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A tune-up is one of those services where the name does almost no work. Forty-five points sounds like a lot. Here’s what it actually means.
The 45 points aren’t a checklist for show
Every point on The General’s tune-up corresponds to a measurement taken or a physical condition observed. Nothing gets marked off from the driveway. The list exists because those 45 things are the 45 things that actually determine whether a residential HVAC system is running correctly, running with problems that haven’t surfaced yet, or heading toward failure.
Some contractors print a checklist with vague line items like “inspect ductwork” that could mean looking at the duct from across the attic. We note specific readings. You can read the results when we leave because they are written down in plain language.
What we actually measure and inspect
Here is what the 45-Point Tune-Up covers on the cooling side:
- Refrigerant pressure readings (suction and discharge) at the unit
- Superheat and subcooling calculations where applicable to the system type
- Capacitor voltage and microfarad reading
- Electrical connection tightness at the disconnect and the air handler
- Drain line flush and condensate pan inspection
- Filter condition assessment with a notation on size and access
- Evaporator coil cleanliness check
- Blower wheel inspection for debris buildup
- Thermostat calibration check
- Static pressure measurement at the air handler
- Airflow evaluation at multiple supply and return registers
- Outdoor condenser coil condition
- Refrigerant line insulation check
At the end of the visit, you get a written report on what we found. If something needs attention, we present options with pricing before any work begins. Nothing gets added to the repair order without your approval.
Why annual timing matters in Cypress
Cypress systems run from approximately May through October. The air handler sits in an attic that reaches 130 to 150 degrees in July. That environment accelerates capacitor degradation, refrigerant line wear, and drain line algae growth faster than systems installed in conditioned spaces or northern climates.
A system that passes inspection in April with good refrigerant pressures and a capacitor reading near spec is one that will likely run through the summer without an emergency call. A system that starts the summer with a borderline capacitor and a partially blocked drain line is a repair call waiting to happen, usually on the hottest week of the year.
Scheduling the tune-up in April or early May, before the hard-run season begins, gives you the widest window to address anything found without the pressure of a broken system in July.
Ready to get ahead of summer? Schedule your tune-up for $169. The visit covers the full 45-point evaluation with a written condition report.
See what the evaluation looks like in practice on our cooling services page and heating services page.