When Is It Time for a Heating Tune-Up? 

When there’s a chill in the air, the last thing you want to deal with is a broken heating system. One of the most important things you can do to help keep your home comfortable in the cold months is to schedule a pre-season HVAC tune-up. 

American Home Shield® is here to answer tune-up questions so you understand the benefits. 

How often does an HVAC system need a tune-up? 

You should ideally get two pre-season tune-ups a year - one in the spring for your air conditioner so you can ensure it's ready for the hot, summer months ahead and another in the fall to prepare for the winter.

Put a reminder on the calendar at the end of summer or the beginning of fall to book your heating system tune-up—and make sure to schedule it in advance. Fall is a very busy season for this service, and no one wants to be without heat when the temps drop. 

In between tune-ups, we also recommend changing your air filters every 1-2 months to prevent major HVAC issues and to ensure good indoor air quality. 

Why does my heater need a tune-up?  

According to research by ClearVantage, the typical cost to repair or replace a furnace or heating unit is $120 to $6,000*—without a home warranty plan from American Home Shield®. Nobody wants to deal with an expense like that if they can avoid it. 

Basic preventive maintenance, like a heating tune-up, can help extend the life of your unit, ensuring you don’t have to replace it before it’s necessary—but that’s just one advantage of a pre-season tune-up service.  

Benefits of a heater tune-up

For a minimal cost, a heater tune-up provides several repair and maintenance benefits: 

• Lower utility bills. You can lower your electric and gas bills by ensuring your heating system is performing as efficiently as possible. Heating costs can account for a large portion of these bills in the fall and winter, and a tune-up will help ensure your unit uses energy efficiently. 

• Better airflow and air quality in your home. An annual tune-up service will help maintain proper airflow throughout your home. If problems with your unit restrict the airflow into your house, air won’t distribute evenly, and your home won’t heat consistently. Technicians will also check your filters, which will help improve air quality. 
• Enhanced safety. A heating unit that isn’t regularly serviced can develop leaks in the heat exchanger. These leaks are caused by cracks due to a lack of maintenance and airflow issues, which can lead to dangerous carbon monoxide levels in your home. Additionally, technicians will check burners for proper operation and combustion. 
• Fewer major breakdowns and expensive repairs. A broken heating unit can be a real emergency when temperatures are at or below freezing. Getting your heater serviced reduces the risk of serious problems occurring throughout the season. Tune-ups can help to diagnose minor issues that could turn into serious, expensive problems down the road. 

Bottom line: A heater tune-up can save a substantial amount of cash in the long run, just like adjusting your thermostat to save money.

How much does a heater tune-up cost?  

American Home Shield members can get a heating tune-up during select months each fall from one of our approved service contractors for just $75 per unit. If you have the ShieldPlatinum™ plan, your first tune-up of one unit is included for free.  

What should I expect from a heater tune-up? 

When you book a heater tune-up appointment through your American Home Shield® home warranty plan, a qualified service technician will run several diagnostic checks to make sure your system is working efficiently and is prepared for colder temperatures. Here is what they’ll do: 

• Check the thermostat, filters, refrigerant levels, and system pressures 
• Test the temperature split, capacitors and operations, and the safety and limit switches 
• Perform an amp draw on the condenser/evaporator motor and compressor 
• Rinse the condenser coils 

• Check the contactor and evaporator coil and the heat exchanger 
• Clean and tighten all electrical connections 
• Clean the burners 
• Inspect the pilot system 

The time it takes to service your heater depends on factors like the condition of your furnace and if it’s in a spot with easy access. If the technician finds an issue with one of the above items, and you wish to repair it, you’ll be charged your Trade Service Call Fee for the technician to repair it, subject to limitations and exclusions under your home warranty coverage agreement. See the plan contract for coverage details, including service fees, limitations and exclusions. Charges for non-covered items may apply.    

Proper maintenance in the form of annual heater tune-ups can help extend your unit’s longevity. However, every system and appliance has a shelf life. When your heater eventually succumbs to normal wear and tear, our heating unit warranty coverage can help you replace it without breaking your budget.  

*Repair/Replacement costs ranges are the twentieth and eightieth percentile of U.S. costs as reported in A Study of Homeowners’ Appliance and Home Systems Service Experiences, a nationwide survey of homeowners conducted in 2019 by ClearVantage for American Home Shield.  Further reproduction or use is expressly prohibited.

AHS assumes no responsibility, and specifically disclaims all liability, for your use of any and all information contained herein.