Our A1 Story

We want the air in your home to be perfect

You all lead busy lives and your home is your haven. A place to call your own, relax and enjoy your downtime with your family. A1 has found heating and cooling solutions for over 60,000 customers – we still work hard for each and every customer.

Our goal is to make you comfortable in your home. You deserve it.

For more than 50 years, A1 Air Conditioning & Heating has been proudly serving Burlington, Oakville, Mississauga and the GTA area.

Peter Messenger image A1 Air Conditioning & Heating

Peter Messenger, President A1

Our customers are the biggest part of our company story. Many of our customers stay with us for many years – we take that as a compliment. Some even bake cookies for us! And we are grateful for that patronage, but never take it for granted.

Our strong work ethic and high standards mean that all A1 customers get the very best products, service and installation in the business. We stand behind everything we do.

Our expert A1 Technicians are triple-certified – all our customers benefit from this top-of-the-line training. Better equipment. Better installations. Our Technicians are long time A1 employees – we never use contractors.

Yes, our core business is about heating and cooling the air in your home, but we also provide expert advice on products to improve the air quality in your home – clean air is better air. We can help you learn more about air purification, fresh air ventilation and UV lights to remove bacteria and viruses.

And when you need us, we’re here. When you call A1, a real person will answer the phone. Our third-generation owner Peter Messenger has been known to make service calls on Christmas morning. We have a can-do attitude that is reflected in every single one of our employees. This is who we are.

So, take the next step and give us a call so we can get to know you. Get closer to having that perfect temperature, humidity just right and air that is clean and filtered to help you stay healthy and happy.

Own your air. We can help.

A1 Air conditioning & Heating image of woman cross legged on bedroom floor breathing deeply

The history of A1 Air Conditioning and Heating

Walter Messenger first learns about refrigeration during WWII as a royal engineer tank mechanic for the British army. After the war, Walter is hired as a London bus mechanic.

1940-1950s

Walter and the Messenger family immigrate to Canada and Walter decides to open his own business. A1 Air Conditioning & Heating is born.

1960-1967

Walter’s son Paul Messenger joins the Canadian navy to work as an aircraft mechanic. After finishing his service, Paul returns home to enroll in the very first refrigeration class held at Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario.

1968-1974

A1 moves its head office into the original Township of Trafalgar office building on Chartwell Road in southeast Oakville. Upon Walter’s retirement, Paul takes over the family business.

1980-1982

A1 creates the SuperCare Protection Plan program, the first of its kind in the industry, providing customers with the opportunity to enroll in an annual maintenance program offering yearly tune-ups and other included services.

1984

A1 expands its product line to include indoor air quality products, including air purifiers, ventilators and humidifiers. Paul’s son Peter seeks to continue the family business by achieving licenses as a gas fitter, electrician and refrigeration mechanic.

1989

A1 offers a revolutionary 10-year warranty, including parts and labour, on all its installations. This industry-leading warranty is the first of its kind in southern Ontario.

1990s

Upon Paul's retirement, Peter Messenger takes over the family business.

2005

On the hottest day of the year, a fire breaks out at the A1 office building on Chartwell Road. Thankfully, all employees get out safely, Oakville firefighters extinguish the blaze and A1 finds temporary office space nearby.

2011

After years of offering a vast range of HVAC brands, A1 becomes the first Daikin dealer in Canada. Daikin’s commitment to innovation, quality and technology lines up perfectly with our A1 values. Founded in 1924 in Japan, Daikin is the largest heating and air conditioning manufacturer in the world.

2013

A1 moves to our current head office location at 1420 Cornwall Road. A1 installs a state-of-the-art sheet metal shop at our headquarters to make sure installations are custom-built for each customer’s home.

2014-2015

A1 decides to offer its own brand of heating and cooling equipment and creates our signature A1 Genius line, offering the perfect balance of quality and value for our customers.

2018

The fourth generation of the Messenger family joins the family business when Peter’s children start working in the office during school holidays.

2020

Today, A1 Air Conditioning and Heating is still family-owned and operated! We are proud to have served over 60,000 customers along the way, as one of the largest and most trusted heating and cooling companies in southern Ontario.

TODAY