In 1988 Fred Ellis, with a truck and one employee, launched an air conditioning repair company. Odds weren’t in his favor - more than 70% of HVAC businesses fail in their first year and most don’t make it to five. 

Today, Ellis Air Systems is still family owned and operated. All of the heads of departments are members of the Ellis family. And after 3-plus decades the number of employees has climbed to __ . Besides their years of experience, essential to building a reputation for professional expertise, the Ellis Air team emphasizes customer satisfaction.

“When customers inquire, we listen,“ Mason Ellis (Fred’s son, and company CFO) says. “We believe that's the Ellis Air difference - customer service is truly our number one priority.” 

Part of that commitment is keeping up to date on the latest technology and financial incentives for residential customers. “Manufacturers' promotions and federal tax credits can provide substantial savings,” Preston Ellis (also Fred’s son, and company COO) explains. “A Federal Tax Credit of 30% of your purchase price, up to $2,000, is available. This program is for high-efficiency heat pump and cooling equipment meeting certain criteria. It’s in effect now through 2032 - or until federal funding runs out.” Mason adds that Lennox offers rebates up to $1,500 through December 6, 2024.

Ellis Air Systems is the single HVAC in Central Texas that offers a Lifetime cooling and heating system. “It’s the only system built specifically for the Central Texas region,” Mason says. “It’s manufactured for our climate and comes with a 99 year, or lifetime, warranty on the outside condenser.” Ellis Air deals with all brands: Trane, Lennox, Carrier, American Standard and Rheem. The Lifetime system is manufactured by Daikin, the largest HVAC manufacturer in the world, in Houston. Daikin’s factory is the third largest in the U.S. 

“Only Boeing and Tesla are bigger,” Preston adds, “and our Lifetime system is the best, with the most perks, the best warranty and it’s the only Premium Plus HVAC brand in the market.”

Customer peace of mind - confidence in your choice of air conditioning/heating services - that’s what most homeowners seek. A tour of Ellis Air Systems offices includes a visit to the company’s large training room, a space where technicians are trained and brought up-to-date on the ever-evolving, constantly changing technologies, regulations and latest-and-greatest manufacturers’ trends. The switch from refrigerant R-410A, currently used in all systems, to R-454B is gradually taking place. The transition is mandated by the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act of 2020, signed into law by President Trump.

“The new refrigerant has a lower GWP (Global Warming Potential) than R-410A,” Preston says. “So it has a much lower climate impact.” He and Mason note that the two refrigerants are not interchangeable and that Ellis Air Systems has initiated comprehensive in-house training programs to make sure that each service and installation technician is fully informed and up to date on the discharge temperatures, pressure ratios and other differences between the two separate refrigerants.

For customers that want to see furnaces, condensing units, evaporator coils, thermostats and other system components - up close and personal - Ellis Air Systems has two showrooms: 6102 West Adams Avenue in Temple, and 4887-2 Williams Drive in Georgetown. It’s a family owned and operated company and its success is rooted in the words spoken by founder Fred Ellis.

“We sell service. Not excuses.”