<PAGE>

                                                                    Exhibit 99.1

[ENCOMPASS LOGO]                                Encompass Services Corporation
                                                3 Greenway Plaza, Suite 2000
                                                Houston, Texas 77046
                                                Phone: 713-860-0100
                                                Fax: 713-960-8036
                                                encompass.com


News Release

ENCOMPASS ANNOUNCES RECORD DATE FOR ITS SPECIAL MEETING AND RIGHTS OFFERING

HOUSTON, August 14, 2002 - Encompass Services Corporation (NYSE:ESR) announced
today that its Board of Directors set August 26, 2002 as the record date for the
special meeting of shareholders to consider and vote on proposals to approve the
previously announced issuance of $35 million of voting securities to affiliates
of Apollo Management IV, L.P., and to amend the Company's charter authorizing an
increase in the number of shares of common stock the Company is authorized to
issue from 200,000,000 to 275,000,000 and granting discretionary authority to
the Board of Directors to effect a reverse stock split of the Company's
outstanding common stock at a ratio within the range from one-for-five to
one-for-fifteen at any time prior to August 1, 2003.

The Company currently expects that the special meeting will be held during
either the last week of September or the first week of October 2002.

Shareholders of record at the close of business on August 26, 2002 will also be
entitled to receive rights to purchase additional shares of common stock in the
rights offering previously announced on June 28, 2002. The rights offering is
expected to commence promptly after registration of the shares subject to the
offering.

The Company will send to shareholders of record a definitive proxy statement, as
well as a prospectus, that will contain important information about the special
meeting, the proposals and the rights offering. Shareholders are urged to read
both the definitive proxy statement and the prospectus when they become
available. Investors and shareholders may obtain a free copy of the proxy
statement and prospectus and other documents filed by the Company with the SEC
at the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov. The proxy statement, prospectus (when
available) and such other documents may also be obtained for free from the
Company by directing a request to:

         Encompass Services Corporation
         3 Greenway Plaza, Suite 2000
         Houston, Texas 77046
         Attn: Investor Relations
         Telephone: 713-860-0100

A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission but has not yet become effective. These
securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time
the registration statement becomes effective. This

                                       1

<PAGE>


communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an
offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state in
which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration
or qualification under the securities laws of any such state.

The Company, its directors, executive officers and certain members of management
and employees may be considered "participants in the solicitation" of proxies
from the Company's shareholders in connection with the proposed transactions.
Information regarding such persons and a description of their interests in the
transaction are contained in the Company's Proxy Statement and Annual Report on
Form 10-K filed with the SEC. Additional information regarding the interests of
those persons may be obtained by reading the proxy statement and prospectus when
they become available.

About Encompass Services Corporation

Encompass Services Corporation is one of the nation's largest providers of
facilities systems and services. Encompass provides electrical technologies,
mechanical services and cleaning systems to commercial, industrial and
residential customers nationwide. Additional information and press releases
about Encompass are available on the Company's web site at www.encompass.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release may contain forward-looking statements
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
These statements are based on the Company's current expectations and involve
risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company's actual results to differ
materially from those set forth in the statements. The Company can give no
assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Factors that could
cause the Company's results to differ materially from current expectations
include: non-approval by the Company's shareholders of the issuance of $35
million of voting securities to affiliates of Apollo Management IV L.P.; the
level of demand for its services by multi-site customers; the level of interest
rates, which affects demand for the Company's services and its interest expense;
the potential impact of any acquisition, disposition, merger, joint venture or
any other significant financial transactions that could occur in the future;
working capital requirements; general economic conditions; as well as other
factors listed in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001,
as amended, and its most recent Form 10-Q.

Contacts:
Todd A. Matherne                                  Bob Arnold
Vice President and Treasurer                      Assistant Treasurer
713-860-0283                                      713-860-0157

                                      # # #


                                       2