Cool Care Heating, Air, Plumbing & Refrigeration

What Cool Care Heating, Air, Plumbing & Refrigeration does

Cool Care Heating, Air, Plumbing & Refrigeration is a privately held, family-owned home services company founded in 2001 by Teresa and Kenny Wardlaw in Columbia, South Carolina. The company delivers installation, repair, and preventive maintenance across HVAC, plumbing, refrigeration, and standby generator categories, serving both residential homeowners and commercial customers in the Midlands and Lowcountry regions of South Carolina. Service delivery is direct-to-consumer and field-based, with technicians dispatched via phone, an online scheduling tool, or instant quote forms, supported by 24/7/365 emergency response. The workforce is small (11–50 employees) and field-based, with NATE-certified technicians compensated on hourly wages without commission—an explicit positioning choice intended to eliminate upsell incentives and emphasize honest recommendations. Customer-facing technology is conventional: a website with instant quote tools, an e-commerce shop for replacement filters, and standard contact channels across phone, email, and five major social platforms.

Revenue is generated primarily through professional service fees across five service lines—HVAC, plumbing, refrigeration, generators, and energy audits—plus equipment sales of Bryant-brand HVAC and generator hardware. The Wells Fargo-issued Bryant credit card financing program lowers purchase friction on equipment installations. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; free estimates and free second opinions are offered. Marketing is conducted via an owned content program (blog and monthly Eblast newsletter archived since 2022), organic social, local SEO targeting 'near me' queries, and community activations including the BIA Carolina Classic Home & Garden Show and the long-running 'Give A Can, If You Can' food drive for Harvest Hope Food Bank begun in 2010. The business operates without external funding, M&A activity, or parent-company ownership, remaining under founder control.

Name

Cool Care Heating, Air, Plumbing & Refrigeration

Legal name

Cool Care Heating, Air, Plumbing & Refrigeration

Website

https://coolcarehvac.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cool Care is a family-owned HVAC, plumbing, refrigeration, and generator service provider founded in 2001 in Columbia, SC, serving residential and commercial customers across the Midlands and Lowcountry with NATE-certified technicians and 24/7 emergency dispatch.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Residential and Commercial HVAC Services

NAICS

Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors (23822), Appliance Repair and Maintenance (811412)

SIC

Refrigeration & Service Industry Machinery (3580), Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585)

akta.pro primary industry

Heat Pump Repair & Maintenance (HSAOAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ice Machine Installation, Cleaning & Repair (HSAOAJAH), Dryer Vent Cleaning & Maintenance (HSAOAIAB)

Keywords

• HVAC services
• Plumbing services
• Refrigeration services
• Generator installation
• Indoor air quality

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. HVAC Services: Installation, repair, and maintenance of heating and air conditioning systems for residential and commercial customers. Services include preventive maintenance, duct systems, indoor air quality, and emergency repairs available 24/7.
2. Plumbing Services: Full-service plumbing including drain and sewer cleaning, repiping, water treatment systems, water heaters, gas lines, and plumbing maintenance for residential and commercial properties.
3. Refrigeration Services: Commercial refrigeration services including ice machine installation and repair.
4. Generator Services: Sales and installation of whole-home and whole-office generators, along with ongoing maintenance.
5. Energy Audits: Home and commercial energy audits to assess energy efficiency and identify areas for improvement.
6. Bryant Financing Program: Wells Fargo-issued Bryant credit card offering flexible financing options for equipment purchases and installations, enabling customers to pay over time with approved credit.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cool Care Heating, Air, Plumbing & Refrigeration is a direct-to-consumer field service company that installs, repairs, and maintains residential and commercial HVAC systems, plumbing systems, commercial refrigeration (ice machines), and backup generators. The company also delivers energy audits, indoor air quality solutions, and preventive maintenance programs, and provides 24/7/365 emergency response in the Columbia, SC Midlands and Lowcountry regions. Technicians are NATE-certified and are paid hourly with no commission structure.

