💡 Key Takeaways
- ✓100% family-owned and operated since 2011, no private equity, no outside investors
- ✓Founded by Wellington Santana, who came to America from Brazil with three dollars and a dream
- ✓Wellington and Joanna Santana still actively run the company every day
- ✓Transparent pricing without investor pressure to upsell
- ✓858+ Google reviews, 4.8-star rating, BBB A+ accredited
We Built This Company for Families, Not for a Buyout
From three dollars in America to a thriving family business serving Las Vegas, this is Wellington's legacy, and we honor it every single day.
Is The Cooling Company family-owned?
Yes. The Cooling Company has been 100% family-owned and operated since its founding in 2011. Wellington and Joanna Santana actively manage daily operations with no private equity investors, no corporate parent company, and no outside ownership. TCC serves Las Vegas from its local headquarters at 4055 E Post Road.
Our Founder's Story
Three Dollars and a Dream
Wellington Santana came to America from Brazil with three dollars in his pocket and a decade of HVAC experience earned the hard way. He didn't have investors. He didn't have a safety net. He had a skill, a work ethic, and a promise to his family that he would build something they could all be proud of.
Joanna, his wife and co-founder, managed the books from day one. She's the operational backbone of TCC, Co-CEO and CFO, ensuring every dollar is accounted for and every customer interaction meets the standard they set together. This isn't a company that was built with someone else's money. It was built with their hands.
Their son Tiago, now Managing Director, stepped up right out of high school, leading operations and carrying the family mission into the next generation. Marco Rendon, lead installer since the early days, has been instrumental in defining the quality of workmanship TCC is praised for.
Wellington isn't a “former founder.” He's here today. In the building. On the phone. Watching every job. This is his living legacy, not a nostalgic story on an About page.
Ownership Matters
Why We'll Never Sell Out
Across the country, private equity firms are buying up HVAC companies, cutting costs, and prioritizing profit over people. Here's what happens when a home-service company stops being family-run, and why we chose a different path.
What Happens When PE Takes Over
- Time horizon shrinks. Private equity operates on a 3-to-7-year buy-to-flip cycle. Every decision is filtered through “what maximizes exit valuation,” not “what's best for the homeowner.”
- Culture changes. The moment a PE firm takes over, the founder's values get replaced by KPI dashboards. Technicians become “revenue units.” Service calls become “conversion opportunities.”
- Incentives tilt away from you. Upsell pressure increases. Membership plans get pushed harder. The goal shifts from solving your problem to maximizing your ticket.
- The brand loses its soul. The founder's story becomes a paragraph on the About page. Nobody in leadership has skin in the game anymore.
- You feel it. More pressure, less accountability, longer hold times, and the nagging sense that you're being “worked” instead of being helped.
Why We Stay Family-Owned
- Time horizon is generational. We're building a company for our kids to carry, not a portfolio asset to flip. Every decision reflects a long-term commitment to this community.
- Culture is personal. Wellington's cell phone is in the ecosystem. If something goes wrong, the owner hears about it, sometimes before the customer even calls.
- Incentives align with you. We win through referrals, not extraction. When we recommend a repair instead of a replacement, it's because that's the honest answer, not because some financial model said to upsell.
- The story is real and keeps us honest. Wellington is watching every day. The Santana name is on every truck. That accountability isn't a slogan, it's how we live.
- Self-funding forces discipline. We grow on real cash flow from real customers, not financial engineering. That means every investment, in tools, in training, in people , has to earn its keep.
Big Company Quality. Small Company Feel.
We have the certifications, training, and processes of a large company, with the personal accountability, transparent pricing, and genuine care of a family who puts their name on every truck.
No Hidden Fees
Transparent Pricing, Because We Don't Answer to Investors
We know HVAC costs are rising across the industry. But when your company is funded by investors chasing a return, the pressure to pad margins, push unnecessary upgrades, and lock customers into expensive maintenance contracts is enormous.
Because we're family-owned and self-funded, our pricing reflects the actual cost of quality work, not what a financial model demands. That means:
- No hidden fees or surprise charges on your invoice
- Honest repair-vs-replace recommendations, even when replacement is more profitable for us
- No bait-and-switch low estimates that balloon once work begins
- Flexible financing options without predatory terms
- Upfront pricing explained before any work starts
HVAC Diagnostic
Same-day available
Transparent pricing, no hidden fees, no inflated repair costs
- Complete system inspection
- Honest diagnosis with options
- Upfront pricing before work begins
- No upsell pressure, just the truth
How Our Values Show Up in Your Home
Every claim we make is backed by specific, verifiable evidence. Here's how our experience, expertise, authority, and trust translate into better outcomes for your family.
