Top 7 HVAC companies in Franklin, Ohio
Bayesian-adjusted ratings place these seven companies at the top of public listings for Franklin County.

Central Air Of Ohio LLC leads on adjusted score after review volume is accounted for. Installed costs run $8,500 to $10,400 for a full system. Residential work is permitted locally while commercial HVAC requires the state OCILB license.
Franklin County sits in a heating-dominant mixed-humid climate where furnaces run more than air conditioners. Public listing data supply the only evidence used here. The shortlist that follows applies a Bayesian adjustment that pulls every star rating toward the national mean of 4.764 until review counts become large enough to stand alone. One 24/7 listing and three public websites receive small tie-breaker credit. No company received a site visit or performance test.
Climate in Franklin County, Ohio
Columbus design temperatures are 5 °F in winter and 90 °F in summer. Annual heating degree days reach 5,600 while cooling degree days total only 1,000. The load profile is heating-leaning mixed, with humid summers and dry winters. Natural gas remains the dominant heating fuel, and central air conditioning saturation is already high. Heat pumps can perform well when paired with backup heat. These conditions favor high-efficiency condensing furnaces that the local market already supplies in mature form. Oversized equipment wastes energy on the many mild winter days and risks short-cycling in summer. Proper Manual J load calculations therefore matter more than brand choice.
The shortlist
Companies are ranked by a Bayesian-adjusted rating that pulls each star rating toward the national mean of 4.764 until review volume is sufficient for the raw score to stand on its own. Small advantages are given for a public website, HVAC-specialist listing, and published 24/7 availability. This shortlist is built only from public listing data, not from any inspection of completed work.
Central Air Of Ohio LLC
Central Air Of Ohio LLC operates from 4807 Lefferson Rd, Middletown, OH 45044 as a general contractor and can be reached at (513) 702-3638. Its 55 reviews produced a raw 5-star rating that the adjustment pulled down to 4.957 because the national mean sits at 4.764; 55 reviews supply enough weight to keep the score well above the mean. The firm lists a public website but no 24/7 availability. These numbers cannot reveal whether the company maintains its own installation crews or subcontracts the work.
Roy Fox Heating & Cooling
Roy Fox Heating & Cooling lists 83 Beam Cir, Franklin, OH 45005 and answers calls at (513) 705-9471. With 24 reviews the raw 4.8 rating stayed at 4.8 after adjustment because the count is still modest relative to the mean of 4.764. The published 24/7 availability supplied the tie-breaker that placed it second. Its general-contractor listing gives no further signal about residential versus light-commercial focus. Review depth remains too thin to judge consistency across seasons.
Wyatt's Heating & Cooling
Wyatt's Heating & Cooling is located at 711 Beachler Rd, Franklin, OH 45005 and can be reached at (937) 746-4833. Seven reviews produced a raw 4.6 that the Bayesian step raised to 4.773, moving it above the national mean of 4.764 because small samples are pulled more strongly. A public website appears in the listing. The general-contractor category and lack of 24/7 hours limit what the data can say about after-hours response.
TPM Heating and Air
TPM Heating and Air lists 8401 Claude-Thomas Rd Suit 53, Franklin, OH 45005 and can be reached at (937) 580-5069. Zero reviews leave the raw rating at 0, yet the adjusted score of 4.764 sits exactly at the national mean. No website or 24/7 claim appears. The numbers therefore supply no performance signal at all.
Tom Hatfield Plumbing Services
Tom Hatfield Plumbing Services operates from 8023 Travis Ct, Franklin, OH 45005 and can be reached at (937) 746-3976. Forty reviews support a raw 4.7 that adjusted downward only slightly to 4.727. The firm lists as a plumber rather than an HVAC contractor, which narrows the inference possible from these figures alone.
Franklin Air Conditioning & Heating Ser.Joe Estep
Franklin Air Conditioning & Heating Ser.Joe Estep is based at 7645 Sharts Rd, Springboro, OH 45066 and answers at (937) 746-8066. Eight reviews produced a raw 4.3 that rose to 4.706 after adjustment. The public website helped the ranking, yet the modest count keeps the score close to the mean of 4.764. The data cannot indicate how often the firm handles full system replacements versus service calls.
