ARS

What ARS does

ARS (American Refrigeration Supplies, Inc.) is a Phoenix-based wholesale distributor of refrigeration, air conditioning, and heating (HVAC/R) parts, supplies, and equipment serving licensed contractors and qualified service technicians. The company operates 33 branch locations across Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and Virginia, complemented by two distribution centers and a full online catalog at store.arsnet.com offering over 20,000 SKUs across 20 product categories — including HVAC equipment, refrigeration components, controls and sensors, compressors, refrigerants, filtration, ice-making equipment, motors, valves, electrical components, tools, and consumables. ARS was founded in 1940, acquired by Kitchell Corporation and Al Owens in 1970, and in February 2026 was acquired by Hajoca Corporation as Hajoca's sixth major HVAC-sector acquisition, expanding Hajoca's platform to over 175 HVAC-focused locations and 450 total North American locations; ARS continues to operate under its established brand and local leadership.

The underlying technology is a B2B wholesale distribution platform combining physical branch-based fulfillment with an integrated e-commerce catalog featuring search, quick order pad, bulk order pad, and account-management functionality for registered contractors. ARS holds no disclosed proprietary software, patents, or trademarks, and the online catalog is a standard transactional storefront rather than a differentiated software platform.

ARS's revenue model is straightforward wholesale distribution: hardware_sales revenue generated through the sale of HVAC/R parts, equipment, and supplies to licensed contractors, with standard payment terms of Net 10th prox from the earlier of date of delivery or invoice, payable by cash, credit card, check, or wire transfer in U.S. dollars, with a 1.5% per month (APR 18%) service charge on past due balances. Go-to-market is channel-partner / direct-sales hybrid, with primary customer acquisition and retention driven by branch-level relationships and account management rather than digital marketing; the marketing mix consists of in-branch counter sales, the online catalog, social media on Facebook/Twitter/LinkedIn/Instagram, and annual Phoenix Expo events.

Name

ARS

Legal name

American Refrigeration Supplies, Inc.

Website

https://arsnet.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1940

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

ARS is a Phoenix-based wholesale distributor of HVAC/R parts, supplies, and equipment, operating 33 branch locations across 7 U.S. states and serving licensed contractors and qualified service technicians through an online catalog of 20,000+ products. Founded 1940; acquired by Hajoca in February 2026.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

HVAC/R Wholesale Distribution

NAICS

Refrigeration Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (42374), Warm Air Heating and Air-Conditioning Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (423730), Refrigeration Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (423740)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial Refrigeration & HVAC (Foodservice) Wholesale (AFAIALAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Commercial & Industrial Refrigeration Systems (IMAHAKAA), Compressor, Condenser & Evaporator Service (HSAOAJAG)

Keywords

• HVAC parts distribution
• Refrigeration equipment supplies
• Wholesale HVAC distribution
• Air conditioning parts
• HVAC contractor supplies

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Wholesale HVAC/R Distribution: Revenue generated through wholesale distribution of refrigeration, air conditioning, and heating parts, supplies, and equipment to licensed contractors and qualified service technicians. The company operates as a premier wholesale distributor with 33 branch locations across Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and Virginia.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

ARS (American Refrigeration Supplies) is a wholesale distributor of refrigeration, air conditioning, and heating parts, supplies, and equipment, serving licensed contractors and qualified service technicians through 33 branch locations across 7 U.S. states and a full online catalog of over 20,000 products spanning 20 distinct categories. The product portfolio centers on HVAC equipment, refrigeration components, controls and sensors, compressors, refrigerants, filtration, tools, motors, valves, and electrical components sourced from major brands such as American Standard, Copeland, Tecumseh, Honeywell, and Fluke.

