A Queensland air conditioning business that began with a single ute has grown into one of the region’s most trusted operators, servicing customers from the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane’s southside and Ipswich.
Temper Troops has spent more than a decade building its reputation by prioritising customer comfort, tackling complex jobs and investing in the next generation of skilled tradespeople.
Managing director Nathan Chilo was just 19 when he started the business in 2011 after completing his heating, ventilation and air conditioning apprenticeship.
Despite being the youngest in his trade group, Mr Chilo launched the company without a formal business plan, drawing on lessons learned from growing up in a family of small business owners.
Fourteen years on, Temper Troops is run by Mr Chilo and his wife, and now employs a team of 40 staff, delivering residential and commercial air conditioning solutions across South East Queensland.
A significant step in the company’s growth came in 2012 when Temper Troops became a Daikin dealer, a partnership Mr Chilo said aligned closely with the business’ focus on quality and customer comfort.
“When it comes to creating air conditioning solutions, Daikin is a brand customers can trust,” he said.
“It’s not a hard sell, thanks to its reputation for creating high-quality products.”
Mr Chilo said Temper Troops’ approach was grounded in trust, care and service, with the team focused on delivering tailored solutions rather than maximising sales.
“Serving customers isn’t about trying to make the most money,” he said.
“We need to deliver tailored solutions to real needs. For example, a retired couple that only uses two main rooms in the home will be best suited to a couple of split systems, whereas a family of four or five using multiple rooms would benefit from a tailored ducted solution.”
The company’s reputation has been built largely through word-of-mouth referrals, driven by a willingness to take on challenging projects others may avoid.
“I’ve come to sites to quote for a job and been told other businesses won’t touch it, either it’s too difficult or too large of a job,” Mr Chilo said.
“We’ve always had a ‘challenge accepted’ attitude and will always try to offer the best possible service.”
While technical expertise and customer service remain central to the business, Mr Chilo said developing skilled workers was equally important, particularly as labour shortages continue across the construction and trades sector.
“From the start, I knew I wanted to help train the next generation of HVAC professionals,” he said.
“I was fortunate to be given an opportunity straight out of school, and the trade has opened so many doors for me. Now, I see it as my responsibility to pass that opportunity on.”
Temper Troops takes on new apprentices each year and places a strong emphasis on leadership development, communication skills and team culture, positioning the business as an employer of choice in a competitive labour market.
The company’s community involvement extends beyond its workforce, with a long-standing partnership with RSPCA Queensland that sees $100 donated for every domestic system installed.
“Our contributions to the RSPCA now total around $60,000, which I’m really proud of,” Mr Chilo said.
“Not only do we do this because we’re animal lovers, but giving back is a natural extension of our business values.”
