Absolutely! We just don’t push or scare our customers into believing that they have to pay a licensed contractor to perform it.

If you still want your equipment routinely serviced by a contractor, then we would love to help you. Learn more about our maintenance offerings.

A tune-up is a multi point inspection of the system’s components to make sure that everything is running properly.

To put it simply, a basic tune-up is just a system test. It is nothing more.

Every company out there seems to advertise the idea of a low cost “tune-up” for your AC system. Truth is, they are just trying to get you to invite their sales commissioned tech to come out and inspect your unit so that he can hopefully find a list of things to “repair” or upsell you on.

It is really just a psychological game of bait and switch that is carried out all in the name of perceived value. Read this article if you really want to know more.

Yes, it needs some regular maintenance, but not like contractors want you to believe it does.

AC units don’t need routine maintenance like cars do. Automobiles and AC’s are nothing alike other than the fact that your car has an AC.

THE SCARE TACTICS

Contractors will say that not getting your AC serviced regularly will void warranties, could damage the unit, lessen the lifespan, or limit the system’s performance. This is no where close to being an accurate representation of reality.

REQUIRED MAINTENANCE

The only periodic maintenance an AC system does need is the changing of the air filter and the occasional cleaning off of the condensing coil (the coil that is exposed to the elements outside) to keep it clean and debris free.

This coil hose down (just a water hose) along with the air filter replacement are both things that most customers can handle on their own without the need for a licensed contractor.

SAME AS YOUR CAR AC

Just think about the last time you had maintenance done to the AC in your car (aside from the changing of the cabin air filter). Most likely, you didn’t have any routine maintenance performed.

That’s because, just like your car AC, the only time your home AC needs service is when it stops working correctly.

CONDENSATE DRAIN

If you have an older system, you will want to keep an eye out for a plugged condensate drain. This only occurs as the indoor coil ages and begins to deteriorate. We usually don’t see this until units are over 20 years old in AZ.

See the question below titled “How do I know if my condensate drain is clogged?” for more details.

HVAC contractors love to claim that not having maintenance or a basic tune-up performed on your system regularly will void the parts warranty provided by the equipment manufacturer.

Now, to be fair, what they are stating is 100% true per the warranty terms. However, there is so much more to this than they disclose.

The short answer is, your warranty will not be voided by failing to have a licensed contractor perform maintenance on your system, except potentially in extreme cases of system abuse and neglect. We are talking very extreme.

In case you are wondering if that is you, let’s just say that if you are reading this website, this is probably not you.

Read this article if you really want to know more.

As mentioned previously, AC systems do not require maintenance the same way something like an automobile does. If you consider the normal maintenance that is performed on your car, aside from the cabin air filter, never once does that routine maintenance include anything for the AC system.

The only time the AC of your vehicle is worked on is when the AC is no longer working correctly.

This is because AC systems are closed systems with nothing near the levels or even types of wear and tear that a car engine, transmission, suspension, brakes, and tires experience.

There is no preventative maintenance that can be performed on any parts of an AC system that will extend the life of them. All the mechanical parts and bearings are sealed. There is nothing to be done to them.

SYSTEM DAMAGE

AC systems contain many sensors to protect them from being damaged. This means that when a part does fail, eventually one or more of the sensors will be triggered and any of the major components at risk of being damaged will be shut off. This essentially protects the system from further damaging itself.

As a result, a part failure does not reduce the lifespan of the system. It just means that the part(s) needs to be replaced.

Since a tune-up is just a system inspection that does not do anything, a tune-up cannot increase a system’s performance. Only a repair can increase performance. Additionally, system performance and efficiency can only be restored back to what the system is designed to do. It cannot be increased beyond its capability.

When your system is not operating correctly, you will know. The system will operate longer than normal, will struggle to satisfy the set temperature at the thermostat, if it even satisfies it at all, and most noticeably, it will become uncomfortable in your home temperature wise.

Any of these symptoms will clearly notify you that you need to schedule service for your system to get it checked out so a repair can be made.

Otherwise, if your system is keeping up as it normally would, then there is nothing to worry about and no need to get it serviced.

If you notice any issues with your system such as:

• It is running more often or for longer than it normally does.

• It is making a loud or unusual noise including buzzing, squealing at startup, or while operating.

• It is not operating correctly for any reason.

These are all indicators that your system is need of a repair and not a tune-up.

However, since a tune-up is just an inspection of the system, a request to repair the system will start with a full inspection of the system; just like a tune-up.

We do ask when requesting service, that you please specify your system is not functioning properly. Doing so will allow us to accurately schedule for a potential repair and not just a unit inspection (tune-up).

If a system ever does need more refrigerant, this is because there is a leak in the system that needs to be located and repaired. This is not something that preventative maintenance could ever stop from happening.

Additionally, locating a leak can be a much more involved process. As such, it is never included in a basic tune-up. Identifying the system is low on refrigerant is included, but the actual search for the leak is excluded by all companies as this is part of the repair procedure which is much more labor intensive.

The type of system you have will determine how you can easily tell if the condensate drain is plugged or not.

HORIZONTAL UNIT IN ATTIC

If your air handler or furnace is in the attic, then there will be a secondary drain line that exits the exterior wall of your home. This PVC pipe will be about 8’ to 10’ (or higher) above where the primary drain line exits the wall. It will usually have a 90 degree elbow attached to the end of the pipe.

The primary drain line is the PVC pipe that sticks out of the wall and is usually dripping water in July or August. Look above this pipe to find the secondary drain.

If water is dripping from the secondary drain, then you have a plugged or restricted primary drain line that needs to be cleared. If there is not water, then you are good and there is no maintenance required.

VERTICAL UNIT IN CLOSET

If your air handler or furnace is in a closet, then the secondary drain line will also exit the exterior wall like the horizontal unit above. Instead of the pipe being located up high on the wall, it may be located right next to the primary drain’s exit point. It may vary from home to home depending on if you have a condensate pump and the routing that the original installer took.

You will need to look around your home to see where the primary and secondary drains exit. The same clogged or not clogged conditions apply as the unit above. If water is coming from the secondary drain, then the primary drain needs to be cleared. Otherwise you are good.

ROOFTOP PACKAGE UNIT

If you have a packed unit that is located on the roof, there is only one drain line. As a result, you will know this line is plugged or even possibly broken when water is dripping off the roof from area that does not normally have water dripping from it.

If this is the case, then the drain line needs to be cleared or repaired. Due to sun exposure, the PVC line becomes brittle over time and has a tendency to break.