Product overview

ARS (American Refrigeration Supplies) is a premier wholesale distributor of refrigeration, air conditioning, and heating parts, supplies, and equipment serving licensed contractors and qualified service technicians across seven U.S. states. The company operates 33 branch locations and maintains a comprehensive e-commerce platform (store.arsnet.com) offering over 20,000 products across 20 distinct product categories. The product portfolio centers on HVAC Equipment (including mini-split systems, air handlers, furnaces, and condensing units), Refrigeration Equipment & Components (condensing units, walk-in cooler parts, unit coolers), Controls & Sensors, Compressors, Tools & Consumables, and specialized categories including refrigerants, filtration, ice making equipment, motors, valves, and electrical components. The offering is structured as a broadline wholesale distribution model rather than a unified software platform, providing contractors with a single source for all HVAC/R parts needs across major brands including American Standard, Copeland, Tecumseh, Honeywell, and Fluke.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HVAC Equipment Complete line of HVAC equipment including room PTAC/PTHP units, packaged units, mini-split equipment, air handlers, gas furnaces, condensing units, and OEM replacement parts for residential and commercial applications.
• Refrigeration Equipment & Components Comprehensive refrigeration products including Copeland and Larkin condensing units, walk-in cooler/freezer components, unit coolers, defrost heaters, and commercial refrigeration equipment.
• Controls, TStats, Sensors & Boards Temperature controls, thermostats, humidistats, pressure controls, sensors, thermocouplers, thermometers, timers, monitors, and control boards for HVAC/R systems.
• Compressors & Pumps Semi-hermetic, scroll, and hermetic compressors from Copeland and Tecumseh, plus compressor components, OEM compressors, and various pump types.
• Tools & Consumables Professional HVAC/R tools including safety items, hand tools, electrical tools, brazing and soldering equipment, power tools, meters, gauges, test instruments, inspection tools, and HVAC-specific consumables.
• Refrigerants & Gases Various refrigerants including R-410A, R-404A, R-134A, R-22, plus nitrogen, torch gases, CO2 cartridges, and glycol.
• Filtration Equipment Oil filtration, water filtration, refrigerant filtration (filter driers, strainers), and air filtration products including filters, media, and electronic air cleaners.
• Ice Making Equipment & Supplies Ice dispensers, ice storage bins, ice machines (air cooled, water cooled, undercounter, remote cooled), and related service and cleaning supplies.
• Motors & Capacitors Draft inducers, blower motors, condenser fan motors, OEM motors from various manufacturers, motor components, control motors, and capacitors.
• Tubing, Pipes, Ducts & Fittings Copper tube and fittings, PVC pipe and fittings, brass and flare fittings, linesets, sheet metal pipe and fittings, ductwork, and various tubing types.
• Valves, Accessories & Parts Hand operated valves, check valves, TXV valves, solenoid valves, pressure relief valves, refrigerant reversing valves, and valve components and accessories.
• Electrical Components Contactors, disconnects, transformers, relays, breakers, fuses, wire, conduit, and electrical hardware for HVAC/R systems.
• Chemicals Cleaners, degreasers, leak detection products, oils, lubricants, and water treatments for HVAC/R system maintenance.
• Online Catalog (store.arsnet.com) Full online catalog system with over 20,000 products, featuring search, quick order pad, bulk order pad, and account management for licensed contractors and service technicians.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Hajoca Corporation: Direct peer and now parent — Hajoca is the largest privately held distributor of plumbing, HVAC, and industrial supplies in the U.S., with 175+ HVAC-focused locations. Following the February 2026 acquisition, ARS operates as a regional extension of Hajoca's HVAC distribution platform with directly comparable customers, products, and branch economics.
• Johnstone Supply: Cooperative-style HVAC/R parts and equipment distributor serving independent contractor members across the U.S. Similar business model to ARS: wholesale distribution of HVAC/R parts, equipment, and supplies to licensed contractors, with strong regional branch networks. Directly comparable in customer base and product mix.
• R.E. Michel Company: Mid-Atlantic-based wholesale distributor of HVAC/R parts, equipment, and supplies serving contractors and technicians. Overlaps directly with ARS's Virginia geography and shares the broadline distribution model for refrigeration, air conditioning, and heating components.
• Carrier Enterprise: Wholesale distributor of Carrier, Bryant, Payne, and other HVAC/R brands across the U.S., serving licensed contractors. Directly comparable distribution model and customer base to ARS, focused on air conditioning, heating, and refrigeration equipment and parts.
• WinSupply: Company-owned and independent dealer model in wholesale distribution of plumbing, HVAC, and industrial supplies. While plumbing-anchored, WinSupply's HVAC distribution arms serve similar contractor customers with comparable product breadth across heating, cooling, and refrigeration.
• ACR Supply (ACR Air Conditioning & Refrigeration): Regional wholesale distributor of HVAC/R equipment, parts, and supplies serving contractors across multiple U.S. states. Mirrors ARS's broadline distribution approach, refrigeration specialization, and contractor customer base in overlapping geographies.

Broad incumbents

• Ferguson Enterprises: Largest U.S. distributor of plumbing, heating, ventilation, and refrigeration products. While diversified across plumbing and waterworks, Ferguson's HVAC/R distribution division competes for the same licensed contractor customers ARS serves, with greater scale, broader procurement, and national reach.
• Watsco: Publicly traded largest HVAC/R distributor in North America, primarily through Carrier Enterprise and other regional brands. Competes in the same refrigeration and air conditioning equipment distribution space as ARS, but at substantially greater scale and with exclusive OEM relationships with Carrier and other major brands.

Regional players

• Moore Refrigeration Controls & Supplies: Southwest-based HVAC/R wholesale distributor focused on commercial refrigeration. Comparable in product mix (Copeland, Larkin, controls) and contractor service model, though concentrated more on refrigeration than ARS's broader HVAC/R portfolio.

Others

• Rexel USA: Global electrical and HVAC wholesale distributor with U.S. operations. Not a direct competitor in ARS's refrigeration specialty, but adjacently serves mechanical contractors with overlapping HVAC products and competes for similar mid-market commercial accounts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ARS_HVAC
• Facebookfacebook.com/AmericanRefrigerationSupplies
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1199996
• Instagraminstagram.com/ars_hvac

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 ARS