What the cooling tune-up checks
The cooling tune-up checks everything that keeps your AC or heat pump running through a Kentucky summer:
- Refrigerant pressures, superheat and subcooling
- Capacitor and contactor, tested against their ratings
- Compressor and outdoor fan motor amp draw
- Outdoor coil, checked and rinsed
- Condensate drain line and pan, cleared
- Blower motor and wheel
- Electrical connections, tightened
- Refrigerant line insulation
- Thermostat operation and the temperature difference across the indoor coil
- Filter condition
What the heating tune-up checks
The heating tune-up checks the parts that keep your furnace or heat pump running safely all winter:
- Full ignition sequence, from call for heat to blower start
- Flame sensor, cleaned and tested
- Burners and flame
- Gas pressure
- Heat exchanger, a visual check wherever it can be seen
- Inducer motor, pressure switch and limit switches
- Blower motor and wheel
- Venting, plus a carbon monoxide check
- Thermostat and filter
- Heat pumps: defrost control, reversing valve and aux heat strips
If we find a problem on either tune-up, we explain it and give you a firm, flat-rate repair price. Nothing gets fixed unless you say so.
When to schedule in Kentucky
Schedule the cooling tune-up in spring and the heating tune-up in early fall.
Spring, for cooling. March through May, before the first hot, humid stretch. It's easier to get on the schedule before the heat arrives, and you find out about a weak part while it's still 70 degrees outside.
Early fall, for heating. September or October, before the first real cold snap. That's the week everyone in Central Kentucky turns the heat on at once.
If you have a heat pump, it does both jobs, so it benefits from both visits.
Comfort Club or pay per visit?
If you want both tune-ups every year plus a repair discount, the Comfort Club is the better fit. Here's how the two compare:
| Pay per visit | Comfort Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Tune-ups | Priced per visit | Two a year, one heating and one cooling |
| Yearly cost | Only what you book | $180 |
| Repairs | Standard flat-rate pricing | 20% off |
| Scheduling | Regular | Priority |
| Overtime fees | None | None |
Two separate tune-ups may cost a little less than the club. The difference is the 20% off repairs and priority scheduling. If you ever need a repair, the discount can make up the gap quickly. If you only want one tune-up a year and rarely need repairs, paying per visit is fine too. Neither option comes with overtime fees, because nobody pays those with us.
More on the Comfort Club.
Filter guidance
The filter is the one piece of maintenance you should do yourself, and it matters more than most people think.
- 1-inch filters: check monthly, change every one to three months. Change them more often with pets, allergies or a remodel going on.
- 4- or 5-inch media filters: usually every six to twelve months.
- MERV rating: MERV 8 to 11 works well for most homes. Very high MERV 1-inch filters can choke airflow on some systems, so ask us before you go above that.
- Direction: the arrow on the frame points toward the blower, away from the return grille.
- Tip: write the date on the frame when you put it in.
A clogged filter is one of the most common causes of frozen AC coils and overheating furnaces.
HVAC Maintenance questions
How often should I get my system tuned up?
Once a year for each job it does. That means a cooling tune-up in spring for your AC and a heating tune-up in early fall for your furnace. A heat pump heats and cools, so it should get both visits. The Comfort Club covers exactly that: one heating and one cooling tune-up a year.
Is a tune-up worth it on a newer system?
Yes. New systems still need their refrigerant charge, drains, electrical parts and airflow checked, and small problems are cheapest to fix early. It's also worth reading your equipment warranty, since some manufacturers expect regular professional maintenance. A yearly visit gives you a record of it.
What happens if you find a problem during a tune-up?
We show you what we found, explain it in plain language and give you a firm, flat-rate price to fix it. You decide whether to go ahead, now or later. Comfort Club members get 20% off that repair. We don't pad a tune-up with repairs you don't need.
Can I change my own filter?
Yes, and you should. Turn the system off, slide the old filter out, note the size printed on the frame and slide the new one in with the arrow pointing toward the blower. If you can't find the filter or it's an odd size, ask us at your next visit and we'll show you.
Does a tune-up include duct cleaning?
No. We don't offer duct cleaning. A tune-up covers the equipment: the outdoor unit, indoor coil, furnace or air handler, drains, electrical parts and thermostat. If we notice a duct problem during a visit, like a disconnected run or crushed flex duct, we'll point it out.
What's the difference between a tune-up and the Comfort Club?
A tune-up is a single flat-rate visit. The Comfort Club is $180 a year and includes two tune-ups, one heating and one cooling, plus 20% off repairs and priority scheduling. For a little more than two separate visits, the club adds the repair discount and priority scheduling.
Where we work
Lexington and nine nearby towns, with no travel surcharge and the same flat-rate pricing everywhere.