After 30 Years, Lakes Region Heating & Air Conditioning Celebrates Expansion to Loudon

LOUDON—After more than 30 years serving New Hampshire homeowners and businesses, Lakes Region Heating & Air Conditioning celebrated a new chapter with the grand opening and ribbon cutting of its new Loudon location on Friday, May 29.

The company, owned by Eric Grennell of Gilford, recently relocated from Northfield to a new commercial property at the corner of Routes 106 and 129 in Loudon. The event featured an open house, ribbon cutting ceremony and barbecue for employees, customers and community members.

Grennell said the move marks not only a milestone for the business, but also a celebration for the employees, customers and community members who helped the company grow from a one-man operation in Belmont into a regional HVAC company with approximately 25 employees.

“It’s a celebration for all the guys that helped get us where we are today,” Grennell said. “It’s a thank you to the public and to our crews.”

Grennell founded the company in 1992 after deciding to strike out on his own following previous jobs in the HVAC industry. He said his interest in heating and air conditioning began while attending Shawsheen Valley Technical High School in Billerica, Massachusetts, where students rotated through vocational exploratory programs before selecting a trade.

“My destiny in life was probably to be some kind of heavy equipment operator,” Grennell said, noting his father worked with dump trucks and excavators. “But I liked doing the HVAC better, so that’s what I stuck with.”

The company officially incorporated in 1994 and initially operated out of Belmont before eventually relocating to Northfield, where it remained for roughly 20 years. In its early years, Grennell said the company accepted work throughout New England, including projects for Hannaford supermarkets across multiple states.

Over time, however, the business established itself more firmly in the Lakes Region community and shifted its focus closer to home.

“It took us a long time to break in and not be the new guys anymore,” Grennell said. “Now, we’re the old guys.”

Grennell said one of the company’s biggest strengths has been its decision to remain focused solely on heating and air conditioning rather than branching into unrelated trades.

“You stick with what you do best,” he said. “You train your crews to do heating and air conditioning, and that’s all they have to think about.”

The Loudon property provides several advantages over the previous Northfield location, which was located in a residential zone, according to Grennell. Located in a commercial district with easy highway access, the new site offers increased visibility, room for expansion and additional storage space.

“We have a lot more exposure to the general public,” Grennell said.

The property also includes a second building that could support future growth if needed.

Grennell said the HVAC industry itself has changed dramatically since he entered the field in the early 1990s, particularly with advances in technology.

“The biggest thing is how everything is run by computers now,” he said. “Wi-Fi access on your phone, Bluetooth, smart thermostats — it’s really the technology part of it that keeps advancing.”

He said customers are increasingly interested in mini-split systems, energy efficiency and improved indoor air quality through advanced filtration and humidity control systems.

While the company primarily focuses on residential work today, it has also completed large-scale commercial and luxury residential projects over the years, including work on some of the largest homes around Lake Winnipesaukee and Lake Sunapee.

Grennell said the company’s reputation has largely been built through word of mouth rather than traditional advertising. “We’ve had customers and builders we’ve worked with for 20 years or more,” he added.

That long-term loyalty extends to employees as well. Several staff members have been with the company for more than two decades. “Without them, we wouldn’t be here,” Grennell said.

Grennell also emphasized the importance of skilled trades and workforce development, saying the industry offers strong career opportunities for people who may not want to pursue a traditional college path.

“Not every kid needs to go to college,” he said. “You’ve got guys in the trades buying houses at 25 years old without the college debt hanging over their heads.”

Grennell has been involved nationally through the Air Conditioning Contractors of America, a Washington, D.C., based organization that helps develop industry standards. He said workforce shortages and technical education have become major discussion points nationwide.

As the company settles into its new Loudon location, Grennell said the focus remains on continued growth while maintaining the quality and customer service the company has built its reputation on for more than three decades.

“We try to make it right no matter what it takes,” he said.

Learn more about Lakes Region Heating & Air Conditioning at https://lrhvac.com/.