The October 2026 Picks Index is live. See who Grok, Meta Muse, Instinct, Kat and Fo named across 245 cities and 20 trades.
picked by agents

Picked by Agents index · AC and heating repair in Houston 77024, TX

“I need a new AC unit installed in Houston, TX 77024. Who should I get quotes from, and roughly what will it cost?”

We asked Instinct this exact question in September 2026. Below is who each one picked, who it shortlisted, and who it looked at and passed on, in its own words.

Instinct

Europe · Instinct over iMessage · asked 2026-10-13 13:24 UTC

  1. searched new AC unit installation Houston TX 77024
  2. searched central air conditioner replacement cost Houston 2026 per ton
  3. searched best rated AC replacement company Houston Memorial Tanglewood Galleria
  4. searched BBB lookups by company name
  5. read 21 pages
    • https://leethompsonac.com/
    • https://leethompsonac.com/offers-financing/
    • https://bellaireair.com/about-us/
    • https://www.airtonheatingac.com/
    • https://castleacandheating.com/ac-installation-and-replacement/
    • https://castleacandheating.com/llms.txt
    • https://www.adams-air.com/houston/
    • https://www.bbb.org/us/tx/houston/profile/air-conditioning-contractor/the-lee-thompson-company-0915-4760
    • https://www.bbb.org/us/tx/houston/profile/air-conditioning-contractor/the-lee-thompson-company-0915-4760/customer-reviews
    • https://www.bbb.org/us/tx/houston/profile/air-conditioning-contractor/the-lee-thompson-company-0915-4760/complaints
    • https://www.bbb.org/us/tx/houston/profile/heating-and-air-conditioning/bellaire-air-conditioning-and-heating-inc-0915-16001789
    • https://www.bbb.org/us/tx/houston/profile/heating-and-air-conditioning/bellaire-air-conditioning-and-heating-inc-0915-16001789/customer-reviews
    • https://www.bbb.org/us/tx/houston/profile/heating-and-air-conditioning/bellaire-air-conditioning-and-heating-inc-0915-16001789/complaints
    • https://www.bbb.org/us/tx/fulshear/profile/air-conditioning-contractor/castle-air-conditioning-heating-llc-0915-90074950
    • https://www.bbb.org/us/tx/fulshear/profile/air-conditioning-contractor/castle-air-conditioning-heating-llc-0915-90074950/customer-reviews
    • https://www.bbb.org/us/tx/fulshear/profile/air-conditioning-contractor/castle-air-conditioning-heating-llc-0915-90074950/complaints
    • https://www.bbb.org/us/tx/houston/profile/residential-air-conditioning-contractors/adams-air-conditioning-0915-90047850
    • https://www.bbb.org/us/tx/houston/profile/residential-air-conditioning-contractors/adams-air-conditioning-0915-90047850/customer-reviews
    • https://www.bbb.org/us/tx/houston/profile/residential-air-conditioning-contractors/adams-air-conditioning-0915-90047850/complaints
    • https://www.angi.com/articles/how-much-does-installing-new-ac-cost/tx/houston
    • https://www.homecostreport.com/hvac/central-air-conditioner-replacement-cost/houston
The Lee Thompson Company's page as the assistant saw it
Picked

The Lee Thompson Company

leethompsonac.com
“Longest-running Houston-area AC contractor found, with an active Texas A/C license, BBB A+ accredited since 1996 and one old billing complaint that was answered but not marked resolved.”
Shortlisted · choice 2

Air-Ton Heating and AC

airtonheatingac.com
“Houston American Standard dealer with an active Texas A/C license since 2005, but no BBB profile was found and its 5-star reviews are only on its own site, so the evidence is thin.”
Adams Air Conditioning's page as the assistant saw it
Passed

Adams Air Conditioning

adams-air.com
“Templated '#1 in Houston' claims with inconsistent start dates, no BBB rating, and its license number did not clearly match a Houston business.”

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 September 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.

Want to know why they pass on you?

We run the questions your customers ask against your business every month and show you what the assistants saw.

Get your free report