Meet the Owner
Hello, I’m Jason Ponder, owner and operator of Rapid Heating and Air LLC. I’ve called the Tampa Bay area home for more than four decades and have proudly served my community in the HVAC trade since 2014. Over the years, I’ve worked as an installer, service technician, field supervisor, and service manager. In 2022, I took the leap to build my own company, one that reflects my values of honesty, trustworthiness, and superior workmanship. My goal is simple: to provide every customer with the highest-quality service and lasting peace of mind.
HVAC Education
Before I discovered HVAC, I worked in a string of low-wage jobs and knew I needed a change. I enrolled in a local technical school where I poured myself into learning repair and installation skills. That decision changed my life. I quickly rose to the top of my class, mentoring others and graduating early. From there, I gained hands-on experience with everything from walk-in coolers and ice machines to commercial and residential systems. Eventually, I found my true passion in residential HVAC—working directly with homeowners to solve problems, explain their systems, and make a real impact in their comfort at home.
Why I Started the Company
Rapid Heating and Air was born out of my frustration with how parts of the industry operate. Too often, I saw companies run by salesmen who lacked the technical knowledge to back up what they were selling. I even had to repeatedly fix mistakes made by licensed contractors who weren’t living up to the standards homeowners deserve. I knew I could do better.
That’s why I built Rapid based on principles:
Business owners should be skilled in the same services their company provides.
Every team member should be as skilled—or more skilled—than the owner in their area of expertise.
Service technicians should be able to both repair and install equipment.
Installation technicians should know how to perform repairs as well as installs.
Comfort advisers should fully understand repairs and installations so they can provide accurate recommendations to clients.
My mission in starting Rapid was to build a different kind of HVAC company—one where skill, training, and integrity come first.
The Rapid Difference
At Rapid Heating and Air LLC, training and skill matter. Every technician should know how to both repair and install equipment, and every comfort adviser should understand the details of the work they recommend. I believe homeowners deserve nothing less than informed, professional service from a team that genuinely cares about results. That’s why I stay personally involved with clients and ensure my team always puts quality first. At Rapid, we don’t just complete the job—we take pride in doing it the right way. That’s the Rapid way.
Let's Get Started
When your comfort is at stake, don’t wait around for slow service or unreliable results. Whether you need a quick repair, a seasonal tune-up, or a complete system upgrade, our team is ready to help you get back to feeling comfortable — fast.
Your comfort is our mission.