There is a difference between a tune up and an A/C Check up. Most companies offer tune ups in their advertising but are really only offering a check up!
What's the difference? Well consider going to the dentist and the difference between a check for cavities or a having your teeth cleaned! Most companies that offer tune ups are just offering a check up, they aren't really offering a tune up. A check up is just that, and its easy to tell what you received when you get your invoice. It will usually have a bunch of items with check marks, indicating that they checked something. A tune up on the other hand is a mini service.

We offer both a check up and a tune up, but we always recommend the tune up its a more in-depth service that gives you what you are really looking for.. Both services are listed below.

A check up is $ 59.00 it takes about a half hour and it includes the following..

      * Thermostat Operation check
      * Compressor operation
      * Refrigerant pressures checked
      * Condenser fan motor Amps checked
      * Condenser coil checked
      * Contactor operation checked
      * Air Filter Checked
      * Blower Motor air holes checked
      * Blower Motor operation checked.
      * Compressor Capacitor inspected
      * Air flow at all supply diffusers checked
      * Supply and return air temperature differential checked.

A Tune Up is $ 165.00 It takes about an hour and it includes..

  • Thermostat operation checked
  • Thermostat batteries replaced
  • Thermostat reprogrammed
  • Air Filter replaced
  • Condenser coil washed
  • Indoor Blower motor air holes cleaned and vacuumed
  • Replace Blower motor Capacitor
  • Replace compressor/Condenser Fan Motor Capacitor
  • Test condenser fan motor bearings and oil if applicable.
  • Tests Contactor voltage drop across contactor Points
  • Wash Condenser Coil with coil cleaner
  • Test refrigerant levels, test superheat 
  • Test sub cooling to maximum performance of condenser
  • Top off refrigerant charge if necessary-one pound of refrigerant included.
  • Test compressor suction valve operation
  • Test compressor discharge valve
  • Remove debris from the bottom of the inside of the a/c unit and ensure water drain holes are clear.
  • Install locking refrigerant caps on service ports.
  • Test temperature differential between return air temperature and supply air temperature
  • Test relative humidity level during unit operation 
  • blow out condensation drain line using nitrogen

As you can see, the sheer volume of work and the materials included in a tune up make the tune up a service that actually does something and actually has value. As a contractor, we try to do all we can to minimize an unnecessary call backs on equipment that we get called out on to service. That's why we recommend that you change your capacitors about every five years, because most of the service calls that we run have some form of capacitor issue and in our experience, they are cheap enough to warrant a replacement whenever a tune up or service call is run because they can cause very expensive problems and equipment failures when they fail unexpectedly.  

The problems that a failed capacitor can cause include, compressor failures, fan motor failures, evaporator icing, blower motor failures and the list goes on. Be proactive and understand that many of todays manufacturers use parts that were manufactured in other countries and some of those parts fail often as a result of cheap construction. So be proactive and do your best to eliminate unexpected problems when you have the chance, and a tune up is a great chance to get it done!
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