Experience
Serving Las Vegas since 2011. Thousands of homes maintained, repaired, and upgraded. Our team has seen every make, model, and desert-specific failure mode, so your diagnosis is fast and accurate.
Expertise
Fully licensed in Nevada (C-21 HVAC, C-1D Plumbing). NATE and EPA certified. Lennox Premier Dealer with ongoing manufacturer training. We don't just meet industry standards, we set them.
Authoritativeness
BBB A+ accredited. 858+ Google reviews at 4.8 stars. Active community presence across Las Vegas. Our reputation was built one honest service call at a time, not purchased with ad spend.
Trust
The Santana family name is on every truck. We back every job with a 12-month buyback guarantee, transparent pricing, and real accountability. If something isn't right, the owner hears about it, directly.
Real Stories
Hear It From Our Customers
Don't just take our word for it. Watch real Las Vegas homeowners share their experience with The Cooling Company.
“They treated us like family, not just another service call.”
“Honest pricing and incredible workmanship. I won't call anyone else.”
Customer Service That Actually Cares
Real humans answer our phones, not outsourced scripts or voicemail loops. When you're a family-owned company, problems are personal. And we handle them that way.
Get in Touch
Have a question or ready to schedule? We typically respond within minutes.
The People Behind TCC
Meet the Family
Wellington Santana
Co-CEO & COO
Founded TCC in 2011 after immigrating from Brazil. Leads operations and holds the team to the highest standard every single day.
Joanna Santana
Co-CEO & CFO
The operational backbone of TCC. Manages finance, strategy, and ensures every customer interaction meets the Santana family standard.
Tiago Santana
Managing Director
Stepped up right out of high school to carry the family mission forward. Guides company strategy and keeps TCC true to its roots.
Marco Rendon
Lead Installer
A key figure since the early days, Marco defines the quality of workmanship TCC is known for across Las Vegas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are you really 100% family-owned?
Yes. The Cooling Company has been 100% family-owned and operated since its founding in 2011. There are no private equity investors, no corporate parent companies, and no outside ownership of any kind. Wellington and Joanna Santana own and actively manage the business every day.
Will you ever sell to a private equity firm?
No. We have received buyout offers and turned them all down. This company is Wellington and Joanna's legacy, it's what they came to America to build. We're building for the next generation, not the next exit.
How does family ownership affect pricing?
Without investors demanding aggressive margins, we can price fairly based on the actual cost of quality work, not what a financial model says we need to extract from each customer. Our pricing is transparent with no hidden fees, and we'll always give you an honest repair-vs-replace recommendation.
Do you have venture capital or outside investors?
Zero outside investment. We're entirely self-funded through the quality of our work and the loyalty of our customers. This means every dollar we earn goes back into better equipment, better training, and better service, not investor dividends.
What makes TCC different from corporate HVAC companies?
Corporate HVAC companies answer to shareholders and investors. We answer to you and to our family's reputation. That means no upsell pressure, no call center runaround, and real accountability, because Wellington, Joanna, and the whole team put their name on every job.
Who owns The Cooling Company?
Wellington Santana (Co-CEO and COO) and Joanna Santana (Co-CEO and CFO) are the sole owners. Their son Tiago Santana serves as Managing Director. The family founded the company in 2011 and continues to run day-to-day operations from their Las Vegas headquarters.
Is your founder still involved in the business?
Absolutely. Wellington and Joanna aren't just names on a website, they're in the building, on the phone, making decisions, and holding the team accountable every single day. This is their life's work.
The Truth About This Industry
The HVAC industry isn't always a kind one. It can be a great business, but it can also be ruthless. We've had competitors try to sabotage us. We've had vendors attempt to push us out of the market. We've seen companies cut corners, mislead customers, and prioritize profit over people.
We refuse to do the wrong thing. Period.
We know that doing things the right way sometimes means it takes longer. That's okay. Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast. We would rather grow steadily with our integrity intact than race to the top by stepping on people along the way.
We're not the cheapest. And we're not the most expensive. But we do everything in our power to be the most honest, the most fair, the highest quality, the most consistent, the most responsive, and to treat your home comfort like our own.
We are grateful to the over 12,000 Las Vegas families who have trusted us with their homes. That trust is something we never take for granted. We look forward to continuing to grow, to creating more opportunities for our team, and to serving this community for generations to come, right alongside the families who believed in us from the start.
, The Santana Family
Ready to Work With a Family Who Treats Your Home Like Their Own?
