How Often Should I Have My Heating and AC Serviced?

Service your system before the season that tries to break it, not after.

A heat pump gets two visits because it runs year-round, cooling in summer and heating in winter.

Why does HVAC maintenance matter?

Most of what can go wrong with a system isn't visible from the living room. A weak capacitor, a worn contactor, a slow refrigerant leak, or a clogged drain won't announce itself until the first hot afternoon or cold snap, which is exactly when every HVAC company in the county is slammed.

A tune-up lets you find those problems on your schedule instead of the system's. ENERGY STAR notes that dirty coils make a system run longer, which raises energy costs and reduces equipment life. Maintenance is the cheap part of owning a system. Emergency repairs and early replacement are the expensive part.

Why does maintenance matter more now that HVAC systems cost more?

Replacing a system costs a lot more than it did ten years ago, and several things pushed prices up at once.

• Equipment prices. The Bureau of Labor Statistics' producer price index for air-conditioning and forced-air heating equipment rose from 181.8 in August 2016 to 324.8 in August 2026, roughly 79%. The consumer price index for all items rose roughly 39% over the same ten years, so equipment prices climbed about twice as fast as prices in general. (It tracks manufacturer prices, not installed prices.)
• Efficiency standards. Since January 1, 2023, the Department of Energy requires split-system central air conditioners installed in the Southeast, including Georgia, to meet 14.3 SEER2 (for units under 45,000 Btu/hr). DOE acknowledges new air conditioners "might be more expensive," though they save on utility bills.
• The refrigerant change. New systems built from 2025 onward move away from R-410A to lower-warming refrigerants such as R-454B. In 2024, Lennox expected a price increase of "10%-plus" on its R-454B line and Carrier projected 15% to 20% over two years. Those were company projections, not retail prices. Contractors can still service existing R-410A systems.
• Metals and tariffs. Lennox and Carrier cited tariffs and raw material costs in their first-quarter 2026 reports. A June 2026 proclamation cut the tariff on certain residential HVAC products from 25% to 15%, which aims to head off further increases, not roll back earlier ones.

The total is substantial. Angi's August 2026 guide puts a typical HVAC replacement at roughly $5,000 to $12,500, averaging around $7,500, and up to roughly $22,000 with new ductwork and extras.

Think of it like a car. You change the oil, rotate the tires, and replace worn brake pads because those small jobs cost far less than a new engine, and they help the car last. An HVAC system works the same way. Maintenance can't stop aging, but it's your best tool for getting the efficiency and years you paid for. ENERGY STAR says airflow problems alone can reduce a system's efficiency by up to 15 percent.

What does an HVAC tune-up include?

A proper tune-up is a hands-on preventative maintenance visit with measurements, not a quick look and a wipe-down. Our technicians work from the checklists below.

What do these checks mean in plain English?

The cooling checks:

• Refrigerant charge and pressures. Refrigerant circulates in a sealed loop, so a low charge usually means a leak. A wrong charge makes the compressor work harder and cool less.
• Temperature differential. How much colder the air leaves your system than enters it. It shows how well the system moves heat.
• Wiring, voltage, and amp draw. Loose connections create heat, and high amp draw means motors or the compressor are working too hard.
• Contactor and pressure switches. The contactor is the switch that starts your outdoor unit, and its contacts wear with every cycle. Pressure switches shut the system down if pressures go out of range.
• Capacitors. They give motors the electrical push to start. Testing catches a weak one before it fails on a hot afternoon.
• Evaporator and condenser coils. The indoor coil absorbs heat and moisture from your air, and the outdoor coil releases that heat. Dirt on either one makes the system run longer, which is the energy cost ENERGY STAR points to.
• Condensate line and float switch. Your AC pulls water out of humid Georgia air and sends it down a drain. The float switch shuts the system off if the drain backs up.

The heating checks:

• Burners, ignition, and flame sensor. A dirty flame sensor is a common reason a furnace lights and then shuts off.
• Gas pressure and leak check. The furnace needs the right gas pressure to burn properly, and the leak check confirms the gas stays where it belongs.
• Heat exchanger. This metal barrier keeps combustion gases out of the air you breathe. A crack can let carbon monoxide into your home.
• Carbon monoxide test. CO has no smell, so a measurement is the only reliable way to know.
• Flue and venting. A blocked or disconnected vent sends exhaust where it shouldn't go.
• Safety limit controls. They shut the furnace down if it overheats.
• Temperature rise, heat strips, and defrost. Temperature rise shows how much the furnace warms the air. Electric heat strips back up some systems on cold days, and heat pumps run a defrost cycle to clear frost from the outdoor unit.

