4 Ways an AC Tune‑Up Prevents Breakdowns

Updated April 2024

If you value something, you’ll want to do everything possible to make sure it receives the right care. The air conditioning unit inside your home is no different. It is an important system that provides you comfort and peace of mind, especially during the Arizona summers. How do you give your HVAC unit the attention that it needs? A tune-up can help.

Professional HVAC technicians will properly inspect, clean, and perform minor repairs to your system during a tune-up. Usually, AC tune-ups are scheduled once a year before the upcoming summer.

Keeping a consistent schedule for regular AC tune-ups can prevent breakdowns and reduce the cost of repairs since a well-maintained system has less wear and tear.

When your AC gets a tune-up, it prevents future breakdowns and saves you money by:

Let’s take a look at how each way plays an important role in helping your HVAC unit perform at its best.

The quality of the air inside your home relies heavily on the central air conditioner. A regular tune-up ensures contaminants like pollen and dust do not build up, spread into the ducts, or circulate throughout your home.

If you’ve noticed your filter becoming overly dirty, it can no longer filter out particles in the air from entering your home. Then, allergy symptoms might increase, or respiratory conditions might worsen.

Air filters need regular replacements around 30 to 60 days, depending on the unit, to maintain proper air quality within your home. If you're unsure how to replace it, ask your HVAC technician on your next tune-up visit.

Tune-ups are a great way to ensure better air quality levels in your home. When your air conditioner is running smoothly, you can rest assured that fewer breakdowns will happen. A properly working AC will blow clean air inside your home.

A regularly maintained AC system means a more cool and energy-efficient home. During a tune-up, technicians will extensively clean the evaporator and condenser coils and monitor the system’s efficiency to ensure it works properly. After checking your system, they will inform you of ways to maintain or improve its performance. An efficient AC can prevent breakdowns by keeping it performing at its best—and reduce your energy bills.

A typical AC tune-up costs around $150 but could vary depending on the kind of repairs your AC may need.

A tune-up can reduce the number of future repairs needed on your AC, as the technician will be able to find any major problems and address them before they turn into a more expensive breakdown. The technician can sometimes help you avoid repairs altogether because your AC system is intertwined, so when one broken part falters, other parts might suffer through a domino effect. Catching the first issue can stop others from arising, saving you money on unwanted repairs.

Technicians will inspect the system’s internal and external components and check:

• If your thermostat is operating correctly
• Defrost components on the unit
• Dry bearings and lubricate any moving parts
• Leaky pipes and ducts
• Quality of filters
• Voltage to all motors and compressor
• Working indoor and outdoor coils

The importance of preventative maintenance like an AC tune-up can help you avoid significant problems with your system and total breakdowns.

An AC system lasts about 10-15 years on average with proper maintenance. Without tune-ups, the system is at a higher risk of a shorter lifespan due to frequent breakdowns.

Every time a repair occurs or your system stops running, the chance of needing an overall replacement increases. Installing a new system is a high cost compared to the price of an annual or biannual tune-up.

Tune-ups extend system lifespan by limiting strain, not to mention they reduce stress for a homeowner wanting to maintain their system for as long as possible.