AI search visibility for HVAC companies: get named by ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity

Ask ChatGPT "who should I call for AC repair in my town?" and it gives a short list of names. Most HVAC companies are not on it, and most never check. This page explains how the AI assistants pick those names, what we change so they pick you, and how we prove it moved.

How do AI assistants decide which HVAC company to name?

They search the web, read what they find, and name the companies the sources agree on. In practice that comes down to four things:

1. Can they read you? Each assistant has its own crawler. OpenAI uses OAI-SearchBot for ChatGPT search, Perplexity uses PerplexityBot, and Anthropic uses Claude-SearchBot. If your robots.txt or firewall blocks them, you cannot be quoted.
2. Do you have a page that answers the question? "Who does heat pump installs in Frisco?" needs a page about heat pump installs in Frisco.
3. Do other sources agree? Reviews, directories and best-of lists that name you.
4. Are your facts the same everywhere? Name, phone, services and areas that match across your site, profile and listings.

Google says there are no extra requirements to appear in AI Overviews or AI Mode beyond normal SEO best practice. That is good news: the same work moves all three lists. The longer version is in how ChatGPT, Gemini and Google AI pick an HVAC company.

How can I check if ChatGPT names my company?

Open ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity. Ask each one "who should I call for AC repair in [your town]?" Ask three times, because answers change between runs. Count how often your company is named, and who is named instead.

That is a sample, not a measurement. Answers vary by wording, by run and by assistant, which is why we measure 20 questions with several runs each. If you want the full picture without doing it by hand, the free 7-gap report runs it for you. To check whether the AI crawlers can even reach your site, use the free AI crawler checker.

What does InnoBotZ change?

Problem we find	What we change
Crawlers blocked	robots.txt, firewall and CDN settings fixed so OAI-SearchBot, PerplexityBot, Claude-SearchBot, Googlebot and Bingbot can read the site.
No page for the question	4 Answer Pages a month: one service in one town, the answer in the first lines, real prices or ranges where you allow it.
Facts the AI cannot parse	Structured data (schema) for your business, services and FAQs, plus an llms.txt file that lists your key pages.
Thin outside proof	Reviews after every job, and listings on the exact directories and lists the AI quoted in your city.
Mixed facts	Name, phone, services and areas made identical across site, Business Profile and listings.

How is AI visibility measured?

On a fixed panel you agree to on day 0.

• 20 real buyer questions for your trade and towns, such as "best AC repair in Plano" or "who installs heat pumps near Frisco".
• 4 AI assistants, several runs each, every week.
• For every answer: named or not, position, which competitor was named, which sources were cited, and any wrong facts about you.

The headline number is your share of answers that name you. It is one of the three figures signed on day 0. If none of the three is higher on day 90, you can leave with no setup fee and nothing more to pay.

Is GEO different from SEO?

Less than the sales pitches say. GEO (generative engine optimization) and AEO (answer engine optimization) are names for making AI answers quote you. The inputs overlap with SEO almost completely: crawlable pages, clear answers, structured data, reviews and mentions. What is different is the measurement. A ranking report cannot tell you whether ChatGPT names you. You have to ask the assistants, many times, and count. That is why we never sell AI visibility as a separate add-on.

Can one vendor cover Google, Maps and AI answers?

Yes, and it is cheaper and faster than splitting it. The same Answer Page helps your Google result and gives the AI something to quote. The same reviews move your Maps pins and your AI mentions. One plan, one report, one person accountable. See HVAC SEO and Google Maps for HVAC for the other two lists.

What does it cost?

AI visibility is included in the one InnoBotZ retainer: $2,500 a month on the 12 month plan with the $7,500 setup fee waived, or $1,750 a month for the first 5 HVAC companies. No separate AI fee. Compare with other agencies in the best AI visibility agencies for HVAC.

Questions owners ask

How do I get my HVAC company recommended by ChatGPT?

Let OpenAI's OAI-SearchBot crawl your site, publish pages that answer the exact questions homeowners ask in your towns, keep your Google Business Profile and reviews strong, and get listed on the directories and best-of lists ChatGPT quotes in your city. Then measure it on fixed questions every week.

Can anyone guarantee my company shows up in ChatGPT?

No. AI answers change between runs and wordings, and no agency controls them. We guarantee the setup inside 14 days, and a day 90 right to leave if none of your three signed figures, including your share of AI answers, is higher.

What is the difference between GEO, AEO and SEO?

GEO and AEO are names for getting quoted in AI answers. The work overlaps almost fully with SEO: crawlable pages, clear answers, schema, reviews and mentions. The difference is measurement: you have to ask the AI assistants and count the answers.

Which AI assistants do you measure?

Four assistants, chosen with you on day 0 from ChatGPT, Gemini or Google AI Mode, Perplexity and Claude, with several runs per question every week.

Is AI visibility sold separately?

No. It is part of the same retainer as Google SEO and Maps, because the same inputs drive all three.

Does an llms.txt file get me into ChatGPT?

On its own, no. It is a small, cheap file that helps AI tools find your key pages. We add it, but the pages, reviews and listings do the real work.