What's Actually Included in an HVAC Tune-Up (And What to Ask For)

“Annual tune-up” gets thrown around a lot in HVAC marketing. It sounds like a commodity — book the cheapest one, check the box. The problem is that what one company calls a tune-up and what another company calls a tune-up can be completely different things. Here’s what the work should actually involve, and how to tell if you’re getting it.

Why Tune-Ups Matter in Columbus Specifically

Central Ohio runs its HVAC systems hard. We cool from May through September in heat and humidity, then heat from November through March in dry, cold air. That’s essentially two full seasons of heavy use with only brief transition windows in between.

Systems that don’t get maintained in this climate degrade faster, consume more energy, and fail at the worst possible times — usually the first cold day in November or the first hot week in June, right when demand spikes and appointment availability shrinks.

A tune-up isn’t just maintenance theater. Done right, it extends equipment life and catches problems before they become expensive.

What a Proper AC Tune-Up Should Include

When we do a cooling tune-up, this is the actual work:

Electrical components

Check and tighten all electrical connections
Test capacitors (these fail commonly and are often the cause of no-start calls)
Inspect contactors for wear or pitting
Measure amp draw on the blower motor and compressor

Refrigerant system

Check system pressures against manufacturer specs
Inspect for visible refrigerant leaks at connections and coils
Note: adding refrigerant without finding and fixing a leak is a bandage, not a fix

Coils and airflow

Clean or inspect evaporator coil (indoor)
Clean condenser coil (outdoor) — Columbus cottonwood and grass clippings clog these every summer
Check and clear condensate drain line — this prevents water damage and mold growth
Measure temperature split (the difference between return air and supply air should be 14–22°F)

Controls and operation

Verify thermostat calibration
Test cycling operation
Inspect blower wheel and motor
Check and replace air filter if needed (or note if customer-supplied)

What a Proper Furnace Tune-Up Should Include

Combustion and safety

Inspect heat exchanger for cracks — this is the most important safety check in the whole visit
Test for carbon monoxide at the flue and in the living space
Check burner operation and flame pattern
Measure combustion efficiency where possible

Gas system

Inspect gas valve operation
Check manifold pressure
Inspect flue and venting for blockages or deterioration — bird nests in flue pipes are more common than people expect

Electrical and controls

Inspect and clean flame sensor — a dirty flame sensor is the number one cause of furnace lockout calls
Check igniter condition (hot surface igniters are wear items)
Test limit switches and safety controls
Check and tighten electrical connections

Airflow

Inspect and clean blower wheel
Check motor amp draw
Inspect filter and document condition
Measure static pressure if equipment is available

What a Tune-Up Is NOT

A lot of “$49 tune-up” specials get you a technician who swaps your filter, runs the system briefly, and calls it done. That’s a filter change, not a tune-up.

Red flags that suggest a surface-level visit:

No measurements taken (temperature split, pressures, amp draws)
No inspection of the heat exchanger mentioned in the report
Visit completed in under 30 minutes
No written documentation of what was checked

A real tune-up on a gas furnace and AC takes 60–90 minutes minimum to do correctly. If it’s faster than that, corners were cut.

The Filter Question

We get asked about filters constantly. A few honest answers:

1-inch fiberglass filters should be changed every 30 days. They’re cheap but provide minimal filtration. Fine for the equipment, not great for air quality.

1-inch pleated filters — change every 60–90 days depending on pets, dust, and household traffic.

4-inch media filters — these are what we install when given the choice. Change once or twice a year, better filtration, better airflow than cheap pleated filters that load up and restrict the system.

The dirtier your filter gets, the harder your blower works. A clogged filter is one of the most common reasons we find systems short-cycling or not reaching temperature. Check yours before you call for a service visit — it’s a free first step.

When to Schedule in Columbus

Cooling tune-up: March or April, before the first hot stretch. Don’t wait until June — you’ll be competing with everyone else who waited.

Heating tune-up: September or October. Get it done before the system runs hard.

If you have a heat pump, you need both — spring for cooling mode, fall for heating mode. Heat pumps run year-round and the maintenance schedule reflects that.

Questions to Ask When Booking a Tune-Up

Before you book with anyone, ask these:

What specifically does your tune-up include? — If they can’t give you a specific list, that’s your answer.
Will you inspect the heat exchanger and document the result? — Non-negotiable on a gas furnace.
How long does the visit typically take? — Under 45 minutes is a flag.
Do you provide written documentation? — You want a record of what was found.

The Bottom Line

A tune-up is only worth paying for if it’s actually done. Ask for the checklist upfront. Expect written documentation. Budget for the real thing — a $49 special that doesn’t include the safety checks isn’t saving you money.

Call us at 614-800-9270 or schedule online. We serve Columbus, Worthington, Dublin, Westerville, Hilliard, Grove City, Gahanna, New Albany, and surrounding Central Ohio communities.

John Badger is the owner of J Badger HVAC, a Grove City HVAC company serving Greater Columbus.