HVAC Maintenance & Tune-Ups
Most of the emergency calls we run were preventable, and the failures are boringly repetitive — dirty filters, clogged condensate drains, weak capacitors that had been reading low for a year. The Xcel Comfort Plan is $15 a month and exists to catch those before they become a no-heat call in January.
What a visit covers
- Refrigerant charge verified against manufacturer targets
- Capacitors tested under load, not just visually inspected
- Condensate drain cleared before it backs up
- Burners and flame sensor cleaned
- Heat exchanger and combustion safety check
- Static pressure and airflow readings recorded
- Filter changed and sizing confirmed
Why twice a year
One visit before summer, one before winter. The point is to test each system while it is not needed, so a weak part gets replaced on a scheduled Tuesday rather than during the first 100-degree stretch when everyone in the county is calling at once.
Capacitors are the clearest example: they degrade measurably long before they fail outright. A meter reading catches that months ahead. Nothing about a visual inspection does.
What the plan includes
$15 per month, cancel anytime, two tune-ups per year, and priority scheduling when things do go wrong — which is the part that matters most in the week when everybody's system dies at once.
Plan or no plan, change your filter on a schedule. It is the single highest-return maintenance task in the house and it costs a few dollars.
Want it looked at?
Flat $85 diagnostic across Contra Costa, Alameda, Solano & Napa Counties. Mon–Sat, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Mon–Sat, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM · Flat $85 diagnostic · CSLB #1107541
Common Questions
How often should HVAC be serviced?
Twice a year for a system that both heats and cools — once before the cooling season and once before the heating season. A heating-only system needs one annual visit before winter.
How often should I change my furnace filter?
A standard one-inch filter runs 1–3 months; sooner with pets, allergies, or during smoke events. Thicker media filters, four or five inches, typically run 6–12 months. If it looks grey and loaded, it is late.
Is an HVAC maintenance plan worth it?
It is worth it if it prevents one emergency call and extends equipment life, which is the usual outcome. At $15 a month it costs less per year than a single diagnostic plus a mid-size repair. If you would rather just book tune-ups as you remember them, that is a fine choice too — we will do those without a plan.
Request Service
Tell us what's going on and we'll get back to you. Diagnostic visits are a flat $85. Prefer to talk? Call (925) 433-6400.