A 60–90 minute room-by-room HVAC comfort audit for Los Angeles homes covering heat pumps, bedroom mini splits, MERV 13 filtration, duct condition, smoke readiness, pets, and nursery comfort. Engineered by Marcus Reyes, P.E.
We ask which room matters, who uses it, what time the problem appears, whether the door is closed, whether pets sleep there, what the existing equipment is and how old, whether smoke or allergies are part of the call, and what comfort would feel like a win. The room outcome drives the entire scope.
We measure total external static pressure at the air handler with a calibrated dual-port manometer, supply CFM at each register with a flow hood when accessible, return free area against the system tonnage, filter pressure drop, blower amperage, and indoor humidity at multiple positions. Photographs document blower wheel condition, coil condition, duct integrity at accessible points, and any cabinet defects.
We size the existing filter slot, check the door perimeter for bypass with a smoke pencil, evaluate whether the slot can accept a 4-inch MERV 13 cabinet retrofit, and identify whether portable HEPA support is still needed in any specific room. EPA MERV guidance, CARB wildfire smoke recommendations, and AirNow PM2.5 reference data inform the scope.
We pull the AHRI certificate reference for any existing matched system, document refrigerant type and approximate age, identify whether the equipment is past its useful life, and run a Manual J-style sensible plus latent load calculation when replacement is on the table. Brand-neutral assessment; we do not push a specific manufacturer.
We confirm the jurisdiction (LADBS for City of Los Angeles, or the relevant independent building department), check the project against current 2025 Title 24 Part 6 requirements for permit applications submitted on or after January 1, 2026, and identify any electrical scope that requires a sub-permit. Where rebate documentation is in scope, we list the required AHRI references and equipment qualification floors.
We separate heat pump replacement, quiet bedroom mini split, MERV 13 filter cabinet retrofit, duct redesign and air balancing, whole-home IAQ package, smart zoning and thermostat setup, and pure operational changes. Each category is priced separately so the homeowner can compare options.
You leave the visit with a one-page comfort summary plus the option for a full engineering report within 48 hours. The report names what to install, what alternative scopes look like, what to verify against permits or rebates, what belongs in a future phase, and the measurements that support each recommendation. Marcus signs every report.
The more measurements and photos we have at the start, the faster the audit reaches a clear recommendation.
Helpful: the address (we confirm jurisdiction before arrival); the brand and approximate age of the existing indoor and outdoor equipment if visible on the nameplate; the size and type of the current filter (1-inch versus 4-inch, MERV rating, dimensions); a one-sentence description of the room outcome you are buying ("the primary bedroom finally sleeps comfortably," "smoke days do not require evacuating to grandma's house," "the nursery holds 71°F all night"); any competing quotes you have already received; photos of the thermostat, filter slot, outdoor condenser, breaker panel, and the room that is currently uncomfortable; and any HOA, historic preservation, gate, or tenant-coordination constraints that affect schedule.
Not required: design drawings, prior energy audits, ENERGY STAR certificates, or anything from the previous contractor. We start fresh with measurements taken during the visit.
The audit deliverable is engineered, not promotional.
Onsite: a one-page comfort summary with the measurements taken, the immediate observations, and the leading recommendation. Within 48 hours: a full written engineering report with the static pressure profile, supply CFM by register, return free-area calculation, filter pressure drop, blower amperage, photographic documentation of any defects, the AHRI certificate references for any proposed equipment, the Title 24 compliance approach, the permit path through the relevant building department, the cost band for each install option, and the explicit statement of which scope is recommended and why.
The audit fee is credited against any installed scope so homeowners who proceed are not paying twice. Homeowners who decide not to install anything keep the report and the measurements; that is fine and sometimes the right outcome.
Each service is priced and quoted separately based on the audit findings. No bundled mystery scope.
High-efficiency central, split, and multi-zone heat pump planning for Los Angeles homes.
Targeted ductless comfort for bedrooms, nurseries, home offices, guest suites, and ADUs.
Filter cabinet and return upgrades for smoke, dust, pet dander, and allergy-sensitive comfort.
Integrated filtration, ventilation review, purification accessories, and humidity-aware comfort planning.
Duct and return improvements for uneven rooms, dust bypass, oversized equipment, and weak airflow.
Zone controls and thermostat logic for bedrooms, nurseries, home offices, and multi-system homes.
Each card below corresponds to a Review entity in the page JSON-LD Product schema. No invisible rating stuffing, no anonymous testimonials.
"Three-story coastal home, top floor was always 8 degrees warmer. They placed two mini split heads, hid the line set in an existing chase, and the upstairs sleeping rooms are now within a degree of the main floor."
"We called about wildfire smoke after the January fires and ended up fixing a leaky filter cabinet first. AirNow PM2.5 was at 78 outside; our living room PM2.5 dropped from 31 to 6 within an hour of fan mode plus the new MERV 13 setup."
"Knocked one star because scheduling slipped a week. The work itself was excellent. Static pressure dropped from 0.91 to 0.58 inches and the new addition finally gets airflow without the hallway thermostat short cycling."
"Postwar home, 14x25 filter slot leaking around the door. Marcus quoted three options: tape and gasket, full cabinet upgrade, or stay with MERV 8 and add a portable. We picked the cabinet and pet dust visibly dropped."
"The nursery walkthrough was calm and practical. They talked about drafts, fan speed, filter fit, humidity, and temperature stability without making any medical promises. The written scope is exactly what we got installed."
"Replaced a 17-year-old AC plus furnace. The Carrier heat pump quote came with the AHRI certificate number, the LADBS permit timeline, and the rebate documentation list. Inspection passed first try."
Short answers written for voice search, AI summaries, and real decision-making.
For Breathe LA 365, yes. The audit is what keeps the installation recommendation tied to a measured room outcome instead of a generic equipment sale. The audit fee is credited against any installed scope.
Yes. Sometimes the right first move is settings, maintenance, filter fit correction, or a small balancing change before any new equipment. We will say so in writing.
Write down the room, the time of day the problem appears, door position, filter size if known, pets in the home, smoke or allergy concerns, and any photos of the equipment, thermostat, or affected room. Include any competing quotes.
60 to 90 minutes onsite. The full written engineering report arrives within 48 hours.
Marcus Reyes, P.E., Lead Mechanical Engineer & Comfort Lab Director. P.E. (Mechanical, California), ASHRAE Member, BPI Heat Pump Energy Professional (HEP-IDL).
Call +1 (213) 805-8137 or open the booking widget. Audit fee credited against installed scope.