Spring and Fall HVAC Tune-Ups: What You Get and Why Twice a Year

Most homeowners call an HVAC company when something stops working. A tune-up is the opposite: a visit that happens while everything still works, meant to keep it that way. The guidance from Summit Heating and Air is to schedule HVAC maintenance at least twice a year, ideally in the spring and fall.

Why two visits instead of one

Your system does two different jobs. In summer it cools, and in winter it heats, and each season leans on different parts. A spring visit prepares the system for the demands of summer. A fall visit does the same ahead of winter.

Summit's own advice for the two halves is consistent with that. Air conditioning maintenance is recommended once a year, ideally in the spring before heavy cooling season use. Heating service is recommended once a year, ideally before the heating season starts. Put those together and you get a spring visit and a fall visit.

There is a practical side to the timing too. Spring and fall are the seasons when you are least likely to be without heating or cooling if a part turns out to need replacing. A problem found in April or October can be handled on a calm schedule. A problem found in the first heat wave or the first hard freeze is handled in a hurry.

What a seasonal tune-up covers

A seasonal tune-up is a thorough inspection and servicing of your heating and cooling systems. The technician checks for optimal performance, cleans components, and makes sure the system is running efficiently. Summit breaks that into three parts:

• Seasonal tune-up. Regular tune-ups for your heating and cooling systems to keep performance and energy efficiency where they should be year-round.
• Component inspection. A look at key parts of the system, such as the thermostat, filters, belts, and motors, so potential issues are found and addressed before they become major problems.
• Cleaning and lubrication. Cleaning and lubricating moving parts to reduce friction and wear, which helps the system run quietly and efficiently.

None of that is dramatic, and that is the point. A worn belt or a dirty motor found in April is a scheduled repair. The same part failing on a hot afternoon is an emergency.

What one customer says about twice-a-year visits

Sandra Smith wrote in a Google review: "We used The Summit HVAC team to install our new units about three years ago and have them back twice a year to check everything out. They are always professional and offer a fair price for their services." That is the rhythm the maintenance guidance describes, and it is a fair picture of what a plan customer does.

The Peak Performance Plans

Summit offers two levels of Peak Performance Plans. These are the benefits as Summit lists them.

Gold Plan:

• 10% discount on repairs
• Discounted service fee of $79
• 5% discount on accessories and new equipment install
• 4 filters provided annually
• 1x cooling tune up
• 1x heating tune up

Platinum Plan:

• 15% discount on repairs
• Discounted service fee of $59
• 10% discount on accessories and new equipment install
• Blower motor pulled and cleaned annually
• 2 year parts and labor warranty
• 4 filters provided annually
• First lb of 410A is free (annually)
• Automatically qualifies for a 10 year parts and 10 year labor warranty if a new unit is purchased

Read side by side, the two lists differ in a few clear ways. Gold lists one cooling tune-up and one heating tune-up. Platinum raises the repair discount from 10% to 15%, lowers the discounted service fee from $79 to $59, adds an annual blower motor cleaning and a 2 year parts and labor warranty, and includes the first pound of 410A refrigerant free each year. Both include four filters annually.

Plan pricing is not published on Summit's site, so the number to have is the phone: call 479-234-4600 and ask. Also ask how visits are scheduled under each plan and how the discounts apply to your system. Maintenance plan members also receive priority scheduling for service calls and repairs.

What you can do between visits

A tune-up works best alongside a few habits. Check the air filter regularly and replace it when it is dirty. The Gold plan provides four filters a year, which is a helpful reminder that filters are meant to be swapped, not admired. Keep the area around the outdoor unit clear of leaves, grass, and shrubs. Keep fresh batteries in the thermostat. And if the system starts making a new noise, cycling on and off, or blowing weak air, call instead of waiting for the next scheduled visit.

To set up a spring or fall tune-up, or to ask about a plan, call Summit Heating and Air at 479-234-4600 and ask about Summit's maintenance plans.