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Breathable vs Burlingame Heating
Alameda HVAC Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Breathable offers verified customer feedback and specialized duct cleaning expertise, while Burlingame Heating brings 44 years of broad HVAC experience but lacks recent customer reviews.
| Breathable | Burlingame Heating | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.8 | ★ 5.0 |
| Years Licensed | 13 years | 44 years |
| License # | 979977 | 414631 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Oakland, CA | Hayward, CA |
| Website | www.breathable.com | www.burlingameheating.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Breathable
Customers consistently praise Breathable for thorough, professional service with strong attention to detail, including before-and-after documentation, protective floor coverings, and transparent communication throughout the appointment.
Key Takeaway: Breathable has verifiable customer feedback establishing clear service standards and crew behavior patterns, while Burlingame Heating lacks recent reviews to confirm current operational quality despite decades of licensure.
Customer Reviews
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...
Burlingame Heating
Go to peninsula sheet metal shop.
👌👌👌👌
Consider Breathable if...
- ✓ Your project involves air duct cleaning, furnace cleaning, or dryer vent services where you want a specialist with documented expertise in these specific areas rather than general HVAC work.
- ✓ You value transparency and want a contractor with established communication patterns, including before-and-after documentation, clear arrival windows, and protective measures during work.
- ✓ You prefer working with a company that has verifiable recent customer experiences showing consistent service quality and crew professionalism.
- ✓ You're dealing with post-renovation cleanup, pet dander concerns, or allergy issues where thorough duct cleaning has been specifically praised by previous customers.
Consider Burlingame Heating if...
- ✓ Your HVAC needs extend beyond duct cleaning to broader system work where four decades of experience with evolving technologies and building codes may prove valuable for diagnosing complex issues.
- ✓ You have an existing relationship with Burlingame Heating or a trusted referral from someone who has used them recently and can personally vouch for current service quality.
- ✓ You're willing to conduct additional due diligence by requesting recent references and verifying their current operational standards through direct conversation.
- ✓ Your project involves older HVAC systems or unusual configurations where deep industry experience may help identify problems that newer contractors might miss.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → Ask Burlingame Heating for references from duct cleaning projects completed within the past six months, specifically requesting contact information so you can verify their current service approach and crew quality.
- → Ask Burlingame Heating how they document their work and whether they provide before-and-after photos or detailed reports of findings during duct cleaning.
- → Ask both companies about their specific process for protecting flooring and furnishings during duct cleaning work, and how they handle unexpected findings like disconnected ducts or significant leaks.
- → Ask Burlingame Heating how long their current crew has been with the company and what specific training they receive for duct cleaning versus other HVAC services.
The Bottom Line
For most homeowners needing duct cleaning this week, Breathable offers the more verifiable choice. Their 13 years of specialized experience in duct and HVAC cleaning, combined with consistent customer feedback showing thorough work, protective practices, and transparent communication, provides clear evidence of what you'll receive. Burlingame Heating's 44 years of licensure demonstrates significant industry knowledge that could prove valuable for complex HVAC diagnostics, but the absence of recent customer reviews means you cannot verify their current service standards without conducting additional due diligence. If you choose Burlingame Heating, insist on speaking with recent duct cleaning customers before signing a contract. If you need duct cleaning done this week with confidence in the service approach, Breathable's documented track record makes them the lower-risk choice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Longevity demonstrates business survivability and broad HVAC knowledge, but it doesn't automatically translate to superior duct cleaning services. Breathable's 13 years focused specifically on duct and HVAC cleaning, combined with documented customer feedback showing consistent thoroughness and professionalism, provides verifiable evidence of their capability in this specific service. Without recent reviews, you'll need to verify Burlingame Heating's current duct cleaning expertise directly through references.
A long licensing history confirms they've maintained state requirements and survived in a competitive market, which is meaningful. However, crew quality, communication practices, and service standards can change significantly over time as employees turn over and ownership evolves. Recent customer feedback helps you understand what working with them looks like today, not just that they've existed for decades.
Breathable performs duct repair, sealing, installation, heat pump installation, and air handler replacement in addition to cleaning services, indicating capability beyond basic maintenance. Customer reviews mention them identifying disconnected ducts and leaks, suggesting diagnostic ability. However, if your project involves complex whole-system diagnostics or unusual HVAC configurations, ask them directly about their experience with your specific situation.
Both matter, but for different reasons. Years of experience indicate exposure to diverse problems and changing technologies, which helps with complex diagnostics. Customer feedback patterns reveal current operational standards, crew behavior, and communication practices you'll actually experience. For a straightforward duct cleaning project, verifiable current service quality may be more relevant than decades of broad experience.
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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 13, 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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