Jacobs Heating & Air Conditioning in Portland, Oregon has been serving the HVAC needs of the greater Portland and Southwest Washington areas since 1952 when Basil Jacobs and his brother Lawrence established the company. Today, the family-owned business is run by Basil's son, Brent Jacobs. Brent and the management team have helped build Jacobs Heating & Air Conditioning into one of the largest and most respected HVAC dealerships in the region.

Jacobs employs more than 70 people, many of whom have been with the company 10, 20, and even 30 years. That type of loyalty is a testimony to the heritage of the company established by Basil Jacobs.

Jacobs Heating and Air Conditioning began as a small three-man shop that specialized in residential installation and service of gas and oil-fired furnaces, converting most from coal and wood-burning furnaces.

With his four grade-school boys and one daughter in tow, Basil Jacobs moved the business from locations in Northwest Portland to a new facility on SE Gideon Street. A changing and growing industry provided challenges along the way, including the opening of a second facility in Richmond, Washington, which Basil eventually sold his interest in to brother Larry.

Expansion into the commercial market sent business skyrocketing in the mid 1960s. And with the oil boom in the 70s and early 80s, business was definitely booming. From Alaska to California, Portland-based Jacobs Heating & Air Conditioning continued to pick up new business on the commercial side - environmental pollution control was big. All of which lead to a move to a larger facility at their present location at the intersection of Holgate and Milwaukie in Southeast Portland.

A strong foundation in residential had been laid by their father who had put 30 years of his life into Jacobs Heating & Air Conditioning. The two brothers strategized about a way to develop a better business mix.

They decided it would take the dedication of one of the brothers working full time on the residential side to accomplish their goal of increased sales. Next, they determined to hire managers who had residential experience. And most importantly, they built and nurtured long-term relationships with vendors, utility companies and their customers.

Brent spent a significant amount of time developing alliances with other companies associated with the residential market, such as real estate firms and home security and alarm companies. And a news system for customer follow up was developed, which led to an increase in repeat business customers, Jacobs Heating & Air Conditioning was successful in re-positioning itself not only for the present but for the future as well.

A better balance was reached between commercial and residential work, and as the economy improved, so did the two sides of the business. Now Jacobs could concentrate on growth. In 1985, the company employed 15 people. Every year since then, about five or six people have been added.

Jacobs Heating & Air Conditioning now boasts a new showroom at its SE Milwaukie location. The company continues to strive to be the best Heating & Air Conditioning Company with the best service, quality and value.