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 !!!💙🇺🇸
About Us
Two owners, one truck at a time
Southern Summit Heating & Cooling is Neal Lowman and Hunter McSwain — a veteran-owned heating and air company working out of Hickory, North Carolina.
Why Southern Summit Was Built Differently
Neal and Hunter started Southern Summit in 2024 because they were tired of watching homeowners get sold equipment they did not need. Both of them had spent years in the trade before that, and both had seen the same thing over and over: a technician diagnoses a $400 repair, a salesman arrives an hour later with a $12,000 quote, and the homeowner has no way to tell which one is telling the truth.
So they built the company the other way round. There is no salesman, because there is nobody to send. You call, and one of the two owners answers. One of the two owners comes out, looks at the system, and tells you what it needs. If that is a capacitor, you get a capacitor. If it genuinely is time for a new system, you will hear why, and you will get options that fit the budget you actually have rather than the one somebody hopes you have.
That is not a policy anybody wrote down. It is just what happens when the person diagnosing the problem is also the person whose name is on the truck.
What a year looks like
Southern Summit is a young company and we would rather say so than dress it up. What we would point at instead is what the first year produced: 63 five-star reviews on Google, every one of them from a real customer, every one of them answered. You can read all of them here, in full, including the ones that run to four paragraphs.
A company can buy a lot of things. It cannot buy a year of neighbors in Hickory, Morganton, Lenoir and Marion writing down what happened when they called.
Who you are dealing with
Between the two of them, that is the whole company. Whichever one picks up the phone is the one who will be standing in your crawlspace. If you want to see the work rather than read about it, the job photos are here — all real jobs, all photographed by us.
The facts, plainly
Founded2024
OwnersNeal Lowman & Hunter McSwain
Veteran-ownedYes
LicenseNC License #33148
InsuredLicensed & insured
Work we takeResidential only
Brands installedGoodman, Ruud, Bosch
Brands servicedAny brand
Warranty1-year labor, 10-year parts
PaymentCash, card, ACH
Google rating5.0 from 63 reviews
HoursMon–Fri 8–6 · Sat 8–1 · Sun 1–6
Where we work
Five counties across the foothills of western North Carolina — Burke, Catawba, Caldwell, McDowell and Rutherford — with most of our work in and around Hickory, Morganton, Lenoir and Marion. We are a service-area company: there is no showroom to visit, we come to you. See the whole service area.
Got a system acting up? Call or text and you get an owner, not a call center.
Real Google Reviews
What customers across the foothills say.
5.0 average rating · 63 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.