Dana Cox
Google Review
Neal is awesome!!! Our AC CRASHED!!! It's July 2nd and one of the hottest days in years 100°+ We called that morning and chilled before dinner. We are so grateful! Happy 4th for us !!!💙🇺🇸
Veteran-Owned · Licensed HVAC Contractor · Hickory, North Carolina
Heating & cooling
you can depend on.
Two guys who will be honest with you, show up when we say we will, and treat your property like it is our own. Air conditioning, heat pumps, furnaces, mini-splits and ductwork — across Burke, Catawba, Caldwell, McDowell and Rutherford counties.
64 Five-Star ReviewsOn Google, and counting
Veteran-OwnedLocally owned & operated
NC License #33148Licensed & insured
1 Yr Labor / 10 Yr PartsWarranty on every install
Who We Are
Your local heating and cooling company.
Southern Summit Heating & Cooling is Neal Lowman and Hunter McSwain — two guys out of Hickory who got tired of watching homeowners get sold equipment they did not need. We are veteran-owned, licensed and insured, and we work on homes across the foothills every day.
“We do every job like it’s our own. We give you our recommendation and try to help you out based on your budget. We understand every job and budget is not the same, so we do what we can to make you comfortable.”
That is not a slogan we wrote for a website. It is how the company has run since day one, and it is why more than sixty of your neighbors have left us a five-star review in about a year.
64 ReviewsFive stars on Google
Veteran-OwnedLicensed & insured
Hickory, NCServing five counties
What We Do
Whole-home comfort, done right the first time.
Repair, replacement and maintenance on every brand — whether we installed it or not. Same two guys on every job, same standard every time.
01
Air Conditioning Repair
Your air quit and the house is climbing. Same-day service in most cases, on any brand.
02
AC Installation & Replacement
Sized for your actual house, installed clean, backed by 1 year labor and 10 years parts.
03
Heat Pump Installation
Western North Carolina is heat pump country. We set them up so backup heat isn’t eating your power bill.
04
Heating & Furnace Repair
Gas, electric, heat pump and package units — plus garage and shop heaters.
05
Ductless Mini-Splits
For the bonus room, the sunroom, the basement or the shop your main system never reaches.
06
Maintenance & Tune-Ups
Spring and fall service that catches the small stuff before it becomes the 4th-of-July phone call.
Rooms that never get comfortable are usually a duct problem — see Ductwork & Indoor Air Quality
On the Job
The work speaks for itself.
Real installs, real homes, real photos from our trucks — no stock imagery.
See More of Our Work
New jobs go up as we finish them — also on Facebook
Real Google Reviews
What our customers are saying.
5.0 average rating · 64 Google reviews
Rodney Francis
Google Review
It's rare in today's world to find a contractor that is there when he says he will be there, gives you a good price and does the job to perfection. I was a maintenance manager for 42 years and worked with contractors everyday. Hunter and his team impressed me and that is a hard thing to do. Look no further if you are looking for an HVAC contractor he is the one. Thanks guys!!!!
Kim Prescod
Google Review
My AC was down and I called and received a call back almost immediately. Hunter came out, troubleshooted and got to the root of the problem. He was very personable, professional and a hard worker in this summer heat. He got us back up and running and was a pleasure to work with. I will definitely be using your services again and will recommending to others!!!
Susan Spry
Google Review
Neil and Hunter are the best. They did an excellent job installing a new mini split unit in my home. The communication was great. They were on time and gave me a very fair price. I plan to have another unit installed next year and I will definitely call them to do the job. I highly recommend them for any of your HVAC needs. You can shop around but I don’t believe you will find a more honest and reliable company!!!
Laura Robbins
Google Review
Hunter did an amazing job replacing our upstairs HVAC unit, along with some additional work. From the initial inspection to the completion of service, everything moved quickly and smoothly. He was professional throughout the entire process and kept us updated regularly on the progress. Hunter and his team worked efficiently, provided fair pricing, and delivered exceptional quality workmanship. We’ve been extremely satisfied with the results and would highly recommend them for all your HVAC needs!
Johnathon Squire
Google Review
After receiving several quotes for my HVAC replacement ranging from $10,000 to $20,000, I ultimately chose Southern Summit Heating & Air—and I'm glad I did.
From the very beginning, Hunter gave me an honest assessment of my situation. While other companies seemed focused on upselling additional products and services, he took the time to explain my options, recommend what he genuinely believed was best, and answer my questions without any pressure.
What stood out to me was his professionalism and authenticity. While many of the other companies arrived in brand-new vehicles with tablets, fancy uniforms, and polished sales presentations, Hunter showed up in a hardworking man's pickup truck. It wasn't about appearances—it was about honesty, knowledge, and integrity.
In the end, he installed the same HVAC system that other companies were quoting thousands of dollars more for, and he completed the entire job in a single day.
During the installation, I learned that Hunter is a United States Marine, just like me. Interestingly, he didn't mention it until halfway through the job when he asked if I was a veteran. That led to a great conversation about our military service, our families, and the many blessings the Lord has given us.
If you're looking for high-pressure sales tactics and expensive upsells, you may want to look elsewhere. But if you want someone who is honest, dependable, hardworking, and committed to doing the job the right way, I highly recommend Southern Summit Heating & Air.
I will gladly recommend Hunter and his company to everyone I know, including the members of my congregation. He is one of the most honest contractors I've met in a very long time.
At the end of the day, it isn't about fancy trucks, expensive uniforms, or tablets that talk back to you. It's about finding someone who gives you a firm handshake, looks you in the eye, explains both the benefits and the risks, and treats you with respect.
Hunter, thank you for your service to our nation and for your continued service to our local community through honest work, fair pricing, and dedication to your customers. You're always welcome to stop by for a glass of sweet tea, take a load off, and spend some time looking at the ducks.
How It Works
No runaround. Four steps, start to finish.
STEP 01
Call or Text Us
You get one of us, not a call center. Tell us what the system is doing and we will get you on the schedule — same day when we can.
STEP 02
We Find the Real Problem
We diagnose it, show you what we found, and explain it in plain English. No jargon, no scare tactics.
STEP 03
Honest Options & Your Budget
You get our recommendation plus the alternatives, with real numbers. Every job and budget is different, and we work with yours.
STEP 04
Fixed Right, Cleaned Up
We test it before we leave, haul off what we replaced, and back the work — 1 year labor and 10 years parts on installs.
Where We Work
Serving the foothills of western North Carolina.
Based in Hickory, we cover Burke, Catawba, Caldwell, McDowell and Rutherford counties — and the communities in between. If you are not sure whether we come your way, just call and ask.
Southern Summit Heating & Cooling
Hickory, NC 28602
Mon–Fri 8–6 · Sat 8–1 · Sun 1–6
Limited after-hours emergency service
Mon–Fri 8–6 · Sat 8–1 · Sun 1–6
Limited after-hours emergency service
- Hickory
- Morganton
- Lenoir
- Marion
- Newton
- Conover
- Valdese
- Granite Falls
- Hudson
- Drexel
- Long View
- Claremont
- Maiden
- Rutherfordton
- Forest City
- Old Fort
Let’s Talk
Let’s get your house comfortable again.
Tell us what the system is doing. We will give you a straight answer, an honest price, and a time we will actually be there.
Mon–Fri 8–6 · Sat 8–1 · Sun 1–6 · Veteran-owned · Licensed & insured · NC License #33148