The checks at every visit: thermostat calibration confirms the thermostat reads the room correctly. A dirty blower wheel moves less air. Lubrication reduces wear on motors and bearings. A ductwork look-over spots torn or leaky ducts that waste the air you've paid to heat or cool.

The heat exchanger check matters most for safety. That's why we recommend yearly furnace inspections and a carbon monoxide detector on every floor.

What does a tune-up look like for each type of system?

Central air conditioner

One professional visit a year, in spring. The spring checklist covers refrigerant charge, electrical checks, a clean condenser coil, a clear condensate line, and a performance check at the end. Between visits, Trane suggests keeping plants at least two feet away from your outdoor unit so airflow isn't blocked.

Gas furnace

One professional visit a year, in fall, before you need heat. The fall checklist is built around combustion and safety: burners, ignition, gas pressure, heat exchanger, flue, safety limits, and a carbon monoxide test.

Heat pump

A heat pump is one machine doing both jobs, so it gets two visits a year. In spring the technician covers the cooling side, with the same refrigerant, electrical, coil, and drain checks as an air conditioner. In fall the focus shifts to heating mode and the defrost cycle.

How can you prepare for a tune-up visit?

• Clear a path. Make sure the technician can reach your indoor unit (closet, attic, basement, or crawl space) and the outdoor unit, with plants at least two feet back from it.
• Write down what you've noticed. Odd noises, rooms that never get comfortable, a thermostat that seems off, or a bill that jumped.
• Gather your paperwork if your system is under warranty.
• Secure your pets while the technician works.

How can you tell a good tune-up from a quick look?

Anyone can glance at a system and say it looks fine. A real tune-up leaves evidence:

• Measurements, not opinions. The technician can tell you the pressures, temperature differential, amp draw, and carbon monoxide readings.
• Cleaning, not just looking. The condenser coil, condensate line, and burners get cleaned, where applicable.
• Testing of parts that wear. Capacitors, contactors, flame sensors, and safety controls are tested, not assumed.
• Furnace safety checks. A gas furnace visit without a heat exchanger inspection and a carbon monoxide check isn't a full tune-up.
• Plain-English findings. You hear what's fine, what's wearing out, and what a fix would cost.

To see what some of these problems look like, our HVAC FAQ page includes photos from real service calls.

When should you schedule service in Georgia?

Summers in Fayette, Henry, Coweta, Spalding, Fulton, and Clayton Counties are hot and humid, so your AC runs hard for months. Winters are mild but still need dependable heat, and pollen season loads up filters quickly.

A good rule of thumb: book AC service in March or April, before the first hot stretch, and heating service in September or October, before the first cold snap. ENERGY STAR notes that contractors get busy once summer and winter arrive, so booking early gives you more choices. If you missed the window, a mid-season tune-up can still catch a problem before it becomes a breakdown.

How often should you service your system in specific situations?

Twice a year is the baseline. Here's when to pay closer attention.

New system under warranty. Many manufacturer warranties expect routine maintenance, and a neglected system can have a warranty claim denied. Keep a record of every visit.

Older system (roughly 10+ years). Older equipment has more wear and usually runs less efficiently. Ask for an honest read on remaining life, so you can plan instead of rushing into HVAC replacement.

Pets, allergies, or lots of dust. Filters clog faster, so check yours monthly. Our indoor air quality options can help.

What can you do yourself, and what should you leave to a pro?

Do it yourself:

• Check your filter monthly and replace it on schedule
• Keep leaves and clutter away from the outdoor unit
• Test your carbon monoxide detectors and keep fresh batteries in them

Leave it to a pro:

• Anything involving refrigerant, which requires a certified technician
• Electrical parts such as capacitors, contactors, and wiring
• Gas connections, burners, and the heat exchanger
• Coil cleaning, flue inspection, and measuring pressures and carbon monoxide

If a job means opening a panel, call us.

How often should you change your air filter?

This is the one job you handle yourself. Look at your filter every month and replace it every one to three months. With pets, allergies, or Georgia pollen, lean toward monthly. ENERGY STAR also recommends monthly filter checks.

One caution: a higher rating isn't always better. Filters are rated by MERV, and a very dense filter can restrict airflow on systems not designed for one. If you're thinking about upgrading, ask your technician first.

What are the signs you've waited too long?

If you've gone more than a year without a tune-up, watch for:

• Weak airflow, or an AC running but not cooling. Check the thermostat and filter first, then call us.
• Ice on the unit. Turn the AC off, set the fan to "on" to help it thaw, and call if it freezes again.
• Higher energy bills with no change in your habits, or short cycling (the system turns on and off in quick bursts).
• Grinding or burning sounds or smells. If you ever smell gas, leave the house immediately and call your gas company or 911.
• A furnace that won't light or keeps shutting off.

None of these means you need a new system, but all are cheaper to fix early through HVAC repair.

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