22 questions · 5 sections · answered by a licensed contractor
HVAC questions, honest answers.
Common questions we get on Bay Area HVAC calls, grouped by topic. If your question is not here, call (925) 999-4095 or send a message, we answer real questions, not marketing-sanitized ones.
The basics
General questions
What areas do you serve?
We serve 65 Bay Area cities. Tri-Valley: Alamo, Blackhawk, Danville, Dublin, Livermore, Pleasanton, San Ramon. Diablo Valley: Clayton, Concord, Lafayette, Martinez, Moraga, Orinda, Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek. Inner East Bay: Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Castro Valley, El Cerrito, El Sobrante, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, Hercules, Milpitas, Newark, Oakland, Piedmont, Pinole, Richmond, Rodeo, San Leandro, San Pablo, Union City. South Bay & Peninsula: Atherton, Belmont, Burlingame, Cupertino, Daly City, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Half Moon Bay, Hillsborough, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Menlo Park, Millbrae, Mountain View, Pacifica, Palo Alto, Portola Valley, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Carlos, San Jose, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Saratoga, South San Francisco, Sunnyvale, Woodside. North Bay: Benicia, Vallejo. Our shop is in San Ramon.
How quickly can you respond?
Same-day or next-day for most calls. We prioritize cooling failures in summer and heating failures in winter. Call (925) 999-4095 and we'll give you a realistic ETA in 30 seconds based on current schedule. We do not promise blanket same-day service; we tell you what's actually achievable.
What does a diagnostic visit cost?
The on-site diagnosis is $99 and is credited toward the repair. It includes inspection and pressure or combustion readings. After the diagnosis, you receive a written estimate before any repair work begins. No work is mandatory; you can take the estimate elsewhere if you choose.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. California Contractor State License Board (CSLB) license #1136642 for Warm Air Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning. EPA Section 608 Universal certification #1279674151528 for refrigerant handling. BBB A+ accredited. Fully insured and bonded. Andrew Kuznetsov passed the CSLB exam personally; no license transfer.
Do you charge overtime?
No. Our business hours are 7AM to 7PM, 7 days a week, with no overtime charges. Every call is answered at any hour, 7 days a week, by our AI phone assistant. A team member calls back to confirm the appointment.
Diagnostic & service
Repair questions
My AC is 15 years old. Repair or replace?
The right choice depends on the confirmed fault, refrigerant, and condition of the rest of the system. We diagnose it on site and provide the written repair estimate so you can compare it with replacement.
Why is my AC freezing up?
Restricted airflow, a refrigerant problem or a mechanical fault can each freeze the indoor coil, and ice alone doesn't tell you which. Turn cooling off and tell us about the ice and any water leak when you book. Thawing time varies, and meltwater can overflow the drain pan.
My furnace keeps cycling on and off. What's wrong?
Common causes include an overheating limit switch, a failing flame sensor, or thermostat miscalibration. We diagnose the sequence on site and provide a written repair estimate before work starts.
What is R-22 refrigerant and why does it matter?
R-22 was the standard AC refrigerant until production was phased out under the Montreal Protocol. It is no longer manufactured in the U.S. If your system runs R-22 and has a leak, the only refill option is reclaimed refrigerant at $100+ per pound on a system that will leak again. Modern systems use R-410A or R-454B.
New systems
Installation questions
How much does heat pump installation cost in 2026?
Tonnage, ductwork condition, equipment, and electrical scope determine the project price. The on-site installation assessment is free, and we provide the written project estimate after the visit.
How long does installation take?
Standard like-for-like replacement: 1 to 2 days on site. Whole-home heat pump conversion: 2 to 4 days. New construction or major remodel: 3 to 5 days. Permits add 1 to 3 weeks of lead time depending on city and inspector backlog.
Do I need a panel upgrade for a heat pump?
Some older Bay Area homes need electrical work to support a heat-pump conversion. We include an electrical capacity check in the free on-site installation assessment and put any coordinated electrical scope in the written estimate.
Will my existing ductwork work with a heat pump?
Often yes. We test ductwork leakage on every install estimate. If existing ducts pass (under 15 percent leakage, no major damage), we keep them. Heavy damage or 25+ year old ducts may need replacement or sealing. Aeroseal sealing can recover 15 to 25 percent of conditioned air.
What's included in a heat pump install?
Manual J load calculation, equipment selection across major brands, outdoor condenser and indoor air handler, refrigerant line set, removal and disposal of old equipment, permit pull and inspection coordination, electrical work within scope, commissioning and system balancing, a 10-year manufacturer parts warranty plus a labor warranty (2 years standard, extended to 10 years with our maintenance plan), and rebate paperwork submission.
Planning a Mitsubishi Electric ductless system? See the Mitsubishi ductless FAQ for cost per room, noise and what happens at the free assessment.
2026 programs
Rebates & incentives
What rebates am I eligible for in 2026?
We work with BayREN, PG&E (thermostat and ENERGY STAR), EBCE/Ava (Alameda County), and manufacturer instant rebates. Eligibility, dollar amounts, and program funding vary by territory and program cycle. We confirm what's currently paying when we write your estimate.
Do you offer financing?
Yes, on approved credit. We work with Synchrony, and we're a participating contractor in GoGreen Home, California's energy financing program for upgrades like heat pumps. With GoGreen you apply with one of the program's lenders and get pre-approved before the work starts. The lender sets the rate and the term, not us. We go over both options at the free installation assessment.
Is the federal heat pump tax credit still available?
No. Section 25C of the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit expired December 31, 2025 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Air-source heat pumps installed in 2026 receive no federal tax credit. Section 25D for geothermal was ended by the same law for installs completed after December 31, 2025, so there is no federal residential credit for either.
What happened to Tech Clean California?
Tech Clean California hit its funding cap and stopped accepting new applications on November 14, 2025. The program may reopen if the legislature reauthorizes it, but as of July 2026 it remains closed. We don't quote Tech Clean as available on 2026 installs.
How do I check heat pump rebate eligibility?
Start with your utility account and the proposed equipment. Before approving an installation, confirm current funding, contractor participation and application timing with the program operator. Ask your installer to show any confirmed rebate separately on the written estimate.
Ongoing care
Maintenance questions
How often should I change my air filter?
1-inch fiberglass filters: 30 to 60 days. 1-inch pleated: 60 to 90 days. 4-inch media filters: 6 to 12 months. Pets, construction dust, wildfire smoke season, and rural homes shorten the interval. Visual test: hold the filter to a bright light. If less than 50 percent lets light through, replace it.
Do I need annual HVAC maintenance?
Most heat-pump and high-efficiency AC manufacturer warranties require documented annual professional maintenance to remain valid. Without records, a later compressor claim may be denied. Our maintenance plan creates that service record.
What does your maintenance plan cost?
$290 per visit, two visits per year. 20% off covered repair charges while the maintenance agreement is active. Additional systems are priced individually in your written quote. The maintenance plan and standard labor warranty do not transfer to a new owner. Only purchased extended labor coverage through JB Warranties may transfer under its terms. An active plan extends our standard installation labor warranty from 2 years to 10 years.
When does the maintenance plan NOT make sense?
If your system is under 4 years old and we installed it; the install commissioning gives a strong baseline and manufacturer warranty is in its early years. We tell you that at the estimate. We don't push the plan on customers who don't yet need it.
Still have questions?
Call us. We answer real questions.
Bay Area · 7am–7pm · 7 days · no overtime charges