It's the most-asked question we get every fall: what does an AC tune-up actually include? Fair question — because "tune-up" gets thrown around a lot, and not every company's version means the same thing. Here's exactly what our techs do during the $75 fall tune-up, step by step, no fluff.
The short answer
A tune-up is a full health check of your system — electrical, refrigerant, airflow, drainage, controls, and the heating side — done in about an hour. You get a straight written report: what's healthy, what's wearing out, and what (if anything) needs attention. The tune-up itself fixes the small stuff (cleaning, tightening, clearing); anything bigger gets an honest on-the-spot price and your decision.
The full checklist
Every $75 tune-up runs through all nine of these:
- Test all capacitors & electrical components — the #1 thing we catch. A weak $15 capacitor kills the whole system when it dies.
- Check refrigerant pressures & temperatures — low refrigerant means a leak somewhere; we'd rather find it now than top it off yearly.
- Clean the outdoor condenser coil — matted coils make the system run hotter and cost more. A real cleaning, not a hose blast.
- Clear & treat the condensate drain line — Tampa humidity grows algae in that line fast. We clear it and test the float switch that protects your ceiling.
- Test the float switch — the little device that shuts the system off before a clogged drain floods your home. A surprising number of homes don't have one.
- Inspect & tighten electrical connections — heat and vibration loosen connections over time; loose ones arc and fail.
- Check the contactor for wear — pitted contactor points are a breakdown waiting for the hottest day of the year.
- Test thermostat accuracy & all modes — cooling, heating, fan, emergency heat. All of them, verified.
- Test the heating side — fall is when Tampa systems switch over. Finding a dead heat strip in October beats finding it on the first 50-degree night.
“Here’s the truth: most breakdowns I get called to started as a tune-up that never happened. A dirty coil, a weak capacitor — small stuff. We catch it in an hour, you skip the 9pm emergency call. That’s the whole pitch.”
What we actually find
After hundreds of tune-ups, the same handful of issues show up again and again: capacitors reading 20% under spec, drain lines with visible algae, coils matted with dirt and cottonwood, contactor points pitted. None of it has failed yet — but all of it is on a countdown. The tune-up customer's version of the same system looks completely different: clean coil, strong capacitor, clear drain, tight connections. Same age, same brand, completely different reliability.
Why fall is the time
Two reasons. First, the $75 price runs through November 30 — after that it's back to regular pricing for the same thorough service. Second, Tampa's fall is when your system switches from cooling to heating, and that's exactly when neglected heaters reveal themselves. Thursday night drops to 57°, the coldest night of the fall so far. Finding out your heat doesn't work that night is a bad time. Finding out during a $75 tune-up this week is a good time.
How often?
Twice a year in Tampa — spring before cooling season, fall before the heating side gets used. That's exactly what our maintenance plans (starting at $199) handle automatically, so you don't have to remember. But even one tune-up a year puts you ahead of most systems we see.
Questions & Answers
What does an AC tune-up include?
A full tune-up covers capacitor and electrical testing, refrigerant pressure checks, condenser coil cleaning, condensate drain clearing and treatment, float-switch test, electrical connection inspection, contactor check, thermostat calibration, and a heating-side test before winter. About an hour on site, with a straight written report.
How much does an AC tune-up cost in Tampa?
Our fall tune-up is $75 through November 30, 2026 — full checklist, cooling and heating both. After that it goes back to regular pricing. Maintenance plans start at $199 and include tune-ups on a schedule.
How long does a tune-up take?
About an hour for a standard residential system. You don't need to take the day off — morning or afternoon windows, we work around you.
Do I need a tune-up if my AC runs fine?
That's exactly when you want one. Most breakdowns we get called to started as a tune-up that never happened — a weak capacitor, a clogging drain, a drifting refrigerant charge. Catching them early is the whole point.
$75 Fall Tune-Up — Through Nov 30.
Full checklist, cooling & heating, straight written report. Call (813) 770-2722 or see every step on our tune-up page.
Call (813) 770-2722 See the Full Checklist