1 EXHIBIT 12 SERVICE EXPERTS, INC. COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHANGES (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) 1st Qtr. 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 FIXED CHARGES: Interest Expense $ 52 $ 92 $ 90 $ 100 $ 63 $ 87 Portion of rents representative of interest factor $ 42 $ 47 $ 58 $ 64 $ 163 $ 123 Total fixed charges $ 94 $ 139 $ 148 $ 164 $ 226 $ 210 EARNINGS: Earnings before income tax expense $ 120 $ 62 $ 424 $ 790 $ 4,306 $ 2,947 Undistributed equity in affiliate earnings -- -- -- -- $ (30) -- Fixed charges $ 94 $ 164 $ 148 $ 164 $ 226 $ 210 Total earnings $ 214 $ 201 $ 572 $ 954 $ 4,502 $ 3,157 Ratio of earnings to fixed charges 2.28x 1.45x 3.86x 5.82x 19.92x 15.03x