Universal Refrigeration
Universal Refrigeration is a Western Washington HVAC and refrigeration services contractor founded in 1985, serving residential and commercial customers across six counties with installation, repair, maintenance, and design-build services as a CoolSys subsidiary.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1985
- HeadquartersAuburn, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Universal Refrigeration does
Universal Refrigeration is a regional HVAC and refrigeration services company founded in 1985 and headquartered in Auburn, Washington. The company sells, installs, services, and maintains residential air conditioning, heating, ductless split systems, and heat pumps, alongside commercial air conditioning, commercial heating, commercial refrigeration design, and HVAC design-build services. It serves homeowners, commercial establishments, industrial warehouses, restaurants, breweries, and distilleries across six Western Washington counties (King, Pierce, Thurston, Lewis, Kitsap, and South Snohomish), with contractor licensing also held in Oregon.
The company's underlying technology stack is standard HVAC and refrigeration hardware supplemented by CAD software used for design-build engineering of heating, cooling, and refrigeration systems. Specialized capabilities include large commercial freezer boxes, rack systems, glycol chillers, brewery/distillery chillers, and Mohave hot gas defrost systems, along with low-GWP refrigerant conversion services to support regulatory compliance. Universal Refrigeration operates as a subsidiary of CoolSys, a national provider of HVAC, refrigeration, engineering, and energy solutions, which provides corporate backing while the regional brand maintains local market identity.
Revenue is generated through one-time installation fees, ongoing repair and maintenance services (including annual preventive-maintenance service contracts), equipment sales, and commercial design-build projects. Pricing is quote-based with no publicly listed tiers; customers schedule service via the company website, online booking, or phone, with on-call technicians available 24/7/365 for emergency response. The go-to-market motion is direct-to-consumer and direct-to-local-SMB, supported by local SEO, content marketing, and customer testimonials, with no intermediary resellers or distributors.
Universal Refrigeration firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Universal Refrigeration
- Legal name
- Universal Refrigeration
- Website
- https://universalrefrig.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1985
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Universal Refrigeration is a Western Washington HVAC and refrigeration services contractor founded in 1985, serving residential and commercial customers across six counties with installation, repair, maintenance, and design-build services as a CoolSys subsidiary.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Universal Refrigeration industry classification
Industry- Product category
- HVAC and Refrigeration Services
- NAICS
- Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (33341), Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (3334)
- SIC
- Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585), Refrigeration & Service Industry Machinery (3580)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Refrigeration Installation & Replacement (Commercial) (HSAOAJAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Compressor, Condenser & Evaporator Service (HSAOAJAG), Preventive Maintenance Programs for Refrigeration Systems (HSAOAJAL), Blast Chiller & Specialty Refrigeration Service (HSAOAJAJ)
Keywords
Where Universal Refrigeration is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Auburn
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Universal Refrigeration business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- HVAC Installation Services: Installation of residential and commercial air conditioning, heating, heat pumps, and ductless split systems. Revenue is generated through one-time service fees for new equipment installation.
- HVAC Repair and Maintenance Services: Ongoing repair and maintenance services for all HVAC systems. Customers can purchase service contracts for annual preventive maintenance tune-ups.
- Commercial Refrigeration Services: Sales, installation, service, and maintenance of commercial refrigeration systems including large commercial freezer boxes, rack systems, warehouse and restaurant refrigeration, glycol chillers, brewery and distillery chillers.
- HVAC Design-Build Services: Professional HVAC engineering and design services using CAD software for commercial projects, providing complete design drawings for heating, cooling, and refrigeration systems.
- Equipment Sales: Sales of HVAC equipment including air conditioning units, furnaces, heat pumps, and ductless split systems. Acts as an advisor helping customers select the right equipment for their homes or businesses.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Quote-based pricing - no publicly listed tiers |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Universal Refrigeration product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Universal Refrigeration provides sales, installation, repair, maintenance, and CAD-based design-build services for residential and commercial HVAC and refrigeration systems in Western Washington. Its service portfolio covers central and ductless air conditioning, heating and furnaces, heat pumps, and commercial refrigeration equipment including walk-in freezers, rack systems, warehouse and restaurant refrigeration, glycol chillers, and brewery/distillery chillers, supported by 24/7/365 emergency response.
Product overview
Universal Refrigeration is a full-service HVAC company offering a unified portfolio of heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration services for residential and commercial customers in Western Washington. The core service offerings include Residential Air Conditioning, Residential Heating, Ductless Split Systems, Heat Pump Services, Commercial Air Conditioning, Commercial Heating, Commercial Refrigeration Design, and HVAC Design Build Services. These services are delivered through a single integrated operations model (a CoolSys company) with technicians providing sales, installation, service, and maintenance across all product categories. No software product or platform is offered—all offerings are field-service delivery operations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Residential Air Conditioning Sales, installation, service, and maintenance of residential air conditioning systems for homeowners in Western Washington.
- Residential Heating Sales, installation, service, and maintenance of residential heating systems and furnaces for homeowners in Western Washington.
- Ductless Split Systems Sales, installation, service, and maintenance of ductless split systems for residential and commercial customers, providing zoned heating and cooling with energy efficiency benefits.
