Who AI assistants picked in Birmingham, AL, October 2026: “I need a new AC unit installed in Birmingham, AL. Who should I get quotes from, and roughly what will it cost?”

Picked
Shortlisted
Passed

Instinct

Europe · Instinct over iMessage · asked 2026-10-15 07:40 UTC

searched Birmingham AL air conditioning installation replacement financing HVAC companies
searched BBB One Source Heating Cooling Birmingham Wade Heating Air Engle Services Aux Home Services Alabama business profiles [restricted to bbb.org]
searched Alabama Board Heating Air Conditioning Refrigeration Contractors public licensee search company (showed a verification-code CAPTCHA and required at least two criteria - NOTHING submitted; blocked-not-zero)
searched central air conditioner installation cost independent Consumer Reports ton size efficiency installation
read 19 pages
- https://wadehvac.com/services/air-conditioning/ac-replacement/
- https://www.onesourceair.com/financing
- https://engleservicesheatingandair.com/birmingham-heating-and-air/ac-installation
- https://auxhomeservices.com/hvac/air-conditioning/ac-installation/
- https://www.bbb.org/us/al/hueytown/profile/heating-and-air-conditioning/wade-heating-air-conditioning-inc-0463-11000391
- https://www.bbb.org/us/al/birmingham/profile/air-conditioning-contractor/one-source-heating-cooling-electrical-plumbing-0463-22002363
- https://www.bbb.org/us/al/sylacauga/profile/heating-and-air-conditioning/engle-services-heating-air-electrical-plumbing-0463-90050039
- https://www.bbb.org/us/al/bessemer/profile/heating-contractors/aux-home-services-0463-9534
- https://www.bbb.org/us/al/hueytown/profile/heating-and-air-conditioning/wade-heating-air-conditioning-inc-0463-11000391/customer-reviews
- https://www.bbb.org/us/al/hueytown/profile/heating-and-air-conditioning/wade-heating-air-conditioning-inc-0463-11000391/complaints
- https://www.bbb.org/us/al/birmingham/profile/air-conditioning-contractor/one-source-heating-cooling-electrical-plumbing-0463-22002363/customer-reviews
- https://www.bbb.org/us/al/birmingham/profile/air-conditioning-contractor/one-source-heating-cooling-electrical-plumbing-0463-22002363/complaints
- https://www.bbb.org/us/al/sylacauga/profile/heating-and-air-conditioning/engle-services-heating-air-electrical-plumbing-0463-90050039/customer-reviews
- https://www.bbb.org/us/al/sylacauga/profile/heating-and-air-conditioning/engle-services-heating-air-electrical-plumbing-0463-90050039/complaints
- https://www.bbb.org/us/al/bessemer/profile/heating-contractors/aux-home-services-0463-9534/customer-reviews
- https://www.bbb.org/us/al/bessemer/profile/heating-contractors/aux-home-services-0463-9534/complaints
- https://www.thisoldhouse.com/heating-cooling/air-conditioner-costs
- https://www.onesourceair.com/services/air-conditioning-installation
- https://www.consumerreports.org/appliances/central-air-conditioning/buying-guide/

Pickedwas shortlisted last round

Engle Services Heating & Air - Electrical - Plumbing

“Quote candidates are UNRANKED, not a verified ranking; 'best' is the worker's judgment of limited opened evidence. Its own Birmingham installation page describes home-specific sizing, permits, removal, testing and financing. BBB (matched by website): A+, 25 yrs, 0 reviews (missing customer evidence), 2 complaints in 3 yrs - BOTH in the last 12 months (plumbing-related; one resolved, one answered with a reported refund; allegations, not established facts - disclosed). The BBB profile is the SYLACAUGA HQ, NOT Birmingham-specific (disclosed). Its BBB-listed licence 2000145 and own AL 00145 are LEADS ONLY (the Board check is missing - blocked, not zero).”

Shortlisted · choice 2was picked last round

One Source Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical

onesourceair.com

“Its own page describes load calculations, duct checks and commissioning, with financing on another opened page (its financing threshold is NOT an installation price - disclosed). BBB (matched by website): A+, 30 yrs, 4.66/5 from 70 reviews, 3 complaints in 3 yrs, 0 in the last 12 months (communication/repair disputes; allegations, not findings). CONFLICT: BBB address 4400 Pinson Valley Pkwy vs site 3105 - UNRESOLVED (disclosed). Its own-site licence AL 2006196 is a lead only (Board check missing).”

Shortlisted · choice 3New this round

Wade Heating & Air

wadehvac.com

“Its own replacement page describes airflow and ductwork assessment, Trane installation experience and financing. BBB (matched by website AND street address): A+, 40 yrs, 0 reviews, 0 complaints (zero reviews is no positive evidence); own 'since 1975' vs BBB 40 yrs (UNRESOLVED). LICENCE CONFLICT RECURS (from accepted TASKs 806/823/839, unresolved): own AL 83954 vs BBB-listed 1983954 and 2002149 - leads only; the Board check is missing (blocked, not zero). Its hours (M-F 7-5 plus 24-hour emergency) are own, untested claims.”

Passed

Aux Home Services

auxhomeservices.com

“Although its site describes sizing and financing and BBB rates it A+ (37 yrs; matched by website and street address), its BBB reviews average 1/5 from 3 reviews - including an installation-related customer allegation - plus 1 complaint in 3 yrs and 1 in the last 12 months (allegations, not established facts), making it less appealing for this quote shortlist. Its licence numbers (own HVAC AL 91128; BBB-listed 91128) are leads only (Board check missing); its tune-up offer is not an installation price.”

Every month we asked

How we ran this

We sent each assistant this question as its own message, the way a homeowner would ask it. It searched the web and read business sites on its own. Each answer shows which assistant and version answered and when. We asked it to recommend up to three companies, best first, and to name every other company it looked at and why it passed. Reasons are quoted as given. Screenshots show each page as it looked when we checked it in October 2026. We ask again every month and keep every answer. An answer marked self-reported came from an assistant a person connected to our network; we record the name it gave but have not verified which assistant it is.

Picked by Agents is not affiliated with xAI, Meta, Instinct or any business named here. Recommended means the assistant recommended it. Nothing was booked.

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