Heating and cooling systems work hard in Northern Utah. Furnaces run through long, cold winters, and air conditioners push through hot, dusty summers. Regular maintenance is the simplest way to keep that equipment running well and catch problems early. This guide explains what a tune-up covers, how our 88-point inspection works and what you can do between visits.
Why maintenance matters
Most breakdowns start as small problems: a weak part, a dirty coil, a loose wire. Left alone, they get worse until something fails, usually on the hottest or coldest day of the year. A yearly check finds those problems while they are still small.
Fewer surprise breakdowns
Capacitors, igniters and flame sensors give warning signs a technician can spot. Replacing a worn part on your schedule beats an emergency call on a January night.
Lower energy use
Dirty coils, clogged filters and low refrigerant all make a system run longer to do the same job. Clean equipment moves heat more easily and uses less power or gas to do it.
Longer equipment life
Motors and compressors last longer when they are not straining against dirt and poor airflow.
Safety checks
For gas furnaces, a tune-up includes combustion analysis and carbon monoxide testing. Those checks matter in homes that keep the windows shut all winter.
What a seasonal tune-up covers
We recommend a cooling tune-up in spring and a heating tune-up in fall. Heat pumps benefit from both, since they run all year.
Cooling season checks
- Clean the outdoor condenser coil and check the fan.
- Test the capacitor, contactor and wiring.
- Check the refrigerant level and look for signs of leaks.
- Clear the condensate drain line.
- Measure the temperature drop across the indoor coil.
Heating season checks
- Clean the burners and flame sensor.
- Inspect the heat exchanger for cracks.
- Test the igniter, safety switches and limit controls.
- Run combustion analysis and carbon monoxide testing.
- Check the blower motor, belt and wheel.
Our seasonal tune-up page explains each visit in more detail.
The 88-point inspection, explained
Our VIP Maintenance Plan is built around one yearly visit of about two hours. During that visit, we work through an 88-point inspection that covers both your HVAC system and your plumbing.
Why so many points?
A quick tune-up looks at the main parts of one system. The 88-point inspection goes further. It walks through your heating and cooling equipment, the controls, the airflow and the plumbing in your home, so problems in one area do not hide behind another.
What you get from the visit
- The 88-point HVAC and plumbing inspection.
- A 1-inch filter replacement.
- A written report of what we found, so you can plan ahead.
Plan member benefits
Plan members also get a discount on repairs and priority scheduling. When the first cold snap hits and everyone calls at once, priority scheduling puts you near the front of the line.
Efficiency ratings in plain terms
Equipment labels are full of letters. Here is what the common ones mean.
- SEER2 rates how efficiently an air conditioner or heat pump cools over a season. Higher numbers use less electricity for the same cooling.
- HSPF2 rates how efficiently a heat pump heats over a season.
- AFUE tells you how much of the fuel a furnace or boiler burns becomes heat for your home.
A high rating only pays off if the system is sized and installed correctly. A top-rated unit on leaky ducts or the wrong size will not perform the way the label suggests.
Everyday ways to save energy
Change filters on time
This is the cheapest efficiency step there is. Check monthly and change as needed.
Use a smart or programmable thermostat
Letting the house drift a few degrees while you sleep or work cuts run time. A smart thermostat does it for you and can be adjusted from your phone.
Seal the ducts
Ducts in attics, crawl spaces and garages often leak at the joints. That conditioned air is lost before it reaches your rooms. Duct sealing keeps more of it inside.
Mind the sun and the drafts
Close blinds on sunny summer afternoons. Open south-facing curtains on winter days. Weatherstrip doors and seal gaps around windows.
Keep the outdoor unit clear
Leaves, grass and snow around the outdoor unit block airflow. Give it room to breathe in every season.
A homeowner checklist for each season
Professional visits do the deep work. These quick checks fill the gaps between them and take only a few minutes.
Spring
- Clear leaves, cottonwood fluff and winter debris from around the outdoor unit.
- Put in a fresh filter before the first hot day.
- Switch the thermostat to cooling on a mild day to make sure it starts.
- Find the condensate drain line and make sure it drains freely.
Summer
- Check the filter monthly, and more often when wildfire smoke or dust is in the air.
- Rinse the outdoor coil gently with a garden hose if you see a layer of dust. Never use a pressure washer.
- Keep blinds closed on the sunny side of the house in the afternoon.
Fall
- Test the heat before the first cold night.
- Replace batteries in the thermostat and in carbon monoxide alarms.
- Shut down and drain a swamp cooler before the first freeze.
- Make sure furniture is not blocking supply or return vents.
Winter
- Keep snow away from the outdoor unit and from furnace intake and exhaust pipes.
- Check the filter monthly while the furnace runs long hours.
- Note any new sounds, smells or cold rooms and mention them at your next visit.
Signs your system is overdue for service
If it has been more than a year since anyone looked at your system, watch for these signs. Each one is easier and cheaper to deal with early.
- Energy bills that climb while the weather stays about the same.
- Rooms that feel warmer or colder than they used to.
- A system that runs longer, or starts and stops more often, than it once did.
- More dust on furniture, or a musty smell when the system starts.
- Ice on refrigerant lines in summer, or a furnace that shuts off on its own in winter.
When maintenance is not enough
Sometimes a tune-up turns up a part that is worn out, or a system that is near the end of its life. We will tell you plainly what we find and give you the options. If repair makes sense, we explain the cost before any work starts. If replacement makes more sense, we offer free estimates on new system installations, and financing is available through our lending partners.
Book your tune-up
Ready to schedule a tune-up or ask about the VIP plan? Call (435) 730-2536. Our office is open Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 6 PM, with 24/7 emergency service on the same line. You can also schedule online.
Common questions
How often should my HVAC system be serviced?
Once a year for each system is the minimum. Many homeowners book a cooling check in spring and a heating check in fall.
What is included in the VIP Maintenance Plan?
One yearly visit with an 88-point HVAC and plumbing inspection, a 1-inch filter replacement and a written report, plus a discount on repairs and priority scheduling.
Does maintenance really lower energy bills?
Clean coils, fresh filters and correct refrigerant help a system do its job with less run time, which usually means lower use.
What time of year should I book a tune-up?
Spring for cooling and early fall for heating, before the busy season starts.