What Refrigeration Technologies does

Refrigeration Technologies, operating under the legal entity RTX Scientific Inc., is a family-owned manufacturer and supplier of specialty chemical products for the HVACR (heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration) industry. Founded in 1987 by John Pastorello from his kitchen and garage in Southern California and headquartered in Anaheim, the company develops non-toxic, biodegradable chemical solutions for leak detection, coil cleaning, gasket and thread sealing, heat protection, condensate drain maintenance, and ice machine cleaning. The company is led by President and CEO Mike Pastorello and reports that its products are trusted by more than 100,000 HVACR professionals globally, with a stated customer retention rate above 98%.

The portfolio is organized around several proprietary brands. Big Blu is the flagship bubble-spray micro leak detector capable of detecting gas leaks down to 0.65 ounces per year and is described as the industry standard since launch. The Viper line offers coil cleaners (aerosol, heavy-duty concentrate, EVAP+, Brite) using proprietary enzyme-based and detergent formulations; the Venom Pack line extends this with pure concentrates. Nylog sealants are elastic fluids made from synthetic refrigeration-grade compressor oils for thread and gasket sealing, while WetRag Heat Blocking Putty, HeatShield, and Heat Blocking Gel provide reusable heat protection rated to 2000-3000°F during brazing and welding. Additional lines include Strike Bac disinfectants, Viper Nickel Safe ice machine cleaners, Viper Coil Coating (a permanent epoxy resin coating supplied to factory OEMs), silicone lubricants, and the 2026-launched Viper EZDose gravity-fed drain pan maintenance system. Refrigeration Technologies holds NSF food-area certification, Kosher certification on certain products, military specification MIL-PRF-25567E on Big Blu, and was designated an EPA Safer Detergent Stewardship Initiative Champion in 2024 (one of only 42 companies worldwide).

The company generates revenue through one-time unit sales of consumable chemical SKUs across HVACR technicians and service professionals, commercial food-service operations, commercial and industrial facilities, and residential HVAC service providers. Products are sold exclusively through a global network of authorized distributors and dedicated sales teams covering the U.S. and Canada plus international markets in South America, Europe, Australia, and parts of Asia. Marketing is conducted through industry social media channels, content marketing including the Tech of the Month blog series, distributor referral programs, free training (Viper Training Vault), and a sample program. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; revenue mechanics reflect consumable reorder economics with no disclosed recurring contracts, software subscriptions, or platform fees.

Name

Refrigeration Technologies

Legal name

RTX Scientific Inc.

Website

https://refrigtech.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Refrigeration Technologies (RTX Scientific Inc.) is a family-owned Anaheim-based manufacturer of non-toxic, biodegradable specialty chemicals for the HVACR industry, serving 100,000-plus professionals worldwide through authorized distributors with branded lines including Big Blu, Viper, Nylog, and WetRag.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

HVACR Specialty Chemicals

NAICS

Soap and Cleaning Compound Manufacturing (32561), Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing (325611), Warm Air Heating and Air-Conditioning Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (42373)

SIC

Specialty Cleaning, Polishing And Sanitation Preparations (2842), Soap, Detergents, Cleang Preparations, Perfumes, Cosmetics (2840), Chemicals & Allied Products (2800), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)

akta.pro primary industry

Air Quality & Filtration Equipment (IAQ) (IMAHAKAI)

Keywords

• HVACR specialty chemicals
• Refrigeration leak detection
• Coil cleaning products
• HVAC sealants and lubricants
• Non-toxic HVAC maintenance

Headquarters

HQ city

Anaheim

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. HVACR Chemical Products: Refrigeration Technologies generates revenue through the sale of specialty chemical products for HVACR maintenance including leak detectors, coil cleaners, sealants, welding compounds, pan/drain treatments, ice machine cleaners, disinfectants, and accessories. Products are sold through authorized distributors worldwide with B2B pricing to HVACR professionals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Refrigeration Technologies manufactures and supplies specialty chemical products for the HVACR (heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration) industry. The portfolio includes bubble-style micro leak detectors (Big Blu), enzyme-based coil cleaners (Viper, Venom Pack), synthetic oil-based thread and gasket sealants (Nylog), heat-protection putties and gels for brazing and welding (WetRag), pan and drain treatments, ice machine cleaners, coil coatings, lubricants, disinfectants, and cleaning accessories. The products are sold through authorized distributors to HVACR technicians, contractors, OEMs, and facility operators.

