Top 7 HVAC companies in Richland, South Carolina

Richland County sits in a cooling-leaning mixed climate with very high summer humidity and near-universal central air saturation. The seven companies below are ranked solely by a Bayesian-adjusted star rating that pulls each raw score toward the national mean of 4.764. Review volume determines how far any firm moves. All seven appear as general contractors in public listings collected August 16, 2026. This shortlist rests on that public data alone and does not review work performed.

The shortlist

Companies are ranked by a Bayesian-adjusted rating: a company's star rating is pulled toward the national mean until it has enough reviews to stand on its own, so a 5.0 from four customers does not outrank a 4.9 from two hundred. Small tie-breakers apply for a public website, for being listed as an HVAC specialist rather than a general contractor, and for published 24/7 availability. This is a shortlist built from public listing data, not a review of work performed.

EZ Heating And Cooling LLP

EZ Heating And Cooling LLP operates from 214 Cantrell Ave, Fort Mill, SC 29715 and lists a 5-star rating across 98 reviews. The phone number is (803) 573-2473. Its general-contractor category and lack of published 24/7 hours point to standard daytime installation and repair work. The raw 5.0 rating moved down to 4.945 because the national mean sits at 4.764 and 98 reviews still allow modest shrinkage toward that mean. The figures give no information on how the firm handles high-latent-load service calls common in zone 3A.

Complete Comfort Air

Complete Comfort Air lists 32 reviews at a raw 5.0 that adjusted to 4.886. The address is 9005 Two Notch Rd Ste 3, Columbia, SC 29223 and the phone number is (803) 862-7194. As a general contractor without 24/7 posting, the firm appears geared toward scheduled residential changeouts. Its larger pull from the 4.764 mean reflects the smaller review count. Nothing in the numbers shows whether the company stocks equipment suited to the county's 96-degree summer design temperature.

Southern Solutions Heating and Air

Southern Solutions Heating and Air posted 75 reviews at 4.9 stars, adjusted to 4.861 after the 24/7 tie-breaker and website were applied. The address is 2208 Memorial Dr, Cayce, SC 29033 and the phone number is (803) 846-2259. The general-contractor listing combined with round-the-clock availability suggests readiness for after-hours summer calls. The raw score sat above the national mean, so the adjustment pulled it downward, though 75 reviews limited the distance. The data do not address actual response times during peak humidity months.

Elite Air & Heat of Columbia

Elite Air & Heat of Columbia holds 60 reviews at 4.9 stars, adjusted to 4.855. It operates from 5808 Shakespeare Rd Ste A, Columbia, SC 29223 and the phone number is (803) 680-1227. The general-contractor status and daytime-only listing indicate focus on planned installations. The raw rating above 4.764 received a small downward Bayesian adjustment given the review volume. These numbers reveal nothing about the firm's experience with electricity as the primary heating fuel.

Four Seasons Heating & AC Services Co

Four Seasons Heating & AC Services Co recorded 68 reviews at 4.9 stars, adjusted to 4.858. The address is 119 Burmaster Dr, Columbia, SC 29229 and the phone number is (803) 788-2233. Without a website or 24/7 listing the firm appears oriented toward standard general-contractor HVAC work. Its raw score above the mean produced a modest downward shift. The figures supply no detail on how the company sizes systems for the county's 2,200 cooling degree days.

Air Waves Heating & Air

Air Waves Heating & Air shows 78 reviews at 4.7 stars, adjusted to 4.718 after the 24/7 tie-breaker. The address is 1457 Bella Vista Dr, Columbia, SC 29223 and the phone number is (803) 754-9099. The general-contractor category plus published availability points to emergency summer service capacity. The raw rating below 4.764 moved upward because the review count was insufficient to resist the pull toward the mean. The numbers do not indicate whether the firm routinely addresses the very high latent loads recorded in zone 3A.

Spring Valley Air Conditioning

Spring Valley Air Conditioning lists 40 reviews at 3.5 stars, adjusted upward to 4.042. The address is 1221 Bookman Rd, Elgin, SC 29045 and the phone number is (839) 271-3733. As a general contractor without 24/7 hours the firm appears limited to daytime residential work. Its raw score well below the national mean received the largest upward Bayesian adjustment of the group because the review count remains modest. The data give no insight into performance on heat-pump installations that dominate the local market.

How to choose

Review depth and the size of the Bayesian adjustment supply the clearest signals. Firms with more than 60 reviews moved less than those with fewer. Confirm the contractor holds the correct state license class for the job value. Verify participation in utility rebate networks before discussing equipment. Ask how the company accounts for the county's 96-degree summer design temperature and high humidity during sizing. Local permit rules vary by jurisdiction even though state licensure is uniform.

Cost

Modeled typical full-system install cost stands at $8,450, with a documented range of $7,600 to $9,300. Invoiced 2025 averages reached $19,089 while the upper quartile reached $26,280. Labor is listed at $90 per hour and permit fees range from $90 to $300. The two sources disagree sharply, with invoiced figures running roughly twice the modeled typical price. Richland County sits in a lower cost tier versus national benchmarks. Both sources are retained because the gap itself is the available information.

Climate

Richland County falls in IECC zones 2A-3A, dominated by zone 3A moist. Heating degree days total 2,300 and cooling degree days total 2,200, producing a cooling-leaning mixed load profile. Columbia winter design temperature is 25 degrees and summer design temperature is 96 degrees, with very high summer humidity. Primary heating fuel is electricity and heat-pump suitability is rated excellent, with near-universal central AC saturation. Peak service season is summer. The engineering note highlights cooling dominance plus heavy latent load, which requires equipment and sizing practices that manage moisture without short-cycling. Oversized systems will fail to control humidity in this market.

Licensing and permits

South Carolina maintains state-level licensing. The South Carolina Residential Builders Commission handles residential HVAC and the South Carolina Contractors' Licensing Board handles commercial and mechanical HVAC, both under the SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. A Residential HVAC Installer and Repairer License covers residential work exceeding $500; a Group 2 Mechanical Contractor license covers commercial work exceeding $10,000. A $10,000 surety bond is required when residential work exceeds $5,000. State licensure is mandatory above those thresholds, yet building or mechanical permits for furnace or AC changeouts are issued by the local city or county department. Homeowners must check the specific jurisdiction for permit requirements.

Incentives

South Carolina Home Energy Rebates remain conditionally approved with a planned 2026 launch and a maximum heat-pump rebate of $8,000. No state tax credit exists. Utility programs from Duke Energy Carolinas/Progress, Dominion Energy SC, Santee Cooper and cooperatives offer $200-$1,200 rebates. Contractor network participation is required for utility incentives. The 25C and 25D federal tax credits expired December 31, 2025, leaving no residential federal HVAC tax credit in 2026. The 48E ITC at 30 percent survives only for commercial or third-party-owned systems meeting construction or placed-in-service deadlines. These rules direct homeowners toward installers already inside utility networks and holding the correct state mechanical classifications.