J & J's Heating and Air Conditioning511 E Gutierrez St, Santa Barbara, CA 93103(805) 699-1112, jnjfireplacepros@gmail.comCA Lic. #1086420 (C-20), jnjfireplacepros.com
Fireplace and HVAC installation and repair for Santa Barbara County homes.
I'm Jeremy. We install and repair fireplaces, heat pumps and whole home air, and we hide the equipment in the walls and ceilings. Installation estimates are free and prices are flat rate. Something broken? Call, and we'll tell you the soonest we can come.
A gas line sized and pressure tested, a sealed vent run up to the roof, and clearances checked against the manufacturer's manual. The drawing shows the wall with the plaster pulled back.
Gas line, direct vent, permit and inspection
Tap a label to read what it does.
Step 2Concealed air
Ducts above the ceiling, equipment in a closet.
Sealed ducts run above the ceiling to slim slot diffusers. The air handler sits in its own closet, with room for MERV 13 or higher filters, the level the EPA recommends for wildfire smoke.
Concealed ducts, slot diffusers, MERV 13
Tap a label to read what it does.
Step 3Outside
From the closet to a screened heat pump.
The air handler and its filter sit in a closet by the outside wall. The heat pump is right outside, so the refrigerant lines stay short, and a slatted screen hides it from the terrace.
Heat pump, short line set, screened
Tap a label to read what it does.
Step 4Finish
Then we close it up and clean up.
Walls finished, gas and CO tested, and the room vacuumed before we leave. See the same room in each season:
Tell me what is going on. For a repair, text a photo of the unit. It often saves a trip.
We come take a look
Installation estimates are free, and repairs start with a diagnostic. Either way, you get a written, flat rate price before any work starts.
We do the work and test it
Drop cloths down, gas and carbon monoxide tested with you there, and the house left clean.
Services
We do fireplaces and heating and air.
Complete heating and air installations, from one replacement to custom ductwork and multi zone systems, plus a dedicated fireplace division. Because we do both trades, the fireplace, its venting and the HVAC get planned together.
Gas fireplace in a grey plaster surround.
Fireplaces
Linear gas fireplaces Wide view units with custom surrounds
Install
Gas inserts and log sets Turn an old fireplace into one you'll use
Retrofit
Wood burning Traditional and high efficiency units
Install
Outdoor fire features Fire pits, fire bowls and outdoor fireplaces
Install
Gas fireplace repair Pilots, valves, remotes, and the ones other companies gave up on
Service
Chimney sweeps and inspections Level 1 and Level 2, with camera reports. Every visit ends with a gas leak and CO test.
Service
York outdoor unit, mounted and wired.
Heating and air
Heat pumps Heating and cooling from one system
Install
Furnaces and central air Replacements and new systems
Install
Ductless mini splits Additions, studios and guest houses
Install
Concealed ducted systems Hidden ducts with slot diffusers
Install
Repairs, tune ups and second opinions A realistic read on an older system before you replace it
Service
Dryer vent cleaning Lint removal and airflow checks
Service
We install and service Samsung, York, Guardian, Goodman, Bosch, Innovair and other major brands. Samsung is one of our preferred brands, especially for heat pumps. Fireplace lines include Masonlite, Kozy Heat, Ortal, Montigo, Rasmussen and Eiklor Flames, along with whatever your designer specifies. Manufacturer warranties vary by brand, and our workmanship warranty is one year on qualifying installations.
Inspections for buyers and sellers
For homeowners, and for agents prepping a listing or working through escrow: quick scheduling and clear documentation for buyers and sellers. Every report is written up so it can be shared.
Installation estimates are free, and pricing is flat rate, so the number we quote is the number you pay. If the honest answer is a repair instead of a new system, that's the answer you'll get.
Utility, state and local rebate programs open and close through the year. Call and we'll tell you what your home may qualify for today.
Most of what we build ends up behind plaster. These are our own jobs around Santa Barbara County, at the stage you never get to see, and after.
BeforeAfter
A kiva fireplace, from lath to plaster.
The firebox and vent go in first. Then the steel lath is shaped by hand around them, and the plaster goes on last. Once it's finished, nobody sees the part that makes it safe.
Open the whole room
Drag across the room to pull the plaster back and see what we build inside the walls: framing, gas line, vent and ducts.
