We have some big ideas here at MRCOOL®. We never stop innovating.

A Simple Idea for a Complex Industry

After more than a decade working inside the HVAC industry, father-and-son team Doug and Jason Ingram recognized a growing disconnect. Homeowners wanted more control, more flexibility, and more practical solutions, but the industry wasn’t built to give it to them.

The team began developing a concept that challenged longstanding assumptions about installation itself. The invention would be an “apparatus and process for amateur HVAC installation,” as the future patent would later describe it.

At the time, the idea sounded radical. Today, it feels inevitable.

The First Step Into the Future

MRCOOL®, LLC was officially incorporated in Tennessee, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the HVAC industry.

That same year, MRCOOL® launched the first-generation DIY® Single Zone Mini Split. It’s the product that fundamentally changed the conversation around home comfort. Featuring innovative pre-charged line sets, the system eliminated one of the industry’s biggest friction points: the need for specialized refrigerant handling during installation.

For homeowners, it meant something larger than convenience. It meant independence.

A New Home for Innovation

Momentum came quickly.

Following the successful launch of the DIY® Single Zone Mini Split, MRCOOL® established its headquarters in Hickory, Kentucky, creating a foundation for product expansion, operational growth, and a culture rooted in practical innovation.

The mission was becoming clearer: simplify comfort without sacrificing performance.

And more and more customers were paying attention.

Gaining National Influence

As demand accelerated, so did ambition.

MRCOOL® expanded through major product launches and strategic partnerships with national hardware retailers, bringing accessible HVAC solutions to more homeowners across the country.

While growth was welcomed and celebrated, innovation remained the driver.

In 2017, MRCOOL® became one of the first HVAC brands to introduce geothermal inverter technology through what would become the GeoCool® Heat Pump. It was an early signal that the company was helping shape what came next.

Growing the Family

Rapid growth created new opportunities and new responsibility.

As MRCOOL® products gained national traction, the company expanded its team to 75 employees, investing not only in infrastructure, but also in people.

Because scaling innovation requires culture, belief, and a shared willingness to rethink what’s possible.

The company’s core values:

• Service-minded – We help others succeed.
• Collaborative – We win as a team.
• Engaged – We participate fully and inspire others.
• Respectful – We treat others with dignity.
• Driven to Win – We push for excellence every day.

Expansion in All Directions

By 2019, MRCOOL® had evolved from emerging disruptor to expanding force.

Distribution extended into Canada. Warehousing and production capacity increased to meet accelerating demand. The product line expanded beyond ductless systems to include traditional ducted HVAC equipment.

The company’s footprint was expanding, but so was its perspective.

Consumers no longer wanted one-size-fits-all comfort. They wanted options designed around real life. MRCOOL® intended to meet them there.

MRCOOL® Under Pressure

For many companies, 2020 became a year of constraint and reduction. For MRCOOL®, it became proof of relevance.

As millions of people began spending more time at home, comfort stopped being background noise and became deeply personal. Homeowners needed reliable, efficient, and accessible solutions during a period of widespread uncertainty.

MRCOOL® responded quickly.

The company expanded to 150 employees, launched the Universal Ducted Split Heat Pump, and introduced the DIY® Multi Zone Heat Pump. MRCOOL® gave homeowners even greater flexibility to customize comfort throughout their homes. In a year defined by disruption, adaptability became a competitive advantage.

The MRCOOL® Distinction

Protected innovation changes industries.

In 2021, MRCOOL® secured patents for its pre-charged Quick Connect® Line Sets, officially making the MRCOOL® DIY® Series the only ductless mini-split heat pump on the market with patented technology specifically designed to simplify installation for homeowners, without specialized tools.

At the same time, the company expanded its distribution operations to support rising nationwide demand.

MRCOOL® believed homeowners deserved access to technology that worked with them.

The distinction was fundamental.

New Faces & New Advancements

By 2022, MRCOOL® had grown to more than 200 employees and continued expanding its national reach.

As connected technology reshaped consumer expectations across industries, MRCOOL® deepened its investment in Smart Home integrations, creating systems that were not only more efficient but also more intuitive to the way people actually live.

The future of HVAC was about intelligent comfort, Comfort Made Simple.

New Stomping Grounds

MRCOOL® celebrated its 10-Year Anniversary.

The company launched its first franchise location in Massachusetts, signaling a bold expansion into new markets and new growth opportunities.

In Kentucky, construction also began on a major expansion to MRCOOL® headquarters, creating room for the next era of innovation.

A Future-Conscious Shift

As MRCOOL® completed its headquarters expansion, attention turned toward the next generation of HVAC technology.

In alignment with evolving EPA regulations and broader environmental priorities, MRCOOL® transitioned its product lines from R-410A to R-454B, a newer, more environmentally conscious refrigerant.

The shift reflected something bigger happening across industries: customer conversations and demands focusing on combined innovation and responsibility.

And MRCOOL® intended to deliver both.