Western Sales & Services

Company Overview

We are a small family-owned business light commercial and residential heating, cooling, and plumbing services. Unlike many of our competitors, we are repair-oriented rather than high-pressure sales. We inform our customers of their options and give them the freedom to decide if they want to repair or replace.

The establishment of Western Sales & Services dates back in 1948 by founders Arthur Liles and Robert Bowie in West Jefferson County, leading to the name Western. They both worked as service technicians at Alabama Gas Company before they launched their company. The primary focus of the business was gas heating. Air conditioning services was not a key function of the business until 1958. In 1955, Arthur Liles became the sole owner of the business. He ran the business until his death in 1972. Upon his passing, he entrusted the business to his wife Myrna and their three sons. Bill, Johnny, and Sid managed the business. Sid oversaw the business until he retired in 2015, after which he passed the reins to his partner Josh Durden. Since 2012, Josh has been part of Western and strives to manage it with the same attention to honesty and quality that have enabled Western to thrive since 1948.

I go by the name Josh and I have been with Western since 2011. I have been involved in the HVAC field since I started helping my father in his business at the age of 13. Following high school, I worked during the summers for a local HVAC contractor in Tuscaloosa while I went to school at Shelton State and then to Alabama. I graduated with a degree in Marketing. After college, I worked for 2 HVAC and plumbing distributors where I learned how both aspects of the industry functioned and discovered what set apart the good contractors from the poor ones.

Respecting my coworkers is a core belief of mine, being truthful with all individuals, and taking pride in delivering quality work. Our approach is not based on high-pressure sales and we don't want to ever make a customer's decision for them. We aim to provide them with information about their problems and empower them to make the best decision for their needs.