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3rdGen Heating & Cooling vs Breathable
Alameda HVAC Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Breathable brings triple the licensed experience and specializes in duct cleaning, while 3rdGen focuses on system installations and repairs with high owner involvement.
| 3rdGen Heating & Cooling | Breathable | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 5.0 | ★ 4.8 |
| Years Licensed | 4 years | 13 years |
| License # | 1086898 | 979977 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Berkeley, CA | Oakland, CA |
| Website | 3rdgen.io | www.breathable.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
3rdGen Heating & Cooling
Customers emphasize 3rdGen's scheduling flexibility, direct owner communication, and meticulous installation work with mini-splits and heat pumps.
Breathable
Customers highlight Breathable's systematic service delivery with protective measures, documentation through photos, and thorough duct cleaning expertise.
Key Takeaway: 3rdGen's feedback centers on personalized owner involvement and installation quality, while Breathable's reviews focus on professional crew protocols and comprehensive cleaning thoroughness.
Customer Reviews
3rdGen Heating & Cooling
Love 3rd Gen, Devin and the team! They are knowledgeable, professional, kind, and generous. Highly recommend working with them!
I am so glad that I found 3rd Gen Heating & Cooling. The team is smaller so it felt so much more intentional and trustworthy. They pay such great attention to detail, in which they were able to meet m...
I got my HVAC system installed by 3rd gen in 2022, this week the heater stopped working . I gave them a call and Devin and Ceaser visited today to fix the issue. They were at the house right at the ap...
Breathable
Alex and his crew were very professional. They did an extremely thorough job cleaning my vents and ducts, which hadn't been cleaned since I purchased the house. I wish I had done this sooner! I not...
I recently hired Breathable for a vent cleaning and sealing service, and I am beyond impressed with the work done by Filipe and his team. From start to finish, the level of professionalism was top-not...
Alex and his crew did an awesome job cleaning the air ducts and dryer vent/duct in my San Francisco home. The 3-men crew came early, covered the surrounding area of each vent with plastic, removed th...
Consider 3rdGen Heating & Cooling if...
- ✓ You need a heat pump, mini-split system, or furnace installed or replaced and want the owner directly involved in your project from quote to completion
- ✓ Your timeline requires same-day or next-day service availability for repairs or emergency diagnostics
- ✓ You prefer working with a smaller, owner-operated team that emphasizes education and explaining technical details throughout the process
- ✓ Your project involves commercial HVAC work or equipment requiring specialized installation like crane operations for rooftop units
Consider Breathable if...
- ✓ Your primary need is air duct cleaning, furnace cleaning, or dryer vent maintenance rather than equipment installation
- ✓ You value established protocols like before-and-after photos, protective floor coverings, and documented findings of duct problems
- ✓ You're seeking a company for ongoing annual maintenance with a proven track record of repeat customer relationships
- ✓ Your home has never had professional duct cleaning, or you're dealing with post-renovation cleanup, allergies, or aging ductwork concerns
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → For 3rdGen: Ask for references specifically from mini-split or heat pump installations completed in the past year to gauge consistency as the company has grown
- → For Breathable: If considering them for equipment installation beyond their core duct cleaning focus, ask how many heat pump or furnace installations their crews complete annually
- → For both: Ask about warranty coverage on labor and parts, and what the response time is if issues arise after installation or service completion
- → Clarify what's included in the quote: does it cover permitting, disposal of old equipment, post-installation testing, and any necessary ductwork modifications
The Bottom Line
Choose based on your actual project need rather than general reputation. If you need duct cleaning, system maintenance, or are establishing annual service relationships, Breathable's 13 years of specialization in this exact work makes them the clear choice. If you're installing or replacing equipment—particularly mini-splits or heat pumps—3rdGen's focused expertise and owner-led approach offers personalized service that customers consistently praise. Both companies are properly protected with workers comp and bonds, so your decision should center on service specialization. Don't hire Breathable for a heat pump installation hoping their extra years compensate for it not being their core focus, and don't hire 3rdGen for comprehensive duct cleaning when that's not where their reputation was built.
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Frequently Asked Questions
For straightforward equipment replacement, 3rdGen's four years is sufficient and their owner-led approach may provide more personalized attention during your project. Breathable's additional nine years of experience becomes more valuable when dealing with complex ductwork issues or system configurations that require diagnosing problems beyond the equipment itself. If your ductwork may need attention alongside the furnace replacement, Breathable's duct specialization is relevant.
While 3rdGen does duct repair work, duct cleaning isn't their primary focus and isn't prominently mentioned in customer feedback. Breathable has built their entire business model around duct and system cleaning with established protocols, specialized equipment, and 13 years of refinement in this specific service. If thorough duct cleaning is your priority, Breathable's specialization gives them a clear advantage.
3rdGen explicitly mentions property management clients and demonstrates flexible scheduling that commercial clients value for minimizing tenant disruption. If your needs involve equipment installations and repairs across properties, their responsiveness fits that model. If you're establishing annual duct cleaning maintenance schedules across multiple properties, Breathable's systematic approach and repeat customer base suggests they handle recurring service relationships well.
3rdGen's high owner involvement means you'll likely interact directly with the business owner throughout your project, which customers describe as educational and trustworthy. Breathable operates with professional crews following established protocols, which delivers consistent service quality but with less personal interaction. Neither approach is inherently better; it depends whether you value direct owner access or systematic crew procedures with documented results.
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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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