I've had at least 3 different HVAC companies work on my house. Of them all, Alternative Aire has been the most responsive and informative. At the most recent service call for routine spring maintenance the technician called to my attention that I was entitled to service on a heat pump they installed at no cost as part of the installation. They're thorough, and completely up-front about costs. I'm very happy with their service. read more

They are trustworthy and do good work. However, I've had a follow up issue for months that I call about and ask to be escalated and have never gotten a follow up call. This is on the heels of another issue like this where I emailed and called multiple times for weeks before someone got back to me. I like them, but this level of hassle is not worth it. read more

Alternative Aire installed a new AC unit for us a while back and we were satisfied with their service then. However when I submitted a service request online to find out why a drain line was leaking, specifying ASAP service, and after two days without a response I contacted a different company and canceled my request with Alternative Aire. Not sure I'd contact them again for a repair on something that might be causing water damage, they do not seem terribly responsive. read more

Always responsive, and they provide quality service. The estimates are fair, and they will also offer deals on routine services. I have used them for nearly 10 years, from one original a/c and heating system when we first moved in to replacing the other original system a few years after they expected it would last because they did such a good job with annual maintenance. read more

Alternative Aire installed our dual zoned AC system in 2013 and has been taking great care of us ever since. We have our system serviced by them annually and they respond quickly when we had any problems. read more

Outstanding. Prompt, professional, knowledgeable and trustworthy. Excellent communication and exceptionally pleasant to work with, which I have for years. read more

Quick and responsive! Excellent service and professionalism. Great customer service, yes seriously... From the scheduling to the hands-on service, everyone was personal, professional, and helpful. Five stars is a gross understatement, this is 10-star service from beginning to end. 5 years a customer and counting. Thank you Scott for Joey and David both wonderful to work with! read more

The workman from Alternative Aire was able to come to my house to do a maintenance check on my furnaces soon after I called. The workman was knowledgeable and answered a bunch of my questions. The price was fair. I would recommend them to my friends. read more

Alternative Aire came out and replaced our A/C and furnace systems. We just moved to North Carolina and it can be hard to find a company you trust, but I felt really good about the guys who came out and their expertise. They did a great job installing our new unit. My wife was at home at the time and she doesn't always feel comfortable with people doing work in the house without me there, but she said these guys were great and she was glad we picked them. read more

We had a service contract with another company with questionable business practices. When that company informed us we probably needed to replace our two year old system, we called in Alternative Aire for a second opinion. David checked our system, advised it was in tip top order, and was the consummate professional. We will have David back next year for another pre-season check up. I can't recommend Alternate Aire highly enough. read more

Long time customer- they are always friendl, courteous & professional. I trust their advice and services- highly recommend. They were recommended to me by a neighbor and friend. read more

I had my system installed by Alternative Aire some years ago and I was very happy with their work. Through the years all communication has been dependable and yearly check-ups have been efficient. This is a great company to work with! Big thanks to the owner and technicians. read more

Another great interaction with Alternative Aire, following up on their installation of new HVAC in 2020 -- I managed to drop a valuable down an unprotected (my bad) heating vent. They were down in the crawl space within hours, cut into the venting, found the item and patched it all up, at minimal cost, and cheerful all the way. read more

The team at Alternative Aire are top notch! What makes them shine most is their attention to customer service and quality outcomes. We had a mini split which failed after install through another installer in the area. After trying to get service through the original installer and failing to get any help, we called Alternative Aire. The experience was night and day! The owner of Alternative Aire took the time to explain all potential causes of our system failure, help with a warranty replacement (even though they were not the original installers) and sent out techs to ensure we wouldn't miss anything that might otherwise have caused the concern. It was above and beyond service all the way through! The service techs were 100% on time, friendly, and helpful in explaining what was going on. The end result was exactly what we hoped for and really shows what customer service is all about! If you need HVAC service in the area, I just can't imagine Alternative Aire being topped! read more

Enrique has been our service person for many years. We have found him to be enormously helpful. He is always on time and takes the time to explain to us everything he does. Alternative Aire installed our original system and we were very pleased with their work. A great company with great service. Fritz and Mary Klein read more

During our Spring 2023 HVAC tuneup, Curtis took a close look at why we were experiencing noise and how it might be resolved. The service rendered and the approach he is taking indicate a level of customer care rarely seen these days. Five Stars! Thank you. read more

scheduling was easy and our technician ( Curtis ) was excellent! knowledgeable, efficient and friendly!!!

