“Tune-up” might be the vaguest phrase in home services. Some companies mean a ten-minute glance and a sales pitch. Here is what a real one includes — the actual checklist — so you know what you are paying for anywhere you call.
The outdoor unit (condenser)
- Coil inspection and cleaning. A season of dust and cottonwood fluff acts like a jacket on the coil. Cleaning restores the unit’s ability to shed heat — the single most noticeable performance item.
- Capacitor test. This small part starts the compressor and fan. It weakens quietly for months, then fails on the first brutal afternoon. Measuring it catches the failure before the heat wave does.
- Electrical connections. Loose lugs and worn contactors cause heat, pitting, and eventually a dead unit. Tightening and inspection take minutes.
- Refrigerant check. Pressures and temperatures reveal whether the charge is correct and the compressor is healthy. Low charge means a leak worth finding, not just topping off year after year.
The indoor side
- Evaporator coil and blower inspection. Dust on the indoor coil and blower wheel cuts airflow — the root of frozen coils and weak cooling.
- Filter and return airflow. Confirming the filter type suits the system, and the return isn’t starving it.
- Condensate drain flush. The clog that causes August water damage starts as spring slime. Flushing it is cheap insurance.
- Temperature split measurement. Comparing return and supply air temperatures verifies the system is actually delivering its rated cooling.
- Thermostat check. Confirming it reads accurately and cycles the equipment correctly.
Why the timing matters
The value of a tune-up is almost entirely in when it happens: spring, before the first heat wave. Weak capacitors, marginal charge, and dirty coils all survive mild weather and fail under extreme load. Finding them in April means a planned fix; finding them in July means a hot house and a wait list.
How ProCare handles it
Our ProCare plan ($19.50/mo) includes the spring AC tune-up and the fall heating tune-up — both prepaid, both scheduled proactively so they actually happen. Members also receive priority scheduling, 10% off repair services, reduced cost diagnostics with approved repairs, and manufacturer warranty support.
It exists for one reason: the systems we maintain on schedule almost never give their owners a July emergency.
Has your AC been checked since last summer? Book an AC tune-up, call (916) 927-4500, or schedule online. Since 1959 — no sales pitch, just the checklist, done right.
