Customers ask us this all the time. Should I get an AC cleaning or an AC tune-up? The two overlap, but they are different visits.
AC cleaning handles the parts of the system that get dirty. A tune-up covers the whole system, cleaning included.
What AC cleaning covers
AC cleaning service targets the surfaces that get dirty in normal use:
- Indoor evaporator coil. Dust and pollen stick to the cold, wet fins where humid air condenses, and biofilm grows on top. Cleaning brings back airflow and efficiency.
- Outdoor condenser coil. This one collects grass clippings and leaves. Dryer-vent lint and South Houston roof grit end up in it too. We rinse it and comb out bent fins.
- Condensate drain pan and drain line. We flush the drain, drop in an anti-biofilm tablet, and make sure it flows freely.
- Filter. Replaced during the visit in most cases.
- Air handler closet. We vacuum out the dust and look for mold or standing moisture.
A standalone AC cleaning takes 30 to 60 minutes and runs $150 to $250. It goes faster than a tune-up because it skips the diagnostic and electrical work. Nothing that needs an instrument is part of it, so there is no refrigerant check and no capacitor test.
What an AC tune-up adds
An AC tune-up includes everything in the cleaning service, plus the full diagnostic side of the visit:
- Refrigerant pressures. The technician measures superheat and subcooling against the manufacturer's spec to confirm the charge.
- Electrical connections. Each terminal gets checked and tightened if it needs it.
- Capacitor health. Tested under load with a multimeter. A borderline capacitor gets replaced before it fails in August.
- Contactor health. Same test, plus a look at the contacts for pitting.
- Blower amp draw. High amp draw points to a worn motor or a bad capacitor before the homeowner notices anything.
- Thermostat calibration. We confirm it reads accurately.
- Written report with photos. Borderline parts get flagged with a photo. You decide whether to fix them now or keep an eye on them.
A standalone AC tune-up takes about 90 minutes and costs $99 ($79 with our website coupon). The diagnostic and electrical checks are where it pays off. A borderline capacitor found in April doesn't get the chance to quit on a 100° Saturday in August.
Side-by-side
| What's covered | AC cleaning | Tune-up |
|---|---|---|
| Indoor coil cleaning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Outdoor coil rinse | ✓ | ✓ |
| Drain line flush + tablet | ✓ | ✓ |
| Filter replacement | ✓ | ✓ |
| Refrigerant verification | ✗ | ✓ |
| Capacitor + contactor test | ✗ | ✓ |
| Electrical connection check | ✗ | ✓ |
| Blower amp draw measurement | ✗ | ✓ |
| Time | 30-60 min | About 90 min |
| Standalone price | $150-$250 | $99 |
Which one do you actually need?
Most homeowners need the tune-up, once a year in the spring. It costs less than standalone cleaning ($99 against $150 to $250), and we price it low on purpose. An hour with your system every spring is how we catch small problems early and earn the next call.
The standalone cleaning service makes sense in a few cases:
- You did the spring tune-up and the coils need a mid-summer rinse-only after a heavy pollen season.
- You bought the home in summer and need cleaning before the next spring tune-up cycle.
- You only want the cleaning piece (the system is otherwise newly installed and warranted).
Clear Advantage members
Clear Advantage members ($25/month or $300/year) get both seasonal tune-ups included at no extra cost. That covers the spring AC tune-up with its cleaning and the fall heating visit. An extra coil cleaning or drain cleaning between visits gets the 10% member discount.
Bought separately at the regular $99 price, the two tune-ups would cost a Pearland homeowner $198 a year. Members get both and take 10% off any repair on top.
Spring and fall, we book tune-ups same-week. Grab a slot at 281-992-7866 or book online.