Update to review: After posting my original review, I received via email the requested quote for repair/replacing the duct work, along with a small discount. read more

We originally chose Alternative Aire because a friend recommended their service. We've continued to use them since then - and had them install our new heat pump - because of their consistently cheerful, prompt, and capable service. They're good. read more

They seemed honest and were willing to coming and fix our HVAC s soon as they could locate parts which they said were difficult to come by during Covid times. We'll probably use them to service our AC in time for summer. read more

I had a few great experiences with this company for service calls. Then, I had the displeasure of conversing with the company's owner, Scott. I asked for a quote on a full HVAC replacement. He came Monday and said he should have it done that day, and to call him if I didn't get the quote. Nothing Monday, nothing Tuesday. I emailed him asking about the quote. Instead of apologizing, he sent not one, but two incredibly defensive emails in response. He said that he did not PROMISE me a quote on Monday, that they did not break my HVAC, and rattled off several excuses. I'm not sure if he had a mental breakdown from all the work or what, but that is no way to treat a customer. Here's a tip for you, Scott: Stop working so hard IN your company and start working ON your company. Then perhaps you wont snap on a loyal customer who was ready to hand you over $12000. read more

Scott and his team have been keeping our Heating & AC in tip-top shape since we bought our house ten years ago. They are fair priced, honest, and do the work right the first time! The staff is courteous and knowledgeable so they easily build trust. Unlike many other places they don't offer needless annual service warranties, which we fell for with other places. Instead we do an annual tune-up (for the AC and then in the fall for the heating) and they always run a discount price. Those tune ups are a cleaning and making sure the system is running properly, the maintenance to make sure all is well before we fire them up and really have added life to our system. We've been very pleased with how well they've taken care of it, so much so that I can't imagine letting anyone else even touch it! read more

Alternative Aire assisted the replacement of a furnace circuit board in the middle of winter. The process for scheduling was superb and easy. They returned my call within 15 mins of leaving a message. The troubleshooting did not lead to a certain root cause. They gave me a best case (cost) scenario and a worst case with prices and timelines. No guessing, no smokescreens. They applied the fix and it held for 48 hours then busted again. I called back and explained the situation and they came back and fixed without additional charge. This is the kind of service that warrants recommendations: fair prices, up front cost estimates and reality checks on issues, as well as standing behind their work without charging extra. This is one of the best experiences I have had with this type of service regardless of where I have worked in the US. read more

We lost cooling Monday and they had a repairman out first thing in the morning to fix the problem. Curtis is polite and did a great job and told us how to prevent this in the future. I wouldn't go to any other place for my needs. They are truly good people and I feel secure in my choice of HVAC repair. read more

We have always been pleased with Alternative Aire, and have been customers for a long time. They just came by for the winter checkup. They have always been professional, good communicators, reliable, and friendly. They do our regular seasonal checkups, they fix things when they don't work, they've installed thermostats, pretty much anything heat/ac related. They arrive when they say they're going to, they wear masks during the pandemic (much appreciated!), they keep things clean, and their prices are reasonable. read more

