What It Means
An HVAC tune-up is routine service on a home's heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment, carried out by a qualified contractor. ENERGY STAR suggests having the cooling side checked in spring and the heating side in fall, ahead of the seasons when contractors are busiest. The visit, per ENERGY STAR's maintenance checklist, covers electrical connections, moving parts, coils, refrigerant, controls and the condensate drain. For gas or oil heating, it adds the fuel connections, the burner and the heat exchanger.
Try It: Quiz Yourself on Tune-Up Timing
Three questions on timing, each answered from ENERGY STAR's maintenance checklist.
1. When should the cooling system get its tune-up?
Right. Spring gets it done before the summer rush on contractors.
ENERGY STAR suggests spring, since contractors get busy once summer arrives.
2. When should the heating system get its tune-up?
Right. Fall beats the winter rush.
ENERGY STAR suggests fall, since contractors get busy once winter comes.
3. Between tune-ups, how often should you check the air filter?
Right. Check monthly, and change it at least every 3 months.
ENERGY STAR says check it every month and change it at least every 3 months.
How It Sounds at Home
- "The AC guy is coming Tuesday for the spring checkup."
- "Book the furnace tune-up before it gets cold."
- "They cleaned the coils and topped up the refrigerant."
The Breakdown
How often, per ENERGY STAR and the U.S. Fire Administration
| System or job | When | Who does it |
|---|---|---|
| Cooling system | Every spring | Qualified contractor |
| Heating system | Every fall | Qualified contractor |
| Professional cleaning and inspection of heating equipment and chimneys | Every year | Qualified professional |
| Air filter | Check monthly, change at least every 3 months | You |
What the contractor should look at. ENERGY STAR's checklist, in plain terms:
- Electrical connections tightened, with the voltage and current on motors measured
- Moving parts oiled, since friction in a motor raises its electricity use
- Condensate drain cleared, because a blocked one can leak water into the house and change indoor humidityIndoor humidity levelHow much moisture the air inside a home holds, given as relative humidity. EPA advises keeping it below 60%, ideally between 30% and 50%. See more
- Controls tested through a full start, run and shut-off
- Evaporator and condenser coils cleaned, since dirty coils make the system run longer
- Refrigerant level checked and corrected if it's too high or too low
- Blower parts cleaned and adjusted so air moves as it should
- For heating: gas or oil connections, gas pressure, burner combustion and the heat exchanger inspected
Between visits. Keep the monthly filter check going. Write down the date of each visit and what was done, so the next contractor can see the history.
Good to Know
ENERGY STAR warns that gas or oil connections that aren't working properly are a fire hazard and can contribute to health problems, which is why that part of the visit belongs to a qualified contractor. DOE adds that a leaking furnace heat exchanger can let combustion gases into the house, where they can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Before you book, ask for a written quote that lists what the visit includes, and compare it with the ENERGY STAR list above.
FAQ
How often do you need an HVAC tune-up?
ENERGY STAR recommends a cooling check-up each spring and a heating check-up each fall. Booking ahead of summer and winter avoids the weeks when contractors are busiest.
What's included in an HVAC tune-up?
ENERGY STAR's list covers electrical connections, lubricating moving parts, the condensate drain, the controls, coil cleaning, the refrigerant level and blower airflow. For heating equipment it adds gas or oil connections, gas pressure, burner combustion and the heat exchanger.
Can I do an HVAC tune-up myself?
The filter is yours to handle, and ENERGY STAR says to check it monthly and change it at least every 3 months. Refrigerant, electrical parts and gas or oil connections are for a qualified contractor, which is who ENERGY STAR says should do the tune-up.
Do It in Buhata
Maintenance (Household X), Reminders
Add "Cooling tune-up" each spring and "Heating tune-up" each fall to Maintenance in the Household X add-on, with a Reminder a few weeks ahead to book the contractor.
Open BuhataRelated Terms and Categories
- HVAC filter
The removable filter in a furnace, central air conditioner or heat pump that traps dust from the air; ENERGY STAR says check it monthly and change it at least every 3 months.
- Furnace maintenance
The routine care a furnace needs: a monthly filter check, a yearly professional cleaning and inspection before heating season, and a working carbon monoxide alarm.
- MERV rating
Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value: a number showing how well an air filter traps particles 0.3 to 10 microns in size, where a higher number catches more small ones.
- Seasonal home maintenance
Home upkeep sorted by time of year, so each job lands when the weather suits it and before the system it protects is needed most.
Sources
ENERGY STAR, "Maintenance Checklist"; U.S. Fire Administration, "Heating Fire Safety"; U.S. Department of Energy, "Furnaces and Boilers"; U.S. Department of Energy, "Combustion Appliance Safety" tech brief
- www.energystar.gov/saveathome/heating-cooling/maintenance-checklist
- www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/home-fires/prevent-fires/heating
- www.energy.gov/energysaver/furnaces-and-boilers?nrg_redirect=307955
- www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2016/06/f32/CombustionAppliance%20Safety_Tech%20Brief.pdf
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