Marathon seems like a company that has become too large and disorganized, with too many techs and installers working off different information. Our AC control panel suddenly stopped working, so we called Long Beach Heating and Air because of the strong Google reviews. We later realized LBHA is now owned by Marathon, and many of the positive reviews likely reflect LBHA’s old reputation rather than Marathon itself. We had all of our HVAC ducting replaced, plus a new circuit board and air scrubber installed. We were also told roof braces would be added to support our rooftop unit. Our initial consult with Paul went very well. He was punctual, polite, professional, and respectful of our home. He explained everything thoroughly and gave us several options ranging from a simple repair to replacing the entire system. He assured us the unit itself was still functioning well and that replacing the ducting and circuit board would solve the major temp imbalance between the front and back of the house and prevent future shutdowns. I also asked about our insulation and air filter. Paul said the insulation looked fine from what he could see and approved the filter I had purchased. The next day Cesar came out to take measurements. He was polite and efficient, but he spent less than 30 minutes at the house. Later we realized important details had either been missed or not communicated. When the install team arrived a few days later, they were immediately frustrated because they had not been informed how small our attic crawl space was. One installer couldn’t even fit. They repeatedly stated they would never have accepted the job if they had known beforehand. It quickly became obvious there was a major communication breakdown between sales, the tech, and the installers. The installers were pleasant and hardworking, but they had no info about the air scrubber, were unsure about the circuit board, and knew nothing about the roof braces we had been promised. Because they didn’t have all the equipment, they had to come back the next day to finish the job. After completion, there was no real inspection beyond checking whether cold air was coming out of the vents. About three weeks later, we contacted Marathon again because the temp imbalance in the house was actually worse than before the installation. Whitney came out and was probably the most thorough person we dealt with. He made some adjustments and determined one vent in the front of the house was blowing air directly toward the hallway intake. He also informed us the air filter Paul approved was actually not appropriate for our system and replaced it for free. Whitney measured for a new vent and said Marathon would contact us to schedule install. They never did, and we had to follow up ourselves. Troy later came to replace the vent. He was polite, but the install results were disappointing. The measurements he received were incorrect, so he had to leave and come back later. After the install, our ceiling and wall were dirty, there was a new scratch on the ceiling, and the new vent exposed jagged drywall and missing paint. It looks terrible. I texted Marathon photos of the issue, but instead of addressing the concern, they asked for another review. Well Marathon, here it is. Every employee we dealt with at our home was nice and professional. The issue was Marathon’s organization/communication. Every time we called, nobody seemed aware of what previous employees had promised or documented. Most importantly, the original issue still has not been fixed. The temp imbalance is worse than before, and when outside temperatures reach the high 70s or low 80s, the front of the house becomes extremely hot. We repeatedly asked about possible insulation issues, but nobody performed a thorough attic inspection. We’ve spent far more money than planned and feel like we made no meaningful progress solving the issue we hired Marathon to fix. Unless they return and address the problems they assured us would be resolved, I cannot recommend them for HVAC work.

I asked for an annual heating and A/C maintenance and filter change. I specifically called out that my system uses the 4" filter (annual) when making the appointment. The serviceman did not have a filter. Why bother when the most important part of annual maintenance is changing the filter?

Marathon Plumbing, Heating, and Air is a hands-down winner with technician David Gutierrez making the service call. Having taught college English for over 20 years, I always prompted my students to ask themselves how they intend to have a positive impact on society. Here, David with his sterling performance demonstrates why Marathon deserves five stars. He was prompt, professional, and personable—the model of being on time and on purpose. With his iPad, he checked out all of the stats on my HVAC, looking at the unit on the roof, the heater in the attic, and the unit in my detached office. Kudos to Marathon.

We had a fantastic experience with Marathon. We needed to replace an entire system that was older than some of the installers:) Marathon was not only competitive in price but from start to finish, they were extremely professional, punctual, and courteous. They took the time to explain the newer system, answered all of our questions, and made sure we felt comfortable with the system before they finished. We are pleased to note the install area is much cleaner than the previous system. The crew kept everything clean and organized throughout the project and were so respectful and courteous it was seamless to have them in our home. It is clear they take pride in their work and care about doing the job right. Overall, the installation went smoothly, and the system is working perfectly. We truly appreciate the professionalism and excellent customer service. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for reliable HVAC installation.

4 stars for LBHA; 1 star for the new owner, Marathon. I have been a customer of LBHA for 20 years, ever since they installed my first HVAC system. I have always very much appreciated the personalized service received from the techs who know me and my system (they were the ones who actually installed it). However, the company has grown, been bought out, and the recent buyout by Marathon has created a conglomerate with absolutely no coordination of services. I got caught in a rough situation in which my older compressor died during the August heat wave, shortly before I was leaving on an international trip. My extreme gratitude to LBHA for being able to install an entirely new HVAC system prior to my departure so that my pets would be ok during the heat wave. However, because I wanted the work permitted, HERS testing had to be done, and it is done by Marathon's subcontractor ERE Inspections. From this point onward, I had to do all of the calling to ERE to schedule and reschedule the HERS test (because they were a no show for the date that was originally scheduled), notify LBHA that the test was complete, following up with ERE advising them that additional information needed by LBHA had been sent to ERE, and coordinate the final inspection of the install by the City. Several calls with the permit department of ERE ended with them saying, "I will call you before the end of the day" - and NEVER did they follow up. I consistently had to follow up. Finally, on Oct 27th, 2 months after the installation, the system was permitted. A homeowner should never be in a situation of having to project manage work of this magnitude. Regardless of there being a subcontractor and other entities required for the work, Marathon was responsible for managing the project and did so poorly. Although I will continue to call the former LBHA office for maintenance, I cannot recommend Marathon for installations or work requiring collaboration and coordination of other entities.