Baltimore business owner sells the right product for the worst time

By Charles Whiting
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer

Rick Matuszak, 66, didn’t realize how in demand HVAC filters would be over 30 years ago when he founded a local Baltimore HVAC distribution company, Air Filter Maintenance.

But with the COVID-19 pandemic putting pressure on schools and businesses to improve their air filtration and HVAC system performance, the HVAC market is booming. In a time where many small businesses are struggling as a result of the pandemic, Baltimore’s biggest distributor of HVAC filters, Air Filter Maintenance, has recorded profits amid the high demand of HVAC filters.

“We’re probably more profitable now because people are upgrading their filtration, which means it cost a lot more,” Matuszak said. “All the school boards that we do have upgraded, and it’s about 30 to 35% increase in costs.”

Matuszak’s clients include hospitals, airports, universities and even the Pentagon, with his biggest client being school boards. They’re all after a filter called MERV 13, which Matuszak said is the best the industry has to offer. These MERV 13 filters were used to convert the Baltimore Convention Center into both a field hospital and testing center for COVID-19.

“I believe people are now more concerned about air filtration than ever due to their desire to limit their exposure to airborne pathogens such as the coronavirus,” said Bruce Hobbs, air filter salesman of 22 years. “Coronavirus has definitely shined a light on airborne contaminants that we are all exposed to daily, most of which can be captured by using high-efficiency air filters.”

Before the pandemic, Matuszak’s clients primarily wanted MERV 8 and MERV 10 filters.

“The world is completely different today than it was yesterday and the products we had were called MERV 8 or 10, they did a good job,” Matuszak said. “But now we’re fighting a virus that’s airborne. And now people that own office buildings are doing this to be proactive to say to their candidates ‘Hey, come on back. We’ve got the best filtration that you know it offers. We’re using the filters recommended by the CDC.’ ”

Matuszak was born and raised in Baltimore keeps his operations in the place he calls home.

In his first year of business, in 1987, Matuszak made a profit of just $3,000. He started out with one employee, his friend who he grew up playing college soccer with, and rented a 2,000 square foot warehouse in South West Baltimore at $500 per month. Today, Air Filter Maintenance has 13 employees and operates out of a 15,000 square foot Highlandtown warehouse he purchased for $175,000 in 1995. It is currently valued at $500,000, he said.

Matuszak said the most challenging part of owning a business still remains the same—even in a pandemic.

“The hardest thing now is to get good employees,” Matuszak said. “It has changed drastically over the years but even before COVID that was the hardest part. It’s kind of hard to find good employees for this job in this area.”

And like other businesses, the pandemic is requiring the company to make adjustments. Employees get their temperatures checked every morning and must wear masks when they are in the office and warehouse. Service workers must wear gloves and safety goggles when entering certain areas.

“It’s been weird not having the freedoms we once had here, but it’s what has to be done to make work safe for everyone,” said Laura Baxter, office manager of Air Filter Maintenance. “I work from home most of the time now so I’m grateful I can do that.”

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Air Filter Maintenance has had just one positive COVID test. As a result, the entire office received a $500 deep cleaning, which Matuszak said he will enforce every six months for the sake of the employees.

Despite the challenges that come with operating a business, especially in a pandemic, Matuszak sees his business only becoming more profitable post pandemic.

“The $0.69 filters you can find on the shelves of Target are a thing of the past now,” Matuszak said. “Air filtration is the way of the future now. Even homeowners care more about the product than the cost.”