Behind the wallsFinished
+Drag to open the roomSlide right to pull the plaster back, then tap a numbered point.
Illustration from the 3D tour at the top of this page.
Finished
Indoor fireplaces, gas log sets and outdoor fire features we've installed or serviced.
Gas insert with a stone hearth.Clean face gas fireplace.Fire bowl by the pool.Freestanding fireplace with a black flue.Stone fire pit with a log set.
5.0 on Google from 95 reviews and 5.0 on Yelp from 26, as of October 2026. The same seven things come up again and again.
“Called them at 6:45am and they were there by 8:30am for an emergency HVAC issue and were incredibly helpful and priced things appropriately despite the urgent action. Super appreciative of the fast affordable action for an acute issue.”
Counted across the 77 Google reviews quoted on the reviews page.
“Jeremy was so helpful, kind, and reassuring during our visit to fix our gas fireplace. With such a great service and reputation, I expected they would cost much more than the other guy, but they have really reasonable rates and great customer service! I will now only use them in the future!”
Whitney D.
Gas fireplace repair, on Google
“Jeremy diagnosed and repaired our gas fireplace after several other companies failed to do so. Wonderful service!”
Holly S.
Gas fireplace repair, on Google
“J&Js was super helpful and professional. Quickly diagnosed and fixed what seemed like a complicated problem. They also tested for leaks and carbon monoxide- which no other repair service that I've used has done. I recommend them very highly.”
Mary M.
HVAC repair, on Google
“I urgently needed my heater fixed because it was freezing in my house and I have a baby. This company was awesome -- squeezed me in same day when no one else could. They came in a timely manner and efficiently fixed the issue and our home was warm by the later afternoon. Highly recommend J&Js!”
Lisa G.
Heater repair, on Google
“Jeremy is a pro. Experienced and knowledgeable. Explains things carefully and happily answers questions. Definitely now our go to person for HVAC and fireplace needs.”
Bruce C.
HVAC maintenance, on Google
“I had purchased a fireplace online not really understanding that it happened to be a very complex model to hook up- my contractor was totally baffled and couldn't do it. I called Jeremy at J&J and he had it hooked up in no time! Even though he wasn't the one to sell me the unit, he was solution oriented and he took his time to understand the model I have and hook it up. Nice guy, easy process, easy to schedule, reasonably priced.”
Rebates can change the math. We help you use them.
A heat pump rebate can decide whether an upgrade makes sense. We work with these programs every season and help you meet their requirements, including projects that replace gas heating.
Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District
Local air quality programs, when funding is open.
TECH Clean California
Statewide incentives for heat pump heating and cooling.
3C-REN
The Central Coast regional energy network and its programs.
Other state and local heat pump incentives
We check what's open for your address when we quote.
Eligibility and funding change, so we can't promise a rebate amount. We'll tell you what we find for your home.
Jeremy Varela, owner
About J & J's
I'm Jeremy. This is my family's company.
I started J & J's in 2021. We install and fix fireplaces, chimneys, heat pumps, furnaces and air conditioning, in homes and in commercial buildings, and we offer after-hours appointments when a technician is available.
I built it one job at a time. Five years in, that has meant early mornings, late nights, service calls in every kind of weather, and thousands of customers who trusted us with their homes. I don't take that lightly.
Estimates are free, the price is flat rate and in writing, and the crew is licensed. If something isn't working right, call me. Se habla español.
You'll know who is coming, what they're doing and when they'll be done.
Walkthrough
We look at the room, the attic and the outside, ask how you use the space, and tell you plainly what we'd do and what we wouldn't. The estimate is free.
Design and permits
Unit selection, venting and duct layout, a flat rate proposal, then permits and design review.
Install
On time, clear about each day's work, drop cloths down before any tool comes out, and the gas and CO tested before we call it done.
Handover
Inspections passed, every system walked through with you or your house manager, and a follow up to make sure it's doing what we said it would.
Every sweep and fireplace service starts with your floors and furniture covered. That's how I want my own house treated.
Sweep set up on a hardwood floor.Carpet covered from the door to the hearth.Glass off for service, furniture covered.
Pricing, in the open
Our prices.
Repairs start with a diagnostic at a set rate. New systems and fireplaces get a free estimate and one written flat rate number for your project, and we'll show you what goes into it line by line.
