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Breathable vs Quality Air Services
Alameda HVAC Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Quality Air Services has 11 more years of technical experience, but Breathable provides the only verifiable customer service record with documented cleaning results and communication practices.
| Breathable | Quality Air Services | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.8 | ★ 5.0 |
| Years Licensed | 13 years | 24 years |
| License # | 979977 | 801233 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Oakland, CA | San Leandro, CA |
| Website | www.breathable.com | www.quality-air-services.net |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Breathable
Customers consistently emphasize Breathable's documentation practices, protective measures during work, and transparent communication from initial quote through project completion.
Key Takeaway: Breathable has extensive verifiable customer feedback documenting service delivery practices, while Quality Air Services provides no available customer perspective to evaluate communication, punctuality, or work quality despite 24 years in business.
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...
Quality Air Services
No reviews available
Consider Breathable if...
- ✓ Your project involves duct cleaning, sealing, or HVAC maintenance where you want documented proof of work completed, including photos showing before-and-after results
- ✓ You value predictable communication and service practices, with multiple customers confirming transparent quotes, punctual arrivals, and protective measures during work
- ✓ You prefer a contractor with verified repeat customers who return annually, suggesting consistent quality and fair pricing over time
- ✓ Your home has specific concerns like allergies, pets, or post-renovation dust where thorough cleaning documentation matters
Consider Quality Air Services if...
- ✓ Your HVAC system is older or unusual, and you need a contractor who has likely encountered similar configurations during 24 years of varied projects
- ✓ You're willing to thoroughly vet service practices yourself through references and direct questions, since customer feedback isn't publicly available
- ✓ You value maximum years of technical experience and industry adaptation over documented customer service practices
- ✓ You have a complex installation or repair project where deep technical knowledge outweighs communication transparency concerns
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → Ask Quality Air Services for at least three recent references for projects similar to yours, specifically asking those customers about communication, punctuality, and how the crew protected their home during work
- → Ask Quality Air Services whether duct cleaning is a core service offering and how they document completed work for customers
- → Ask both companies how they handle discovering additional problems during routine cleaning, including pricing for repairs and your approval process
- → Ask Quality Air Services about their crew stability and whether the same technicians typically handle similar projects
The Bottom Line
For duct cleaning and routine HVAC maintenance, Breathable is the more defensible choice this week. Their 13 years provides sufficient technical competence, and extensive customer feedback confirms the service delivery practices that matter during home visits: punctuality, communication, protective measures, and thorough documentation. Quality Air Services' additional 11 years of experience offers value for complex diagnostics or unusual system configurations, but without customer reviews, you're accepting uncertainty about service quality. If you're considering Quality Air Services, invest time calling their references with specific questions about communication and work practices. For most homeowners needing standard duct cleaning with predictable, professional service, Breathable's verifiable track record reduces risk.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The extra experience provides genuine value for complex diagnostics or uncommon system types, but only if their service delivery meets your standards. For routine duct cleaning, Breathable's 13 years is sufficient for competent work, and their documented customer practices reduce uncertainty. Request detailed references from Quality Air Services before deciding, focusing on recent projects similar to yours.
Breathable specializes in duct cleaning where visual documentation helps customers see the value delivered and provides evidence of thoroughness. Quality Air Services may offer this practice but simply lacks available customer reviews to confirm it. Ask Quality Air Services directly whether they provide photographic documentation and how they demonstrate completed work to customers.
It's a practical concern when choosing a contractor this week, since you cannot verify service quality, communication reliability, or work practices that matter during home service visits. The company may have excellent practices but hasn't prioritized collecting public feedback. Compensate by requesting multiple recent references and asking specific questions about punctuality, cleanliness, and pricing transparency.
For straightforward duct cleaning, Breathable's documented specialization and verified customer practices make them the clearer choice. For complex repairs involving unusual configurations or older equipment, Quality Air Services' 24 years provides broader technical exposure, but verify their diagnostic approach and repair communication through detailed reference conversations before committing.
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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 09, 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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