DO I NEED SEPARATE MAINTENANCE FOR HEATING AND COOLING OR CAN HVAC MAINTENANCE ONCE A YEAR BE ENOUGH?

A Straightforward Guide for Homeowners in Austin & the Central Texas Hill Country

Homeowners in Austin, Buda, Kyle, Dripping Springs, San Marcos, and the Hill Country frequently ask:

“Is HVAC maintenance once a year enough for both heating and cooling?”

Greg Gonzales, owner of Greg’s Heating & Air, explains:

“Your AC and heater do completely different jobs. They need to be checked at different times of the year, when we can actually test what they’re designed to do.”

1. HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS WORK DIFFERENTLY - THEY MUST BE SERVICED SEPARATELY

Your HVAC system is two systems in one:

Cooling (Spring/Summer):

• Runs March–October

• Removes heat and humidity

• Depends on refrigerant balance, coil cleanliness, and airflow

Heating (Fall/Winter):

• Gas furnaces rely on burners and safety switches

• Heat pumps reverse refrigerant flow to heat

• Requires cold-weather testing for accuracy

You cannot test both modes properly in the same season.

2. WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU ONLY DO ONE MAINTENANCE VISIT PER YEAR?

• Heater may fail on the first cold night

• AC may freeze or overheat during summer

• Refrigerant readings may be inaccurate

• Heat pump defrost issues go unnoticed

• Higher energy bills

• Increased breakdowns

• Potential warranty issues

Greg says:

“One visit a year is better than none, but it won’t prevent most of the breakdowns we see.”

3. WHAT’S INCLUDED IN GREG’S HEATING & AIR’S TWO-VISIT MAINTENANCE PLAN?

SPRING/SUMMER COOLING MAINTENANCE:

• Temperature split

• Drain line flush

• Coil wash

• Blower motor amps

• Capacitor testing

• Electrical tightening

• Refrigerant charge (superheat/subcooling)

• Compressor amps

• Fan motor amps

• Contactor inspection

FALL/WINTER HEATING MAINTENANCE:

• Heat rise

• Heat strip testing (heat pumps)

• Emergency heat test

• Defrost cycle test

• Blower motor amps

• Safety sensor checks (flame sensor, rollout, limit)

• Gas pressure test & adjustment

• Carbon monoxide test

• Inducer motor amps

• Pressure switch testing

• Refrigerant check (heat pumps)

• Reversing valve operation

4. WHY ONE VISIT CANNOT REPLACE TWO

• Refrigerant cannot be checked accurately in cold weather

• Heat rise cannot be tested in warm weather

• Safety systems behave differently each season

• Components fail seasonally (capacitors in summer, sensors in winter)

• Seasonal timing is required for preventative maintenance

5. MULTIPLE HVAC SYSTEMS? ALL SYSTEMS ARE SERVICED TWICE PER YEAR

Maintenance plan pricing:

• 1 System - $159/year

• 2 Systems - $299/year

• 3 Systems - $440/year

All systems receive full service during both visits.

6. EASY ONLINE SCHEDULING

Schedule both visits conveniently at:

AustinACContractor.com

GregsAC.com

Pick a date, sign electronically, and you’re done in under a minute.

QUICK SUMMARY

• Yes, you need two HVAC maintenance visits each year.

• Heating and cooling must be tested in different seasons.

• One visit cannot test both modes accurately.

• Two visits reduce breakdowns and energy costs.

• Maintenance plans include two seasonal visits for all systems.

Schedule service at AustinACContractor.com or GregsAC.com.