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HVAC Tune-Up Checklist: What a Contractor Should Check

ENERGY STAR recommends a contractor check-up of your heating and cooling system before each season, cooling in the spring and heating in the fall. Between visits, check your air filter every month. Airflow problems alone can cut efficiency by up to 15 percent.

When to book it

Schedule the cooling check in the spring and the heating check in the fall. Contractors get busy once summer and winter arrive, so booking early is easier. [1]

What a tune-up should include

  • Checking thermostat settings
  • Tightening electrical connections and measuring voltage and current on motors
  • Lubricating moving parts to cut friction
  • Checking the condensate drain, since a plugged drain can cause water damage
  • Checking that the system starts, runs and shuts off properly
[1]

Cooling season extras

  • Cleaning the evaporator and condenser coils
  • Checking the refrigerant level, since too much or too little reduces efficiency
  • Cleaning and adjusting blower parts for proper airflow

Airflow problems can reduce your system's efficiency by up to 15 percent. [1]

Heating season extras

For gas or oil systems, the contractor should check the fuel connections, gas pressure, burner combustion and heat exchanger. A system that isn't running properly is a fire hazard and can affect your health. [1]

Your monthly job

Inspect your air filter once a month and clean or change it as needed. A dirty filter raises energy costs and can make equipment fail early. Ask your contractor to show you how. [1]

What to ask an HVAC company

  • Which items on the ENERGY STAR checklist does your tune-up cover?
  • Is the price flat, or do refrigerant and parts cost extra?
  • Will you give me a written report of what you found?
  • Do you offer a maintenance plan, and what exactly does it include?

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Questions

How often should I get my HVAC serviced?

ENERGY STAR recommends a contractor check-up before each season: cooling in the spring and heating in the fall.

How often should I change my air filter?

Check it once a month and clean or change it as needed, according to ENERGY STAR.

Does maintenance really save energy?

ENERGY STAR says airflow problems can reduce efficiency by up to 15 percent, and dirty filters and coils raise energy costs.

Sources

  1. Maintenance Checklist, ENERGY STAR

This guide is general information, not professional advice. It summarizes the sources above, which were last checked on October 22, 2026. Talk to a licensed contractor about your own situation.

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