Kel-Aire celebrates 50 years & invaluable industry connections
Having worked for Kel-Aire since 1985, Rob Baldwin has now been the owner for nearly 10 years. With more than 40 years of experience in the HVAC industry, Baldwin has been able to grow not only within Kel-Aire, but also within the ever-changing HVAC industry.
“Some things never change — we have always prided ourselves on providing consistent, honest, quality work — and other things take big swings,” he said. “The latest trend is getting away from natural gas (furnaces) and moving toward decarbonization. With the move to electric HVAC, heat pumps are making a comeback which makes a blast from the past and simultaneously the wave of the future.”
Typically vapor compression refrigeration devices, heat pumps transfer thermal energy in both directions (making them reversible). Instead of fuel burning to create heat, there is a simple transfer of heat. While some of their energy comes from electricity or other high-grade energy sources, most of it comes from the outside environment, making them a nice solution for going green.
In addition to heat pumps, Kel-Aire offers ductless split and full duct air conditioning, customized HVAC specialties (such as humidification), traditional furnaces and maintenance services.
As Kel-Aire celebrates 50 years in business this year, Baldwin reflects on the happy clients who have come back for their second or third HVAC system. The company attributes its low need for advertising and high referral business to their high standard of customer service and follow-up.
“Communication is everything for home and business owners. We are extremely responsive for their peace of mind, and we don’t rest until the client is happy,” Baldwin said.
The customer experience is paramount to the success of the Kel-Aire team, as evidenced by this testimonial on their website:
“Ultimately, what could have been a costly full replacement for thousands of dollars ended up being an affordable repair, and this was not by accident. Robert and his team went above and beyond to keep this job affordable, as well as completed properly.”
When asked how he got into the HVAC industry, Baldwin will tell you it was a complete accident. As a young man, he was working at a warehouse next to a sheet metal shop and they asked him to try it out. He took them up on their offer, got an apprenticeship and eventually got into the administration and sales side of the business. When the previous owner retired, Baldwin was asked to take over and the rest was history. Perhaps it was an accident or perhaps more related to fate.
"Heating and cooling were the farthest thing from my brain, but it was one of those happy accidents as I cannot imagine any other path!” he said.
Still a family-run business after 50 years, Baldwin is proud to work with his wife and son (a new college graduate who recently joined the team) but feels everyone at Kel-Aire is family. It’s obvious their customers agree.
“Talking to Robert was like talking to family,” reads one customer testimonial. “Within hours of my initial call, Robert was at the location, assessing issues and formulating replacement/repair strategies. He gave me great information and was clear, consistent, responsive and upbeat/positive.”
“Kel-Aire always goes above and beyond to do everything,” reads another testimonial. We always use them for any of our heating needs and now A/C. “We are so happy with our new A/C.”
For the last five decades and the foreseeable future, Kel-Aire looks to continue to provide honest and thorough service to its customers and greater community. Being SMACNA members since 1989 has played a large role in connections, education and resources that the Kel-Aire team finds invaluable.