- Heat Pump Services Sales, installation, service, and maintenance of heat pump systems that provide both heating and cooling, offering energy-efficient alternatives to traditional furnaces and air conditioning for residential and commercial customers.
- Commercial Air Conditioning Sales, installation, service, and maintenance of commercial air conditioning systems for retail, office, and industrial buildings in Western Washington.
- Commercial Heating Sales, installation, service, and maintenance of commercial heating systems and furnaces for commercial buildings in Western Washington.
- Commercial Refrigeration Design Design, sales, installation, and maintenance of commercial refrigeration systems including large freezer boxes, rack systems, warehouse and restaurant refrigeration, glycol chillers, brewery and distillery chillers, and Mohave hot gas defrost systems, plus low GWP refrigerant conversion services for regulatory compliance.
- HVAC Design Build Services Professional HVAC engineering and design services using CAD software to plan heating, cooling, and refrigeration systems for new construction or remodeling projects, delivering complete professional design drawings for commercial clients.
Quantifiable outcome
- 24/7/365 emergency technician availability
Companies that use Universal Refrigeration
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Universal Refrigeration technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Universal Refrigeration partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- CoolSyscoreUniversal Refrigeration is a CoolSys company. CoolSys is a national provider of innovative HVAC, refrigeration, engineering, and energy solutions. The affiliation provides Universal Refrigeration with the backing and resources of a larger national organization while maintaining its local brand identity and service operations in Western Washington.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights5 records
Universal Refrigeration competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- APi Group: Global provider of safety, specialty, and industrial services including HVAC and refrigeration through subsidiaries. Comparable business model of rolling up regional HVAC/refrigeration service businesses.
- CoolSys: Parent company of Universal Refrigeration and a national provider of HVAC, refrigeration, engineering, and energy solutions across the U.S. Direct parent-level peer with overlapping service offerings at much larger scale.
- Comfort Systems USA: National mechanical contractor providing HVAC, plumbing, and piping services to commercial and industrial customers. Comparable as a multi-regional commercial HVAC/refrigeration service provider at significantly larger scale.
- Lennox International: Global manufacturer of HVAC and refrigeration products with a strong dealer/installer network. Comparable as a dominant HVAC equipment and service ecosystem player whose dealer network competes with Universal Refrigeration for residential and light commercial work.
- EMCOR Group: National provider of mechanical and electrical construction, energy infrastructure, and facilities services including commercial HVAC and refrigeration. Comparable end markets and integrated service delivery model.
- Trane Technologies: Global manufacturer and service provider of HVAC, building, and refrigeration solutions with a broad commercial service footprint. Comparable as a vertically integrated HVAC/refrigeration brand competing for commercial accounts.
- Limbach Holdings: Specialty mechanical contractor focused on HVAC, plumbing, and building systems design-build for commercial and institutional customers. Directly comparable design-build service offering and customer profile.
- Carrier Global: Global HVAC, refrigeration, and fire/security solutions provider serving residential, commercial, and industrial customers. Comparable as a major equipment OEM and commercial refrigeration service competitor.
Direct peers
- One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning: National residential HVAC service franchise with locally owned operators offering 24/7 heating, cooling, and air quality services. Direct competitor for residential HVAC service contracts in overlapping geographies.
Regional players
- Sound Heating & Air Conditioning: Pacific Northwest residential and light commercial HVAC contractor serving the greater Puget Sound region. Closest regional direct peer with overlapping service territory and customer base.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Universal Refrigeration social profiles
Digital presenceUniversal Refrigeration financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Universal Refrigeration leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Universal Refrigeration funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Universal Refrigeration M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Universal Refrigeration
What does Universal Refrigeration do?
Universal Refrigeration provides sales, installation, repair, maintenance, and CAD-based design-build services for residential and commercial HVAC and refrigeration systems in Western Washington. Its service portfolio covers central and ductless air conditioning, heating and furnaces, heat pumps, and commercial refrigeration equipment including walk-in freezers, rack systems, warehouse and restaurant refrigeration, glycol chillers, and brewery/distillery chillers, supported by 24/7/365 emergency response.
Is Universal Refrigeration a public or private company?
Universal Refrigeration is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Universal Refrigeration founded?
Universal Refrigeration was founded in 1985. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Universal Refrigeration based?
Universal Refrigeration is headquartered in Auburn, United States, in the North America region.
How does Universal Refrigeration make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. HVAC Installation Services are the primary driver. The others are HVAC Repair and Maintenance Services, commercial Refrigeration Services, HVAC Design-Build Services and equipment Sales.
Who are Universal Refrigeration's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are APi Group, CoolSys, Comfort Systems USA, Lennox International, EMCOR Group, Trane Technologies, Limbach Holdings and Carrier Global. One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning is listed as a direct peer. Sound Heating & Air Conditioning is listed as a regional player.
Does Universal Refrigeration have an API?
No public API is recorded for Universal Refrigeration.
What industry is Universal Refrigeration in?
Universal Refrigeration's product category is HVAC and Refrigeration Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAOAJAD, Refrigeration Installation & Replacement (Commercial), with a secondary code of HSAOAJAG, Compressor, Condenser & Evaporator Service. Its NAICS code is 33341 and its SIC code is 3585.