Product overview

Refrigeration Technologies is a family-owned manufacturer of safer, non-toxic chemical solutions for the HVACR (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration) industry. The product portfolio consists of multiple branded product lines: Big Blu leak detection products (Original, SubZero, Brush On variants) for bubble-style micro leak detection; Viper-branded coil cleaners (Aerosol, Heavy Duty, EVAP+, Brite) and Venom Pack professional-grade coil cleaners; Nylog sealants (Blue, Red, White) for gasket and thread sealing; WetRag heat protection products (Heat Blocking Putty, HeatShield, Heat Blocking Gel) for brazing and welding; Viper Pan & Drain Treatment and EZDose system for condensate maintenance; Viper Nickel Safe ice machine cleaner; Viper Coil Coating for permanent epoxy protection; silicone greases and lubricants; cleaning accessories including Viper Wipes, Foam Gun, Pump Sprayer, and Sniper; and disinfectants including Strike Bac and Hand Sanitizer. The company focuses on non-toxic, biodegradable, and NSF-certified products for food-service environments, with core brands trusted by over 100,000 HVACR professionals worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Viper: Product line of coil cleaners, pan and drain treatment, and cleaning accessories including Viper Aerosol, Viper Heavy Duty, Viper EVAP+, Viper Brite, Viper Pan & Drain Treatment, Viper EZDose, Viper WetRag, Viper Heat Blocking Gel, Viper Coil Coating, Viper Nickel Safe Ice Machine Cleaner, Viper Hand Sanitizer, Viper Wipes, Viper Foam Gun, Viper Pump Sprayer, and Viper Sniper
• Big Blu
• Nylog
• WetRag
• Venom Pack
• Strike Bac
• Checkmate

Products and services

• Big Blu Micro Leak Detector Bubble-style micro leak detector capable of detecting gas leakage down to 0.65 ounces per year. NSF certified, non-corrosive, and safe for use on any type of gas including oxygen. Used by HVACR OEMs and service professionals worldwide.
• Big Blu SubZero Freeze-resistant micro leak detector rated down to -30°F for extreme cold conditions, with detection capability down to 0.79 oz/year. Maintains bubble formation where standard leak detectors freeze or gel.
• Big Blu Brush On
• Viper Aerosol Coil Cleaner

Quantifiable outcome

• 98%+ customer retention rate
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Nu-Calgon: Nu-Calgon is a leading specialty chemical supplier to the HVAC/R market, with direct overlap to Viper coil cleaners, pan treatments, ice machine cleaners, and leak detection products. Comparable go-to-market via HVACR distribution and similar end-user base of technicians and food-service operators.
• Cliplight Manufacturing: Cliplight manufactures HVAC/R leak detection dyes and chemicals, including UV-dye leak detection systems that compete directly with Refrigeration Technologies' Big Blu bubble-style leak detectors. Same technician customer base and distribution model.
• JB Industries: JB Industries is a tool, equipment, and chemical supplier for HVACR technicians, with products in leak detection, vacuum pump oil, and sealants that overlap with Nylog, Big Blu, and Viper lines. Sold through the same HVACR distribution network.
• RectorSeal (CSW Industrials): RectorSeal is the most direct competitor to Refrigeration Technologies in HVAC/R specialty sealants (Nylog-type thread sealants), leak detectors, and coil cleaners. Both companies serve HVACR technicians through distributor channels with overlapping product portfolios in sealants, leak detection, and maintenance chemicals.
• DiversiTech: DiversiTech manufactures and distributes HVAC/R parts, accessories, and chemicals, including coil cleaners, condensate treatment, and maintenance products directly competitive with Refrigeration Technologies' Viper line. Sells through the same authorized-distributor channel to HVACR professionals.

Broad incumbents

• Henkel: Henkel's adhesives and industrial maintenance portfolios include thread sealants, lubricants, and specialty cleaners that overlap with Nylog and Viper products. Operates broadly across industrial channels rather than specializing in HVACR.
• Robinair (Bosch): Robinair, part of Bosch, supplies HVACR service equipment and consumables including leak detection fluids and maintenance chemicals. Overlaps with Refrigeration Technologies' technician-focused chemical products but is part of Bosch's broader HVAC service equipment portfolio.
• 3M: 3M operates a broad industrial chemicals and adhesives portfolio that overlaps with Refrigeration Technologies in sealants, specialty cleaners, and maintenance chemicals. 3M does not focus on the HVACR technician niche but competes for the same shelf space via distributors.

Emerging players

• Mainstream Engineering: Mainstream Engineering is a specialty chemical and HVAC/R manufacturer focused on safer, non-toxic alternatives including "Ice Brig" refrigerant leak detectors and QwikShot coil cleaners — overlapping directly with Refrigeration Technologies' safer-chemistry positioning and NSF certifications.

Regional players

• Safeguard Industries (Hyper Engineering): Safeguard Industries supplies specialty HVACR chemicals and leak detection products with strong presence in select regional markets. Comparable product categories (leak detectors, coil cleaners) and similar distribution model, though typically with more limited geographic reach than Refrigeration Technologies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/refrigtechHVACR
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCd3RiQCewHDeFjwjnyk1_6A
• Facebookfacebook.com/refrigerationtech
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/refrigeration-technologies
• Instagraminstagram.com/refrigerationtechnologies
• TikToktiktok.com/@viperhvac

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 Technologies