The Brand Story
RectorSeal: From an Oilfield Thread Sealant to the Side of the House
Houston, 1937. The oil business is booming, and every well depends on threaded pipe joints that cannot leak under pressure. A small company starts making a single thread sealant for those oilfield connections. The product works, and the company named RectorSeal spends the next nine decades expanding from that one can of sealant into the plumbing, electrical and HVAC trades.
Chapter 1 · 1937 to today
One sealant, many trades
RectorSeal No. 5 became a favorite of plumbers across North America by the 1950s. In 1969 Capital Southwest Corporation acquired the company, and RectorSeal is now part of CSW Industrials. Its headquarters remain in Houston. Over the years it pushed into firestop products and HVAC chemicals in the 1990s, then added a run of HVAC brands: Airtec installation products in 2011, TRUaire grilles and registers in 2015, Cover Guard and AC GUARD equipment protection in 2018, Shoemaker air distribution in 2021 and Aspen evaporator coils in 2023.
The Lineup
What RectorSeal builds today
RectorSeal's HVAC catalog covers grilles and registers, mini split installation products, chemicals, indoor air quality and electrical components, alongside its plumbing, firestop and electrical lines. HVAC365 carries one of its ductless installation pieces:
See more installation parts in mini split accessories.
At a Glance
RectorSeal by the numbers
- Founded
- 1937, Houston, Texas
- Parent company
- CSW Industrials
- First product
- Oilfield thread sealant
- HVAC brands include
- TRUaire, AC GUARD, Aspen, Airtec
Questions
Frequently asked questions about RectorSeal
Who owns RectorSeal?
RectorSeal is part of CSW Industrials. Capital Southwest Corporation acquired the company in 1969.
When and where was RectorSeal founded?
RectorSeal was founded in Houston, Texas, in 1937, starting with a single thread sealant for oilfield applications.
Why mount a mini split condenser on a wall bracket?
A wall bracket lifts the outdoor unit off the ground, away from standing water, debris and lawn equipment, and can free up space where there is no room for a pad.
What HVAC brands are part of RectorSeal?
RectorSeal's HVAC family includes Airtec, TRUaire, Cover Guard, AC GUARD, Shoemaker and Aspen Manufacturing.
