About Us
Quality Heating & Cooling Services in Waukegan, IL
Kern Heating & Cooling Co. is your top choice for locally-based, family-owned heating and cooling services in Waukegan and the surrounding area. We service all makes and models of heating and cooling equipment, and we have the tools and training to handle any problem you may be having. From the most serious issues, including those that require total replacement, to minor problems and routine repairs, you can depend on us for the finest craftsmanship, friendly customer service, and quality that simply isn’t matched anywhere else. It’s this philosophy of doing things right and truly looking out for our customers that has earned us an outstanding reputation in our community and our industry.
Our mission is a commitment to comfort services with integrity, quality, and respect, from our family to yours.
Our History
Kern Heating was founded by Carl Kern in 1936 as a small-town heating business to service the Northern Shore of Illinois in the latter part of the Great Depression. Our first slogan was “Cold? C. Kern,” with the C. standing for Carl. The company’s first employee was one of my family’s great uncles. Initially, the business was founded on servicing hydronic coal heating systems, which were popular at the time, and Carl Kern installed some of the finest systems you’ll find anywhere in the community; you can still find some of these robust systems installed by Kern throughout Lake County, most of which have been converted to run on oil or natural gas.
In 1941 the US entered WWII, which mean the government began the acquisition of steel in order to supply the war effort. As the years of the war dragged on, it became increasingly difficult for companies from all industries to obtain steel to supply their business. During this time, Kern formed a close relationship with another local company called Sission Metal, a company founded by another one of my great uncles. During the war, Sisson was one of the only companies that was able to continue to obtain steel and steel products due to relationships made while serving in the military.
This relationship between Kern and my great uncle blossomed, which allowed Kern to remain in business even through some of the most difficult economic years in U.S. history. This is why so many of the heating and cooling companies you come across today were founded several years after the war at the very earliest. Several years later, Sisson Metal became Midway Supply, which is now one of the largest distributors of HVAC equipment between Chicago and Milwaukee.
Our family is deeply rooted in HVAC. We have decades of history in the industry; from personal experience, to our parents to our extended family, we’ve had such deep ties with Kern Heating that we absolutely could not pass up the opportunity to acquire the business when it presented itself in the early 2000s. Today we’re proud to carry on this legacy and serve our community.
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"She worked with us to see what would be best for our home, and we could not be happier with the results. Everyone was very professional from start to finish and we are so happy we went with Kern!"
Everyone was very professional from start to finish and we are so happy we went with Kern!- Mallory Greenwald -
"Polite & Knowledgeable"
I needed a new unit in a hurry and Kern was there the next day. The technicians were polite, knowledgeable and cleaned up after themselves.- Thankful Customer -
"A Positive Experience"
Kerns Heating/AC provided a positive experience from proposal through installation. Dave A. provided honest, informative assessment of my needs. The installation team was timely and had my new furnace and AC installed in less than 5hrs, removed old units and cleaned up as if never there. Mark A. answered all questions before calling it a day.- Satisfied Customer -
"Very Happy"
We needed our furnace and air conditioner replaced. They were from 1986 & 1985 respectively. Kern Heating Co Inc gave us a great deal and showed up on the scheduled day at exactly the time planned on. The guys did the job quickly and neatly. There was not a speck of anything to clean up afterward. We are very happy with our new appliances!- Happy Customer
What We Do
Kern Heating & Cooling Co. opened in 1936, back in the days when honest, hard-working service was the norm in the home services industry. Unfortunately, that seems to have changed today as more and more profit-driven companies or dishonest contractors give honest and hard-working folks a bad reputation. We prefer to let the tradition and vision that Carl Kern set out to achieve speak for itself. We provide honest assessments, transparent prices, dependable repairs, and good old-fashioned hard work for our customers. Plus our customer service is friendly and takes your home and your needs personally. We hire only the best technicians, and each is outfitted with the tools and training they need to provide you with the highest possible level of attention to your comfort.
See Why We're the Right Choice for Your Home
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Licensed & InsuredWe understand the stress that can come with these repairs so we are always properly licensed and insured to give you total peace of mind.
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Passionate EmployeesWe hire the very best employees that have a passion for great customer service and a drive to provide excellent work.
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Experience that MattersWe have been in business since 1936 so with over 80 years in business, we are the name you can trust.
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A Full TeamWhen you choose Kern Heating & Cooling you get the whole team, not just an individual, dedicated to your satisfaction from start to finish.
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