Meet Richard Ryan of La Crescenta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Richard Ryan.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
o-Cal Heating & Air was started by my dad back in 1987. He built it the old-fashioned way — through hard work and word of mouth. He didn’t rely on flashy advertising, just doing honest, reliable work and letting customers spread the word. Over the years, one neighbor would recommend him to another, families would pass his name along, and the business grew into something that people really trusted all across Burbank and the greater LA area.

I grew up around the company, helping out here and there as a kid, but after high school I decided to pursue college. I started at Michigan State University, and then I transferred to UW–Madison. I was there for about two years when my dad’s health declined, and after he passed, I made the decision to come back home to take on the responsibility of keeping the company going.

I’m 20 years old now, and while it’s a big role to step into at my age, I see it as an honor to carry forward my dad’s legacy. Today we’ve got a small but strong team of guys working with me, and together we service homes all over Los Angeles County — from installs and repairs to maintenance. We’ve kept the same values my dad built the company on — honesty, integrity, and treating every customer like family — while I’ve also brought in some fresh energy through social media and updated systems.

At the end of the day, word of mouth is still the heart of our business. After nearly 40 years, people are still referring us to their friends, neighbors, and coworkers. To me, that’s the best proof that we’re doing things right and continuing what my dad started back in 1987

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
One of the biggest challenges has been learning the business side while also jumping into the day-to-day work. We’re a small team, so everyone wears a lot of hats. Some days it feels like we’re stretched thin, covering service calls all over LA County, but we work together to make sure every customer gets taken care of.

Another challenge has been keeping up with how the industry has changed. My dad built the company almost entirely through word of mouth, and that’s still how most people find us. But now we’re also trying to balance that with things like social media, online reviews, and a stronger digital presence.

So no, it hasn’t been smooth. There’s been a lot of transition, responsibility, and adapting. But what makes it work is the team — everyone steps up, and together we’re keeping the same values my dad started with: honest work, treating people like family, and letting our service speak for itself

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We specialize in residential heating and cooling. Everything from new installations and maintenance to troubleshooting and repairs. We’ve been servicing homes all across Los Angeles County since 1987, so there’s not much we haven’t seen. Because we’re a small, family-owned company, we’re known for being reliable, responsive, and treating people the way we’d want to be treated in our own homes.

What really sets us apart is that personal touch. A lot of bigger companies might treat customers like numbers, but for us it’s always been about relationships. Word of mouth has been the backbone of our business for almost 40 years. Most of the time, when we get a call, it’s because a neighbor, friend, or family member told them about us. I think that says a lot about the trust we’ve built.

I’m most proud of the fact that we’ve been able to carry forward what my dad started. Staying true to his values of honesty and integrity, while also adapting to modern times. We’ve built a reputation not just for getting the job done right, but for being the type of company people feel good about inviting into their homes. At the end of the day, we’re not just working on equipment — we’re keeping families comfortable, safe, and looked after, and that’s what drives us.

What matters most to you?
What matters most to me is carrying forward the values my dad built this company on — honesty, integrity, and treating people like family. My dad started So-Cal Heating & Air in 1987 with nothing but his tools, his truck, and a commitment to doing right by people. He always believed that if you take care of customers, they’ll take care of you

Pricing:

• We do not charge to come out and diagnose a systems problem.
• Most pricing is dependent on the circumstances.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.so-calheatingandair.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/socalheatingandair/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/so-cal-heating-and-air-la-crescenta-2