Compare Local Pros
Cinnamon Energy Systems vs Modern Air
Santa Clara Electrical Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Modern Air brings four additional years of HVAC-specific experience, while Cinnamon specializes in solar and battery systems with heat pump capability as a secondary service.
| Cinnamon Energy Systems | Modern Air | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.8 | ★ 5.0 |
| Years Licensed | 13 years | 17 years |
| License # | 976065 | 935704 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Los Gatos, CA | Morgan Hill, CA |
| Website | www.cinnamon.energy | modernairco.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Cinnamon Energy Systems
Customers emphasize smooth project management through complex permitting and utility coordination, with detailed technical explanations throughout multi-component solar and battery installations.
Modern Air
Customers highlight rapid response times, clear diagnostic explanations, and honest recommendations without upselling, with many maintaining multi-year service relationships.
Key Takeaway: Cinnamon's feedback centers on successfully completing complex installation projects, while Modern Air's reviews emphasize ongoing service relationships and responsive troubleshooting for immediate HVAC needs.
Customer Reviews
Cinnamon Energy Systems
I started thinking about solar last year, but it was not until this year when I became serious. I talked to as many as 6 companies who serve San Jose area, and in the end, I decided to go with Cinnamo...
Cinnamon is a highly rated company and I was overall happy with the work. Sometimes communication was tricky but Consultant Michael Croft helped me navigate the process when clarification and service ...
We are quite happy with our solar power system installed by Cinnamon Energy Systems. We are fortunate enough to have south and west facing roofs and were able to work with them to install a system of...
Modern Air
We replaced all of our asbestos-wrapped ductwork and installed a new heat pump system in late October. The entire Modern Air team did a great job with this relatively large project. Andrew, the owner...
Outstanding! Professional! Efficient! Great communications! Same day service. Texts and emails confirming all communications. Installation several days later. A special thanks to Billy, Alfredo and hi...
Alfredo was professional and courteous, and so was the previous person who came out for quote. Modern Air does a great job with their client communications, and their cost is reasonable.
Consider Cinnamon Energy Systems if...
- ✓ You're installing solar panels and want to coordinate heat pump installation with electrical panel upgrades and system design in a single integrated project
- ✓ You're planning comprehensive home electrification and prefer a contractor experienced in managing permitting and utility coordination for complex multi-system installations
- ✓ You're interested in pairing a heat pump with battery backup systems like Tesla Powerwall for energy independence
- ✓ Your project involves ductless mini-split systems as part of a broader renewable energy upgrade rather than standalone HVAC work
Consider Modern Air if...
- ✓ You need HVAC repair or diagnostic services for existing furnace or air conditioning problems, not new solar-related installations
- ✓ You want a contractor whose entire 17-year history has been dedicated to heating and cooling systems, including legacy equipment and complex ductwork issues
- ✓ You value same-day service availability and ongoing maintenance relationships, including membership programs for annual inspections
- ✓ Your home has older ductwork or potential complications like asbestos-wrapped ducts that require specialized HVAC remediation experience
- ✓ You need a heat pump installation as a standalone HVAC upgrade without coordinating solar, battery, or electrical panel projects
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → Ask Cinnamon how many standalone heat pump projects they complete versus those integrated with solar installations, and request references specific to HVAC-only work if that's your need
- → Ask Modern Air about their experience with heat pump installations specifically versus traditional furnace and AC systems, particularly if you're considering newer cold-climate models
- → Confirm which company provides ongoing maintenance service after installation and what that program includes, especially if you want a long-term service relationship
- → If you have existing HVAC issues, ask about diagnostic fees and what happens if repairs are needed before or instead of replacement
The Bottom Line
Choose based on your actual project scope, not just the overlapping heat pump capability. If you're installing solar panels, planning comprehensive home electrification, or coordinating multiple systems including battery backup, Cinnamon Energy Systems brings the project management expertise and permitting experience you need, with heat pumps as a natural part of that work. If you need standalone HVAC service, have existing heating or cooling issues requiring diagnosis, want ongoing maintenance relationships, or face ductwork complications, Modern Air's 17 years of dedicated HVAC focus provides significantly deeper expertise. Both are properly licensed and insured, so this decision comes down to matching their core specialization to your specific project type.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, because those years represent entirely different expertise. Modern Air's 17 years are dedicated to HVAC systems exclusively, including repairs, diagnostics, ductwork, and legacy equipment that matters if you have existing system issues or complications. Cinnamon's 13 years are primarily in solar and battery installations, with heat pumps as a secondary service line for electrification projects. The experience gap matters most if you need HVAC-specific troubleshooting or ongoing service relationships.
Yes, they clearly install heat pumps and mini-split systems as documented in their service offerings and customer feedback. However, their strength is integrating these systems with solar installations, electrical upgrades, and permitting coordination for comprehensive projects. If you're doing standalone HVAC work without solar involvement, you're not leveraging their primary expertise, and Modern Air's dedicated HVAC focus would serve you better.
Modern Air explicitly offers maintenance membership programs with scheduled annual inspections, reflecting their service-oriented HVAC business model. Customer feedback shows people returning for multiple services over years, indicating established maintenance relationships. Cinnamon's reviews focus on project completion for installations rather than ongoing service calls, which aligns with their solar project business model rather than continuous HVAC service.
If solar is a near-term plan within 6-12 months, coordinating both projects with Cinnamon makes sense since they'll handle electrical panel sizing, permitting, and system integration together. If solar is years away or uncertain, don't compromise on HVAC expertise now. You can use Modern Air for the heat pump and coordinate with Cinnamon later for solar, though you may lose some efficiency in project coordination and potentially need separate electrical work.
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How We Compare Contractors
License Verification
All license data is sourced from official California CSLB records and verified regularly.
Review Analysis
Customer reviews are aggregated from Google and analyzed to identify patterns in service quality.
Detailed Comparison
We analyze credentials, insurance, experience, and feedback to highlight meaningful differences.
Not all licensed contractors are created equal. While a valid license is the baseline requirement in California, contractors can vary significantly in experience, insurance coverage, and customer satisfaction.
- Experience matters: A contractor with 15+ years of experience has likely encountered and solved problems that newer contractors haven't faced yet.
- Workers' compensation protects you: If a contractor without workers' comp insurance has an employee injured on your property, you could be held liable.
- Reviews reveal patterns: Individual reviews can be misleading, but patterns across many reviews often reveal a contractor's true strengths and weaknesses.
- Bond amounts vary: A contractor's bond provides financial protection if they fail to complete work as agreed. Higher bonds offer more protection.
Taking time to compare contractors on these factors can save you from costly mistakes and help ensure your project is completed by a qualified professional.
Data Sources: License information from California CSLB. Ratings and reviews from Google. Last verified March 12, 2026.
This comparison is based on publicly available information. We recommend getting multiple quotes and verifying all credentials directly before hiring.
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