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Breathable vs Eagle Air
Alameda HVAC Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Eagle Air brings 33 years of full-system HVAC expertise including repairs and emergency service, while Breathable specializes in duct cleaning and air quality with 13 years experience.
| Breathable | Eagle Air | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.8 | ★ 4.9 |
| Years Licensed | 13 years | 33 years |
| License # | 979977 | 668002 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Oakland, CA | Livermore, CA |
| Website | www.breathable.com | eagleairconditioning.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Breathable
Customers emphasize Breathable's meticulous cleaning protocols, protective measures during service, transparent communication with before-and-after documentation, and repeat annual relationships for duct cleaning.
Eagle Air
Customers highlight Eagle Air's diagnostic explanations, honest repair recommendations that avoid unnecessary upselling, responsive emergency scheduling, and respectful professionalism during service calls.
Key Takeaway: Breathable's feedback centers on thoroughness and documentation of cleaning work, while Eagle Air's reviews focus on technical diagnostic skills and trustworthy repair guidance—reflecting their different core services.
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...
Eagle Air
We discovered Eagle Air in 2018. We chose them over costco at the time because the owner Vince, unlike the the sales rep in a suit, got on his overalls and went under our house, got dirty, came out, a...
Deron was great at diagnosing our system and providing a solution to the problem. His knowledge and experience were great.
Technician was knowledgeable and did exactly what I asked. No up selling. Would call again.
Consider Breathable if...
- ✓ Your HVAC system works fine but you're dealing with allergies, excessive dust, post-renovation debris, or have never had your ducts professionally cleaned
- ✓ You need duct repair, sealing, or installation work rather than equipment repair or replacement
- ✓ Your priority is improving air quality and system efficiency through thorough cleaning and maintenance rather than fixing mechanical problems
- ✓ You're in Oakland or central Alameda County where Breathable's crews are based
Consider Eagle Air if...
- ✓ Your HVAC system is broken, making strange noises, not heating or cooling properly, or you need emergency repair service
- ✓ You're looking at full system replacement, heat pump installation, or major equipment upgrades
- ✓ You want a contractor with three decades of experience diagnosing complex mechanical failures across multiple equipment brands
- ✓ You're in Livermore or eastern Alameda County, or you value their bi-annual maintenance program with proactive scheduling reminders
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → Confirm which company actually handles your specific need: if your equipment is broken or needs replacement, ask Breathable if they repair mechanical failures or primarily focus on cleaning services
- → Ask Eagle Air what their duct cleaning process includes and whether they provide the same detailed before-and-after documentation that duct cleaning specialists typically offer
- → For either company, ask about their experience with your specific equipment brand and age, particularly if you have an older or less common system
- → Request references from projects matching yours: duct cleaning customers for Breathable, or equipment repair/replacement customers for Eagle Air
The Bottom Line
Choose based on what you actually need done, not which company seems generally better. If your HVAC equipment is broken, unreliable, or you're facing a system replacement, Eagle Air's 33 years of full-service repair expertise and emergency response capability makes them the clear choice. If your system works but you need thorough duct cleaning, air quality improvement, or duct repair work, Breathable's specialized focus and 13 years of cleaning expertise serves that need better. Both are properly licensed and insured, both maintain professionalism, and both have satisfied long-term customers—but they operate in different lanes of the HVAC industry. Identify whether you need a mechanic or a cleaning specialist, then choose accordingly.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Breathable specializes in duct cleaning, sealing, and air quality services with some installation capabilities for components like air handlers and heat pumps. Their 13 years of experience centers on cleaning and maintenance rather than diagnosing and repairing mechanical equipment failures. If your system isn't working properly, Eagle Air's 33 years as a full-service repair contractor makes them the appropriate choice for troubleshooting and fixing broken equipment.
Eagle Air lists dryer vent cleaning and ductwork installation among their services, but customer feedback emphasizes their diagnostic repair work and system replacements rather than specialized cleaning protocols. Breathable's business model centers specifically on thorough duct cleaning with protective measures, detailed before-and-after photos, and identifying airflow issues—this is their core expertise. For comprehensive duct cleaning, Breathable's specialization is the better match.
The experience gap matters significantly for complex repairs and emergency diagnostics where pattern recognition from thousands of service calls helps technicians quickly identify obscure problems, work with discontinued parts, or provide guidance on whether aging equipment merits repair or replacement. For straightforward duct cleaning work, Breathable's 13 years provides ample expertise since the work focuses on thoroughness and protocol rather than diagnosing mechanical mysteries.
This depends on what maintenance means for your situation. If you want mechanical tune-ups, system performance checks, and equipment inspections to prevent breakdowns, Eagle Air's bi-annual maintenance program with proactive scheduling covers those needs. If your maintenance priority is keeping ducts clean, improving air quality, and ensuring proper airflow, Breathable's customers specifically return annually for that specialized service. Many homeowners use both types of contractors for different maintenance needs.
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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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