I've sat on this review for a few months so I can get used to the new system and have a good idea of the issues. The overall experience with Alternative Aire was good. They came out quickly to inspect the place, provided multiple quotes for various systems, and the original tech even let us know that our water heater was leaking. Install also went well. They were quick to get us on the schedule and completed the work in two days. It's everything that came after that lead to 3 stars. We first noticed that the AUX heat kept coming on at times it shouldn't. The weather at that time was in the 40-50's, and it would kick on late in the afternoon when it was warmest outside (and no, I never change our thermostat more than 1 degree at any given time). We learned after multiple emails and another trip or two that they didn't install the sensor outside even though it was included in my original quote. My husband had also pointed out to them on install day that one of the ducts in the attic is a bit squished (not caused by Alternative Aire) and if they could check the rest and see about repairing it. They assured him that the duct work is fine. It's obviously not fine because that squished duct makes the room it's attached to way too cold or warm since it's not getting much air ... A few other smaller issues aside, my main concern is the zoning. Our house was not zoned previously and I received no feedback that would lead me to believe it should not be zoned now. We had to call them back out a few times because when the heat (and now A/C) would turn off, it would blow air so hard that it sounded like a tornado in the house and junk from way down in the ducts would get blown out. They would adjust the dampers some and say everything is fine now. Not fine. It seems like we can either have a real zoned system (where the air only blows in the zone being called for) and have the gusting air that is so loud you have to turn the TV up (or wakes me up at night), or we can have a normal sounding system and have air blow in both zones even though it's only being called for in one. We're currently on the option where it blows in both zones when only one is calling. After getting fed up with them coming back out all the time to be stuck with one of the issues or the other, I ended up voting for the quieter system and adjusted the dampers myself so that they don't fully close when off. I can only assume the system we were sold is too large or our duct work is too small for proper zoning. I've even spoken with another company who said that while some air will come out in zones not being called on and that it might get a touch louder when turning off, it should not be half as loud as ours is when the dampers are set to close all the way when off. He suggested a by-pass to fix the issue but I know I don't want that. All in all, I feel like I paid thousands extra for no reason since we pretty much have a single zoned system disguised as a dual zone. I will consider using Alternative Aire again for our 2 free tune ups but then I'm back on the market. read more

Summer time in NC is no joke. We ended up having to replace our entire system last summer in the middle of August. We knew that was the case but no one (except alternative) actually took our unit apart to see why it had failed. Yeah, it was super old but it's still nice to know. We may have been able to find a slightly cheaper route but the guys (and gals) at Alternative Aire did a superior job when writing us quotes and giving us options. They even measured our insulation to properly size our unit. They have come out twice to check on the system in order to maintain our warranty and I couldn't be more pleased! read more

I woke up to a cold house and discovered that my system had stopped putting out heat at some point during the night. I had no prior experience with Alternative Aire (or any other HVAC company), and I gave them a call based on positive reviews for a local company. Not only were they able to squeeze me in for a same day visit, but they arrived within hours and were able to get my heat back up and running in just 30 minutes. they took the time to explain exactly what was wrong, what they did to fix it, and what might happen in the future with my aging system. They also helped adjust some not-so-obvious settings on my thermostat to help make my house more comfortable. I found the price very reasonable for same day service, and I will definitely be using Alternative Aire in the future. I'm quite happy with my experience! read more

very reliable company, excellent service and correct prices. Our AC unit wasn't cooling correctly, had these guys coming out and they recommended to replace the evaporator coil only instead of the entire system (only 7y old). they did the job in march, and came back during a hot 90F day to tune up and finish the installation. read more

My thermostat stopped responding yesterday and it was pretty hot in here! I called Alternative Aire and David was here the next day. He fixed the problem and gave several pieces of good advice. I have relied on AA for 30 years and have never been disappointed. read more

They had installed our original units and were great and good price performers. Unfortunately we had a house fire over a year ago (not HVAC related!) and the Insurance company replaced the upstairs unit due to smoke damage. We just moved back in and found that the downstairs unit wasn't working properly. Alternative Aire came out, quickly fixed the downstairs unit (working great, now, problem was basically due to not having been used in a year and insects had made a nest blocking the electrical contacts) and checked the upstairs installation. They were in a position to make up stuff about both units, but instead just took care of business, and fixed everything for a nominal fee. Plus the service tech was really pleasant to deal with! read more

