How Often Should You Service Your AC and Furnace? A Seasonal Schedule

The short answer: twice a year

One AC tune-up in spring, one furnace tune-up in fall. Heat pumps run both seasons and genuinely need both visits. Skipping maintenance is the single biggest predictor of a mid-summer or mid-winter emergency call.

What a real AC tune-up includes

Coil cleaning, condensate drain flush, refrigerant charge and temperature split verification, capacitor testing under load, amp draw on motors, electrical connection tightening, safety control testing, thermostat calibration and filter replacement. You should receive the actual readings, not a checkmark.

What a furnace tune-up includes

Burner and flame inspection, heat exchanger check, igniter and flame sensor cleaning or testing, gas pressure verification, inducer and pressure switch check, blower cleaning, limit and safety testing, and venting inspection.

Your monthly homeowner tasks

Check the filter monthly and change every 1 to 3 months. Keep two feet of clearance around the outdoor unit. Pour a cup of vinegar down the condensate line each month in cooling season. Listen for new noises - they always start quiet.

Spring checklist

Replace the filter, hose down the condenser with the power off, clear plants and debris, confirm the drain runs freely, and run the system for 20 minutes before the first hot day so failures happen on your schedule rather than during a heat wave.

Fall checklist

Replace the filter, test the heat early in the season, clear the flue and intake, check the CO detector batteries, and reverse ceiling fans to push warm air down.

Why maintenance saves money

Clean coils and correct charge cut energy use. Tight electrical connections prevent burned contacts. Caught-early capacitors avoid compressor damage. Documented annual service also keeps most manufacturer warranties valid - warranty claims get denied for neglect more often than people realize.

Maintenance plans

Plan members get both seasonal visits at a set price, priority scheduling ahead of non-members during peak weeks, and a discount on any repair found. In July and January, priority scheduling is the benefit that matters most.