When Should I Schedule an Air Conditioner Maintenance Tune-Up?

Horn Plumbing & Heating has decades of experience performing residential AC tune-ups in Pennsylvania, and we encourage area homeowners to schedule that service once a year. Like many homeowners, you may be wondering “When should I schedule an air conditioner maintenance tune-up?”, and with that question in mind, let’s explore when you should and what you should do if you miss that window.

Spring Is the Ideal Time to Schedule an AC Tune-Up

The answer to when should I schedule an air conditioner tune-up is sometime in spring prior to the cooling season. This recommendation is an industry standard set forth by the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute, and the goal of the AHRI recommendation is to ensure that your HVAC technician is the first person to turn your AC on each season. Before doing that, your technician will clean your system and check for any wear and tear.

What to Do If You Forget to Schedule

Another common question homeowners ask is when should I schedule an air conditioner maintenance tune-up if I have already begun using the air conditioner. The answer to that question is as soon as possible as long as you’re still using the air conditioner. Even if it’s the middle of summer, Horn can come out to your home and clean, inspect, and tune up your AC system with only minimal disruption to your home. If the cooling season has already come and gone, then it’s better to focus on your heating system instead. You can simply schedule your AC tune-up for next year when spring comes around again.

Is Once a Year Enough If You Have a Heat Pump?

No. You should have your cooling system serviced once a year and your heating system serviced once a year. If you have a heat pump or mini-split heat pump, those units need to be serviced in autumn before the heating system as well in order to ensure that they run as efficiently as possible.

How Much Does an AC Tune-Up Cost?

The exact cost of an AC tune-up varies depending on the system and if any proactive repairs are required. All things considered, it’s a relatively small expense as it is required by most HVAC warranties and will lower your cooling costs on a month-to-month basis and thus pay for itself over the course of the season.