an old black and white photo of a man in a pinstripe suit

Our Founding

Founded in January 1969 and incorporated in the State of Georgia in January 1970 by Dwain Ball, Air Therm is one of Savannah’s leading heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) companies. Following her husband’s death in 2000, Karen Ball operated the business, but after being with the company for 35 years, she felt it was time to turn the firm over to new leadership, and sold the company to Bill Efird, who brought wealth of local industry experience to its helm.

Our Motto

The family-owned business has adhered to Dwain Ball’s slogan throughout the years:

“Service is our most important product”

Our Growth

  • Early Years: Under the ownership of Dwain Ball, Air Therm developed a sound and respected reputation, with Dwain personally acquiring and providing service to each customer.
  • Expansion Vision: Dwain’s early vision for growth involved hiring a qualified duct superintendent to enable expansion into the commercial market.
  • Key Hire: In August 1972, Dwain hired Sam Goodman, who remains the key commercial estimator and oversees the construction department.
  • Expansion of Services: Over the decades, Air Therm expanded its customer base and product line, offering quality service and installation throughout the greater Savannah area.
  • Residential and Commercial Market Success: Air Therm maintained an extraordinary reputation in the residential market and garnered a strong share of the commercial market, earning numerous referrals from architects and engineers.
  • Awards and Recognition: Air Therm became a premier Trane Dealer and won multiple dealer awards from Tappan, Trane, Carrier, and Honeywell.
  • Supplier of the Year: In 1998, Air Therm was named Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation’s Small Woman-Owned Supplier of the Year.
  • Continued Leadership: Under the leadership of Sam Goodman in Construction and Chris Rahn in Service, both of whom have remained with Air Therm, the business continued to thrive under new ownership.

Our Moves

First Location

The first business location for Air Therm was at Waters Ave at 34th Street. After quickly outgrowing that space, the company moved to 639 E. Park Avenue. In the mid-1970s, another period of growth inspired a move to 1212 Mills B Lane. Then, an opportunity to purchase a facility in 1988 moved the company to 309 1/2 Stiles Avenue.

Newest Location

The final move for Air Therm (under the Ball ownership) came in the mid-1990s when the business relocated to 1010 Lynes Avenue and gained 20,000 square feet of warehouse space to enhance its sheet metal shop. This facet allowed Air Therm to become one of the few HVAC companies with a complete sheet metal fabrication shop. It’s a distinction that still elevates the company above much of the competition.

people on a roof servicing air conditoning units for a commercial building

Where are we today?

Today, Air Therm continues to enjoy a sound and respected reputation as a leading heating, ventilating and air conditioning residential and commercial service company ranging from Savannah to Rincon, Springfield, Pooler, Richmond Hill, Hinesville, Tybee Island, Skidaway Island, Wilmington Island, Isle of Hope, Dutch Island, Whitemarsh Island, Thunderbolt, Garden City, Bloomingdale, Georgetown, Port Wentworth and Guyton.