic, and hermetic models from Copeland, Emerson, Tecumseh, CMP, and others.
• Controls Full line of HVAC and refrigeration controls including thermostats, defrost controls, pressure switches, and temperature controls from Pelican, Honeywell, Robertshaw, White-Rodgers, and Johnson Controls.
• Electrical Components Wide selection of electrical components including contactors, relays, capacitors, transformers, and circuit breakers from Mars, Packard, and Supco.
• Evaporative Cooler Parts Complete selection of evaporative cooler parts including motors, pumps, cooler pads, bearings, pulleys, and blower wheels.
• Fans, Blowers, Belts, Bearings, Pulleys Large assortment of fan blades, blower wheels, V-belts, bearings, and pulleys for HVAC and refrigeration equipment, including Gates power transmission products.
• Hydronic Components Full range of hydronic system components including circulator pumps, zone valves, expansion tanks, and air separators from Taco, Bell & Gossett, and Watts.
• Motors Extensive selection of HVAC and refrigeration motors including condenser fan motors, blower motors, and OEM replacement motors from Mars, Genteq, Emerson, Fasco, and AO Smith.
• Pipe, Tubing, Fittings, Insulation Stock of copper tubing, line sets, PVC pipe, fittings, and insulation from Mueller, Streamline, Armacell, and other manufacturers.
• Pneumatic Controls Complete offering of pneumatic controls, actuators, thermostats, and valves for building automation systems.
• Refrigerants Full stock of refrigerants for commercial and residential use including R-410A, R-404A, R-134A, R-32, R-454B, and other low-GWP A2L refrigerants.
• Refrigeration Equipment Commercial refrigeration equipment and components including condensing units, evaporators, walk-in cooler parts, and ice machine components from Heatcraft, Bohn, HTPG, Russell, and Hoshizaki.
• Refrigeration, AC Parts Thousands of repair and replacement parts for air conditioning and refrigeration systems from all major manufacturers.
• Tools, Instruments Professional tools and test instruments including manifold gauge sets, leak detectors, multimeters, vacuum pumps, and recovery machines from JB, Fieldpiece, Fluke, Testo, Yellow Jacket, and CPS.
• Truck Stock Popular truck stock items and fast-moving service parts that technicians commonly keep on their service vehicles.
• Water Filtration Complete selection of water filtration products, replacement cartridges, and systems for ice machines, drinking water, and equipment protection from Hoshizaki and Nu-Calgon.
• Water Pumps Wide range of condensate pumps, circulator pumps, and specialty refrigeration pumps from Mars, Diversitech, Refco, Little Giant, Beckett, and Hartell.
• Welding Products Welding and brazing supplies including torches, regulators, hoses, solder, brazing rods, and safety equipment.
• Total Control (Building Automation Services) Building automation systems, products, professional services, training, and DDC support for HVAC contractors, offered through four specialized Total Control branches and Total Control University.
• RSD Fiberglass Cooling Towers Durable and economical fiberglass cooling towers with stock models ranging from 5 to 500 tons, sold as a proprietary RSD product line.
• RSD Notes Mobile Application Mobile application available on iOS and Android designed to keep contractor notes organized and stored with the user at all times.
• RSD Refrigerant Suite Central clearing house for all refrigerant-related information, including guidance on low-GWP A2L refrigerants and compliance resources for HVAC contractors.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Ruud (Rheem Manufacturing)coreOthersRSD distributes Ruud/Rheem HVAC equipment including air conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces, and coils. Ruud products are featured prominently on the RSD website with dedicated brand search functionality.
• CopelandcoreOthersRSD distributes Copeland compressors and refrigeration equipment including scroll compressors, hermetic compressors, condensing units, and related components.
• PelicancoreOthersRSD distributes Pelican controls products as part of their comprehensive controls category offering.
• BohncoreOthersRSD distributes Bohn commercial refrigeration equipment and components including evaporators, fan blades, and motor mounts.
• HeatcraftcoreOthersRSD distributes Heatcraft commercial refrigeration equipment including condensing units and walk-in cooler components.
• HoneywellcoreTechnology or IntegrationRSD distributes Honeywell controls products including thermostats, pressure controls, economizers, gas detection sensors, and building automation components.
• Johnson ControlscoreTechnology or IntegrationRSD distributes Johnson Controls products including VAV controllers, pneumatic controls, and building automation system components.
• Nu-CalgoncoreOthersRSD distributes Nu-Calgon chemicals and cleaners including coil cleaners, refrigerants, leak detection products, and water treatment solutions.
• GatescoreOthersRSD distributes Gates V-belts and related power transmission products for HVAC and refrigeration equipment.
• HoshizakicoreOthersRSD distributes Hoshizaki ice machines and water filtration products for commercial foodservice applications.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• HVAC.com: HVAC.com is a digital-first HVAC parts and equipment retailer that sells directly to contractors and consumers online. As an emerging digital competitor, it challenges the traditional branch-based distributor model by offering 24/7 e-commerce convenience, though with less immediate local availability than RSD's 80 branches.
• Repair Clinic: Repair Clinic is an e-commerce retailer of appliance and HVAC replacement parts serving both contractors and DIY consumers. As an emerging digital parts distributor, it represents a partial competitive overlap with RSD on certain commodity parts and could pressure RSD's e-commerce strategy over time.