Homes here often have big rooms and older masonry, and they deal with salt air, fire season and neighbors who notice noise. We plan every fireplace and system around them, and work alongside your architect, designer or house manager.
Gas logs in an arched plaster fireplace.
Cleaner air in fire season
Systems sized to run MERV 13 or higher filters, the level the EPA recommends for wildfire smoke, with HEPA options for bedrooms.
Quiet and out of sight
Ducts above the ceiling, slot diffusers instead of grilles, and outdoor units placed and screened away from terraces and bedrooms.
Built for the coast
Outdoor equipment placed and protected for salt air. Ask about corrosion resistant options when we quote.
Historic fireplaces
Liners, gas conversions, log sets and inserts for original masonry fireplaces, inspected by a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep.
Permits and review
Permits and their costs spelled out in your proposal, exterior equipment coordinated with Montecito design review, and the HERS duct testing California requires on most system changes.
Room by room
Every room we work in.
We work in the living room, the attic, the laundry and the rest of the house. Choose a room to see where to read more, and press Behind the walls to see what the plaster hides.
Room1of 8
This is a drawing. Our real jobs are on the work page.
Bring us in at schematic design and we'll help size the units and route venting and ducts before framing. In escrow, our inspections find problems early so the sale isn't held up. For property managers, a tenant emergency gets a call back the same day, any day.
Early coordination
Unit, venting and duct layouts that fit the drawings.
Both trades together
Fireplace and HVAC planned as one, so they don't fight for the same chase or ceiling.
Escrow ready reports
Flat rate HVAC and chimney inspections, scheduled fast and documented for buyers, sellers and insurers.
Yes. Installation estimates are free, and our pricing is flat rate, so the number we quote is the number you pay. Repairs start with a diagnostic at a set rate, listed above.
Which towns do you serve?
Santa Barbara, Goleta, Hope Ranch, Montecito, Summerland and Carpinteria, plus Santa Ynez, Solvang, Buellton and nearby Santa Barbara County communities. Each town has its own page under service areas.
Who handles permits and inspections?
We do. Goleta, Santa Barbara and Carpinteria permit work through their city building departments. Montecito, Summerland and Hope Ranch are permitted through the County of Santa Barbara Planning and Development.
What does a service call cost?
A residential HVAC diagnostic is $220, commercial is $250 and a fireplace diagnostic is $220. After-hours diagnostics start at $308. Installation estimates are free.
Are there rebates for switching to a heat pump?
Sometimes. Utility, state and local programs open and close through the year, so we check what's available when you call and tell you what your home may qualify for.
Can the HVAC equipment be completely hidden?
Usually. Ducts go above the ceiling or below the floor, air comes through slot diffusers, and the air handler goes in a closet, attic or basement. The outdoor unit is placed and screened with your landscape plan.
Do you work on old masonry fireplaces?
Yes. We inspect the firebox and chimney, then recommend a liner, an insert, a log set or a conversion depending on its condition and how you want to use it.
Do you do commercial work?
Yes. We work on homes and on commercial buildings. Call (805) 699-1112 and tell us about the space, and we will say what we can do.
Do you offer after-hours service?
We offer after-hours appointments when a technician is available. Call (805) 699-1112 and we'll tell you the soonest we can come. After-hours diagnostics start at $308. If you smell gas or a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, leave the building and call 911 first.
Is the work under warranty?
Manufacturer warranties depend on the equipment and brand. Many qualifying systems include up to 10 years of parts coverage, subject to registration and the manufacturer's terms. Our workmanship warranty is one year on qualifying installations, and we help with manufacturer warranty claims on equipment we installed.
How long does an installation take?
Many standard HVAC replacements take one to two working days. Larger installations, complete duct replacements and custom fireplace projects take longer. A chimney sweep is usually a single appointment.
Do you speak Spanish?
Yes. Se habla español. Call (805) 699-1112. This site has a full Spanish version too.
Do you work outside Santa Barbara County?
Our home base is Santa Barbara. Most jobs are in the coastal towns we list and in Santa Ynez, Solvang and Buellton. Other locations depend on the project, so call and ask.
My gas fireplace won't light. Can you help?
Yes. Gas fireplace diagnosis and repair is a large part of our service work. Call with the make and model if you have it.
Contact
Call or text Jeremy.
Tell me about the room or the system and we'll set up a free estimate. For a repair, text me a photo of the unit first. It often saves a trip.
