Compare Local Pros
Apollo Heating And Ventilating vs Kevel Home Performance
San Francisco HVAC Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Kevel brings nearly twice the licensing experience and specializes in whole-home energy efficiency, while Apollo focuses on responsive HVAC repair and maintenance.
| Apollo Heating And Ventilating | Kevel Home Performance | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 5.0 | ★ 5.0 |
| Years Licensed | 5 years | 9 years |
| License # | 1075227 | 1021221 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Website | — | www.kevelhome.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Apollo Heating And Ventilating
Apollo customers consistently emphasize fast response times, flexible scheduling, and straightforward diagnostics without sales pressure for repair and maintenance work.
Kevel Home Performance
Kevel customers highlight comprehensive energy assessments, professional execution of complex installations, and specific expertise with historic San Francisco properties.
Key Takeaway: Apollo operates as a responsive service company handling urgent repairs and routine maintenance, while Kevel functions as a whole-home performance contractor conducting thorough pre-work evaluations for planned efficiency projects.
Customer Reviews
Apollo Heating And Ventilating
Thank you Christ for his work today. He found a lot of water in my furnace, it looked weird and dangerous. He gave me the estimate to change the new one. However, he tried to pull it out, change the f...
They resolved my issues after speaking with 3 other companies, far superior than the competition on Yelp, highly knowledgably, no sales pitch.
I find their pricing to be very reasonable, and the technicians are excellent.
Kevel Home Performance
We recently moved to our new home and had to replace a super old antique furnace. We hired Kevel to completely redo all our ducting and install a new high efficiency furnace. Brian, Jeff, and Eric ar...
We have a 150 year-old victorian condo and the windows are somewhat newer, but the house was not sealed completely. Brian and his team came in and did a leak test, went above and beyond to seal the bu...
First rate operation. Kevel came to us by way of our asking for assistance in taking advantage of the Energy Upgrade California Program. We were working with Charles Windows and Doors of San Rafael,...
Consider Apollo Heating And Ventilating if...
- ✓ You need a furnace repair or AC maintenance completed quickly, with customers noting Apollo's fast response times and flexible scheduling even during peak seasons
- ✓ You prefer straightforward diagnostics without being upsold on whole-home upgrades, as multiple customers specifically mention the absence of sales pressure
- ✓ Your HVAC system is relatively modern with adequate ductwork and you simply need reliable service or a direct equipment replacement
- ✓ You value fair pricing with senior discounts on routine maintenance and repair work
Consider Kevel Home Performance if...
- ✓ You're replacing a furnace in a Victorian or older San Francisco home where ductwork configuration, air sealing, and insulation issues need simultaneous attention
- ✓ You want to maximize available utility rebates through the Energy Upgrade California Program, which Kevel actively navigates for clients
- ✓ Your project involves multiple building envelope improvements beyond just equipment replacement, such as leak testing, air sealing, or custom window solutions
- ✓ You need a contractor experienced with historic property constraints where standard installation approaches may not work effectively
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → Ask Apollo how they handle situations where ductwork issues are discovered during a furnace replacement, and whether they coordinate that work or refer it out
- → Ask Kevel for a timeline estimate on their assessment and proposal process, and clarify whether emergency repair calls are part of their service model
- → Ask both companies for references from projects in homes similar to yours in age and construction type
- → If pursuing rebates with Kevel, ask them to walk through the specific incentives available for your planned work and confirm their timeline for paperwork processing
The Bottom Line
Choose Apollo if you need responsive HVAC repair and maintenance or a straightforward equipment replacement without comprehensive home performance upgrades—their 5 years of experience is sufficient for standard work, and customers consistently praise their quick scheduling and no-pressure approach. Choose Kevel if you're replacing a furnace in an older San Francisco home where ductwork and building envelope issues should be addressed simultaneously, or if you want to maximize utility rebates through a coordinated efficiency upgrade. Kevel's 9 years of experience and historic property expertise justify their selection for complex projects. For urgent repairs, Apollo's responsive model serves you better. For planned whole-home improvements, Kevel's comprehensive approach and rebate navigation deliver more value.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Apollo's service descriptions focus on equipment repair and replacement rather than comprehensive energy assessments or building envelope work. While they can replace your furnace efficiently, their reviews don't mention ductwork modification, air sealing, or energy audits. If you want those services coordinated during the same project, ask Apollo directly whether they perform that work or if you'd need to hire separately.
Kevel's customer feedback emphasizes thorough assessments and planned installation projects rather than emergency service calls. Their business model centers on comprehensive energy performance work, not rapid response repairs. If you need immediate furnace repair, Apollo's track record shows faster scheduling. You could use Apollo for urgent repairs while planning a future comprehensive replacement with Kevel.
Energy Upgrade California incentives vary based on your specific improvements and household income, but comprehensive HVAC upgrades often qualify for $1,000-$3,000+ in combined utility and state rebates. Kevel's experience navigating this program means they can identify which improvements qualify and handle the paperwork. Ask them for a projected incentive estimate based on your planned scope before committing.
For a straightforward furnace swap in a newer home with good ductwork, both companies have adequate experience. The gap becomes meaningful in older San Francisco homes where Kevel's additional 4 years translates to more projects navigating tight crawl spaces, unconventional framing, and integrated solutions when hidden problems emerge. If your home was built before 1950, Kevel's historic property experience provides more relevant expertise.
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See our ranked list of top hvac contractors in San Francisco.
Other San Francisco HVAC Contractors Comparisons
Apollo Heating And Ventilating
★ 5.0
Arch Plumbing
★ 4.9
Building Efficiency
★ 4.9
Kevel Home Performance
★ 5.0
Luminalt Solar Energy Solutions
★ 4.7
Kevel Home Performance
★ 5.0
Associated Heating Of San Francisco
★ 4.8
Kevel Home Performance
★ 5.0
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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