Product overview

Cool Care Heating, Air, Plumbing & Refrigeration is a multi-service home comfort company offering a unified portfolio of HVAC, plumbing, and refrigeration services. The core offering includes HVAC installation, repair, and preventive maintenance, supplemented by specialized services such as indoor air quality solutions, energy audits, generator installation, and water treatment systems. The company serves both residential and commercial customers in Columbia, SC and surrounding areas, operating 24/7 for emergency situations. Services are offered both individually and through maintenance plans, with financing options available through Bryant/Wells Fargo partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential HVAC Services
• Preventive Maintenance Scheduled maintenance programs that include semi-annual cleaning and tune-ups for HVAC and plumbing systems to keep them running efficiently and extend equipment life.
• Duct Systems Ductwork installation, cleaning, inspection, and repair services to ensure proper airflow throughout residential and commercial buildings.
• Indoor Air Quality Air quality assessment and solutions including air filters, filtration systems, and testing to improve indoor air quality for residential and commercial customers.
• Dryer Vent Cleaning Cleaning services for dryer vents to prevent fire hazards and improve dryer efficiency in residential properties.
• Generators Sales, installation, and maintenance of whole-home and whole-office generators for backup power during outages.
• Energy Audits Home and commercial energy assessments that evaluate carbon footprint and energy usage, identifying areas of energy loss, ventilation issues, air leaks, and inefficient equipment.
• Plumbing Services Full-service plumbing for residential and commercial properties including repairs, installations, and maintenance across drain, sewer, repiping, water treatment, water heater, gas line, and general maintenance needs.
• Drain and Sewer Cleaning Professional drain and sewer cleaning services to remove clogs and maintain proper drainage for residential and commercial properties.
• Repiping Complete or partial repiping services for residential and commercial properties with aging or damaged pipes.
• Water Treatment Systems Water filtration and purification system sales and installation including carbon filters, reverse osmosis, and UV purification to remove contaminants from drinking water.
• Water Heaters Water heater installation, repair, and replacement services for storage tank and tankless water heaters in residential and commercial properties.
• Gas Lines Gas line installation, repair, and maintenance services for residential and commercial gas systems.
• Plumbing Maintenance Ongoing plumbing maintenance programs to prevent emergencies and extend the life of residential and commercial plumbing systems.
• Refrigeration Services Commercial refrigeration services including installation and maintenance of refrigeration equipment for businesses.
• Ice Machines Commercial ice machine services including installation and maintenance for businesses such as restaurants and food-service operators.
• 24/7 Emergency Services Round-the-clock emergency repair services for HVAC, plumbing, and refrigeration emergencies available 365 days a year, including holidays.
• Bryant Financing Financing options through Wells Fargo and Bryant brand credit cards with flexible monthly payment plans for HVAC equipment purchases and installations, with approved credit.
• Well Water Services Services for private well systems including pump installation, water testing, and maintenance for groundwater sources.
• Commercial HVAC Services Commercial HVAC installation, repair, and preventive maintenance services for businesses, including commercial duct systems and indoor air quality solutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• HVAC systems can last 12-17 years with proper maintenance, and preventive maintenance can extend lifespan to 15+ years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BryantcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerBryant is a major HVAC equipment brand that Cool Care sells, installs, and services. The company is an authorized Bryant dealer and displays the Bryant logo prominently. Financing through the Bryant credit card (issued by Wells Fargo) is available for Bryant products.
• Building Industry Association of Central South Carolina (BIA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCool Care participates in the annual BIA Carolina Classic Home & Garden Show as a vendor (Booth C101). The show is the largest locally produced home show in the Midlands, with proceeds staying in Columbia to support affordable housing and the local building industry. Cool Care has won awards at the show.
• Harvest Hope Food BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCool Care's Teresa Wardlaw started the 'Give A Can, If You Can' food drive for Harvest Hope Food Bank in 2010 to help feed the Midlands community. The company has run this annual food drive for over a decade, supporting food insecurity initiatives in 20 South Carolina counties.
• North American Technician Excellent (NATE)coreTechnology or IntegrationNATE is a non-profit organization that creates industry standards for correct HVAC installation and maintenance. Cool Care voluntarily engages in NATE's certification process, ensuring technicians have skills that meet industry-leading standards. This certification is used as a key differentiator to demonstrate quality to customers.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Horizon Services: HVAC, plumbing, and electrical service provider serving the Delaware Valley region. Comparable multi-trade home services model with a similar residential/commercial mix and around-the-clock emergency positioning.
• CoolToday: Provides HVAC, plumbing, and electrical services across Florida and parts of the Southeast. Direct comparable in multi-trade residential service portfolio, 24/7 emergency offering, and Southeast regional footprint.
• Michael & Son Services: Multi-trade home services provider (HVAC, plumbing, electrical) headquartered in Virginia with expansion into neighboring states. Direct comparable in bundled services, 24/7 emergency model, and family-led brand positioning.
• F.H. Furr: Multi-trade home services provider (HVAC, plumbing, electrical) serving Virginia and the Carolinas. Closest analog to Cool Care's bundled service model in an overlapping Mid-Atlantic/Southeast geography, with a comparable family-owned operating history.

Broad incumbents

• American Residential Services (ARS) / Rescue Rooter: National residential HVAC and plumbing services platform operating multiple brands including Rescue Rooter. Comparable in residential HVAC/plumbing service delivery, though materially larger and franchise-driven.
• One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning: National HVAC franchise brand operated by Authority Brands. Overlaps with Cool Care's residential HVAC service and 24-hour emergency positioning, but with a broader geographic footprint and franchise-driven model.
• Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning: National residential HVAC service and replacement provider. Direct overlap with Cool Care's HVAC installation, repair, and emergency-service core, with a much larger multi-state footprint and PE-style operating model.
• Benjamin Franklin Plumbing: National plumbing franchise brand under Authority Brands. Comparable trade overlap and 24/7 customer-experience positioning as Cool Care's plumbing line, but with broader geographic reach and franchise operations.
• Roto-Rooter: National plumbing and drain service brand. Comparable in home services delivery at scale and 24/7 call routing, though narrower in trade focus than Cool Care's full HVAC + plumbing + refrigeration offering.

Others

• Bryant Heating & Cooling: Cool Care's primary HVAC equipment OEM partner. Not a service competitor, but Bryant's dealer program structure, product roadmap, and Wells Fargo-issued financing economics directly shape Cool Care's equipment access and customer conversion.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/coolcarehvac
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCLyDhAM3N3JExx6ov5BD1Fw
• Facebookfacebook.com/CoolCareHVAC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/coolcarehvac
• Instagraminstagram.com/CoolCareHVAC

Compliance3 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 Cool Care Heating, Air, Plumbing & Refrigeration