Direct peers

• United Refrigeration: United Refrigeration is one of the largest independent refrigeration and HVAC parts distributors in the US with over 200 locations nationwide. It is a direct peer to RSD in product mix (compressors, condensers, refrigerants, parts) and customer base (licensed HVACR contractors), with broader geographic coverage but similar independent ownership profile.
• Winsupply: Winsupply is a cooperative-style wholesale distributor with HVAC, plumbing, and refrigeration divisions serving contractors through local branches. As a competing HVACR distributor with similar B2B contractor focus and multi-branch model, Winsupply directly overlaps with RSD's value proposition and customer base.
• Johnstone Supply: Johnstone Supply is the largest HVACR wholesale cooperative in North America, distributing refrigeration parts, HVAC equipment, and controls to licensed contractors through a similar branch-based model. Direct competitor to RSD with overlapping product categories, manufacturer relationships (Copeland, Honeywell), and contractor customer base, though operating nationwide versus RSD's western focus.
• Baker Distributing Company: Baker Distributing is a major US wholesale distributor of HVAC and refrigeration products serving residential and commercial contractors with branch locations across multiple regions. It competes with RSD for licensed contractor customers and manufacturer relationships (Copeland, Honeywell, Johnson Controls), though with a stronger footprint in the southeastern US.
• Gemaire (Carrier subsidiary): Gemaire is a Carrier Corporation subsidiary that distributes Carrier, Bryant, Payne, and ComfortMaker HVAC equipment and parts to dealers and contractors. It is a direct peer in the HVAC distribution value chain, though captive to Carrier-aligned brands versus RSD's multi-brand independent model.

Broad incumbents

• Ferguson Enterprises: Ferguson is the largest US distributor of plumbing, heating, and HVAC supplies with thousands of branches nationwide. While its HVAC exposure is smaller than Watsco or RSD, Ferguson competes directly with RSD on HVAC parts and equipment distribution in overlapping geographies, particularly for hydronic, plumbing-adjacent, and commercial categories.
• Watsco (Carrier Enterprise): Watsco is the largest HVAC distribution company in North America with multi-billion-dollar revenue, distributing Carrier, Bryant, and other premium HVAC brands through hundreds of branch locations. As a broad incumbent with significantly greater scale, Watsco competes with RSD for both contractor customers and manufacturer allocation, particularly for higher-end residential and light commercial equipment.

Regional players

• ACR Supply (ACR Air Conditioning & Refrigeration): ACR Supply is a regional refrigeration and HVAC parts distributor primarily serving the southeastern US with comparable product mix (compressors, refrigerants, controls) and contractor focus. Comparable to RSD in business model and product categories but geographically separate, limiting direct overlap with RSD's western US footprint.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rsd-total-control

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 Refrigeration Supplies Distributor