HVAC Tune-Up Checklist

What goes in a proper HVAC tune-up

The difference between a $99 tune-up that customers see as overpriced and a $199 tune-up that customers happily pay for isn't the price — it's the specificity of the work performed. Generic "system check" tune-ups feel like upsell traps. Documented multi-point inspections feel like real service.

This checklist includes the inspection items that industry-standard HVAC operations cover during preventative maintenance visits. Run it as-is or customize it for your operation.

Spring AC tune-up (typical 60–90 minutes per system)

The core of a spring AC tune-up is the outdoor unit and refrigerant system. Most failures during summer cooling season trace back to condenser issues (coils, capacitor, contactor) and refrigerant problems (low charge, leaks).

A complete spring tune-up should include:

• Outdoor unit cleaning and inspection (15–20 min)
• Refrigerant pressure check (5–10 min)
• Electrical inspection: capacitor, contactor, connections (10 min)
• Indoor coil and drain line service (10–15 min)
• Filter replacement (5 min)
• System operation test and temperature measurements (10 min)
• Customer report and recommendations (5–10 min)

For 2-system homes, plan 2–2.5 hours total.

Fall heating tune-up (typical 60–90 minutes per system)

The core of a fall heating tune-up is the heat exchanger and combustion system. The single most important task is heat exchanger inspection because cracked heat exchangers leak carbon monoxide.

A complete fall heating tune-up should include:

• Heat exchanger visual inspection + CO testing (10–15 min)
• Burner cleaning and flame pattern check (15 min)
• Gas pressure verification (5 min)
• Flue and venting inspection (10 min)
• Ignition system and safety controls (10 min)
• Filter replacement and blower service (10 min)
• System operation and temperature rise (10 min)
• Customer report (5–10 min)

For boilers, add water chemistry check and pressure relief valve test (15–20 min additional).

EPA Section 608 documentation

Any refrigerant service requires documentation under EPA Section 608. This checklist's Refrigerant Service section captures: refrigerant type, pre-service and post-service pressures, quantity recovered, quantity added, reason for charge adjustment, and technician EPA certification number.

This documentation is required for refrigerant additions over 50 lbs/year across all customers, leak repair on systems containing 50+ lbs, and disposal of refrigerant-containing equipment. Even for smaller adjustments, keeping this record protects you in case of EPA audit.

When to use this as a printed checklist vs digital

Print and use in field if:

• Your techs prefer paper for jobs
• Customer wants a physical signed copy
• Your service area has poor mobile signal
• You're under 5 techs and digital is overkill

Use FSM software with built-in checklists when:

• 5+ techs need consistent inspection across the team
• You want photo documentation per inspection item
• You need historical inspection records per equipment
• You want automatic next-service-date reminders

HVAC software with strong inspection / checklist features:

FieldPulse — custom forms architecture handles complex inspections with photo attachments.

Housecall Pro — checklists in mobile app at Essential tier.

ServiceTitan — enterprise inspection workflows for 10+ tech operations.

Jobber — basic checklists, simpler workflow.

Use the HVAC Software Cost Calculator to compare costs for your team size.

Related resources

• HVAC Service Agreement Template — incorporate this checklist into your maintenance agreements
• HVAC Invoice Template — bill for repairs found during tune-up
• HVAC Quote Template — quote replacements when systems exceed service life
• HVAC Profit Margin Calculator — verify your tune-up pricing covers labor + overhead