Rick's Heating & Cooling
Rick's Heating & Cooling lists 5812 US-22 & 3, Morrow, OH 45152 and can be reached at (513) 899-9094. Fifty-three reviews yielded a raw 4.2 that the adjustment lifted to 4.464, still below the national mean. Both a public website and 24/7 availability appear in the record. These signals do not disclose whether the firm carries its own service trucks or relies on subcontractors.
How to choose an HVAC contractor in Franklin, Ohio
Examine the adjusted score rather than the raw rating when review counts differ sharply. Confirm whether the listed category matches HVAC work or simply general contracting. Ask for the local permit number on file with the city or township that will inspect the job.
Cost of HVAC work in Franklin County
Two independent sources report installed costs for a full system. One range runs from $8,500 to $10,400. A separate 2025 invoice set shows an average of $17,105 with the upper quartile at $25,568. Labor is published at $105 per hour. Permit fees fall between $100 and $400 depending on the jurisdiction. The two cost sources disagree by several thousand dollars; both figures are retained because the spread itself is information. These totals sit at the national average tier.
Licensing and permits
The Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board under the Department of Commerce issues the statewide HVAC Contractor (Master) license required for commercial work. Residential replacements are governed by local building or health departments in most Franklin County jurisdictions, although Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati also require the state license for residential jobs. Minimum contractor liability insurance is set at $500,000; no statewide surety bond exists, yet certain cities impose their own $25,000 local bonds. Permits remain a local matter and must be verified with the municipality where the equipment will be installed.
Incentives in 2026
Ohio Home Energy Rebates remain conditionally approved with a planned $8,000 maximum for heat pumps. No state tax credit exists. Utility rebates range from $150 to $800 through AEP Ohio, Duke Energy Ohio, and others, yet all require participation in a contractor network. The 25C and 25D federal tax credits expired at the end of 2025, leaving no residential federal HVAC incentive in 2026. Only commercial or third-party-owned systems may still access the 48E investment tax credit. Homeowners must therefore verify which utility network, if any, their chosen installer belongs to before signing.
Local review depth is modest outside the top two firms, and most listings appear under the general-contractor heading rather than a dedicated HVAC category. Winter remains the busiest service season.
Advantages and drawbacks
- Review volume concentrated in a few specialists
- Multiple 24/7 listings available
- Average installed costs align with national figures
- Most firms list as general contractors rather than HVAC specialists
- Zero-review entries still appear in rankings
- Utility rebates limited after HB6 repeal
Questions readers ask
Who are the top 7 HVAC companies in Franklin, Ohio?
Central Air Of Ohio LLC ranks first, followed by Roy Fox Heating & Cooling, Wyatt's Heating & Cooling, TPM Heating and Air, Tom Hatfield Plumbing Services, Franklin Air Conditioning & Heating Ser.Joe Estep, and Rick's Heating & Cooling.
How much does HVAC repair or installation cost in Franklin, Ohio?
Typical full-system installation falls between $8,500 and $10,400. One 2025 data source shows an average invoice of $17,105 while the upper quartile reached $25,568. Labor runs $105 per hour and permits cost $100 to $400.
What should you look for when hiring an HVAC contractor in Franklin, Ohio?
Check the adjusted rating that accounts for review count, confirm the firm holds any required local permit registration, and verify whether the listed category matches HVAC work rather than general contracting.
Are HVAC companies in Franklin, Ohio licensed and insured?
Commercial HVAC requires a state HVAC Contractor (Master) license from the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board. Residential permitting occurs at the local building department level. Minimum liability insurance is $500,000 statewide, though some cities add their own bond rules.
How fast can you get an HVAC technician in Franklin, Ohio?
Two of the seven listed companies publish 24/7 availability. Response times otherwise depend on season and individual firm workload, with winter as the peak service period in this heating-dominant climate.
Do you need a permit to replace a furnace or air conditioner in Franklin, Ohio?
Permit requirements vary by jurisdiction. Most Franklin County municipalities require local permits for residential replacements; commercial work falls under the statewide OCILB license.
Sources
- AHRI Directory of Certified Product Performance ↗ AHRI
- ENERGY STAR Certified Heating and Cooling Equipment ↗ US EPA
- Appliance and Equipment Standards Program ↗ US Department of Energy
- Occupational Employment and Wages: HVAC Mechanics and Installers ↗ US Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) — Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance ↗ Ohio
- Franklin County, Ohio data profile ↗ US Census Bureau