We've been using Alternative Aire for heating and cooling needs for over 3 years. The HVAC system is aging so every time there's an issue with the furnace or AC we anticipate the worst, only to be pleasantly surprised that it's a relatively inexpensive fix. They would have received 5 stars but this past summer I submitted an online service request as instructed because it was after hours and it took several days and follow up calls to get someone here to fix the AC that wasn't working during a heatwave. After 2 visits, Freon and a new thermostat, we've been cool in the bedrooms. We plan to use Alternative Aire to replace the HVAC system. Curtis is our technician and we appreciate his honesty. Fair pricing is refreshing after years with ARS and their upselling tactics. read more

Almost exactly 2 years ago, I had Alternative Aire install a brand new HVAC system in our home here in Durham - look down the list of reviews here to see my original review. We've just recently had AA back out to add a second zone to the system, and we couldn't be happier. As everyone else here has stated, Scott Brennan's team is top notch; they're friendly, patient, and professionals all the way around. I was working from home during this most recent dual-zone upgrade service, and was unfortunately caught on a conference call when the AA crew was finishing up their work for the day. The crew was patient with me as I tried to finish up my own work that day, and graciously walked me through everything they had done. One of the best contractors you can call for one of the most important/expensive/integral parts of your home! read more

This review applies ONLY to my having used AA to conduct a Diagnostic check of my 1st-floor Gas Pack, and then consulting with owner Scott Brennan re: a proper replacement unit that would provide us with quality service for our remaining, limited time in our residence. All the functions attendant to these services-- (1) the prompt & informative 2-employee Diagnostic visit; (2) very prompt email consultations by the owner; (3) a very (overly?) comprehensive Quotation that addressed 2 replacement options, plus additional optional components & warranty coverages; (4) Diagnostic visit e-billing, and (5) e-solicitation of reviews were very efficiently (overly efficiently?) carried out. Nevertheless, I narrowed my choice of vendor to two other HVAC firms. This was based mostly on their prices for the exact same gas pack replacement being SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER than AA's, their "softer" sell & explanation of the unit and accessory components (e.g. thermostat, modified ductwork), and their willingness to include "extras" (e.g. CO detectors, complimentary 1st-year Maintenance visit) at no extra charge-- which I suspect would not have been forthcoming from AA. I'm quite sure that Scott knows his stuff very well, is poised to "educate" you perhaps more than you bargained on, and is served by apparently very capable veteran servicemen. So, if these are things you're looking for in a local, independent HVAC Co., and you're willing to pay for it, then AA is worth considering. read more

We just used this company for the first time this week and were really pleased with our experience. It was really easy to schedule an appointment and we were notified in a timely manner when it had to be rescheduled because of a tropical storm. Curtis came out for an A/C tune-up and seemed to do a really thorough job. He even was able to fine tune our unit to better suit our house, making our unit quieter and put out cooler air. I also thought the price was very reasonable and was communicated up front. We definitely plan to use them every year for our tune-up and if/when something goes wrong with our HVAC. read more

New to area. Used Alternative Aire based on a relatives recommendation and was very satisfied. Arrived right on time for my AC check. Technician was very through and answered all my questions concerning the system. Will be using them again. read more

Alternative Aire was quick to respond when our furnace went out. Both the office staff and the technician Dave were prompt, friendly, efficient and thorough. This company will always be our first choice for HVAC sales and service. read more

These people, collectively and individually, are the best. They do great work and explain what is going on and what the options are. They have put in two heat pumps, and along the way, fixed the mistakes in the prior installation of our third heat pump. I am so glad to have found people who do outstanding reliable work, are trustworthy, and seem to really care about their customers. and never abandon you. read more

Highly recommend. Since a few years ago when they solved a problem with our A/C that two other companies couldn't, we have been using them for all repairs and maintenance. Great company. read more

We appreciate no-nonsense, professional, dependable and efficient service from personnel who have been with this firm for years. If only we could find a landscaping firm with these attributes . . . read more