Customers ask us this question constantly: should I get an AC cleaning or an AC tune-up? They sound similar. They overlap. They're not the same.
The short version: AC cleaning is the dirty parts of the system. The tune-up is everything, including cleaning. Here's the breakdown.
What AC cleaning covers
AC cleaning service targets the surfaces that get dirty in normal use. Specifically:
- Indoor evaporator coil: dust, biofilm, and pollen accumulate on the cold metal fins where humid air condenses. Cleaning restores airflow and efficiency.
- Outdoor condenser coil: grass clippings, leaves, dryer-vent lint, and South Houston roof grit. Rinse and fin-comb work.
- Condensate drain pan and drain line: flush the drain, treat with anti-biofilm tablet, verify free flow.
- Filter: replace, often as part of the visit.
- Air handler closet: vacuum dust, check for any visible mold or moisture.
A standalone AC cleaning service runs 30-60 minutes and $150 to $250. It's faster than a tune-up because it skips the diagnostic and electrical pieces. It does NOT include refrigerant verification, capacitor testing, or any of the parts of the tune-up that depend on instruments.
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 system has the right charge.
- Electrical connections: each terminal checked, tightened if needed.
- Capacitor health: tested under load with a multimeter. Borderline capacitors get replaced before they fail in August.
- Contactor health: same, plus visual check for pitting on the contacts.
- Blower amp draw: high amp draw points to a worn motor or bad capacitor before the symptom is visible to the homeowner.
- Thermostat calibration: confirm it's reading accurately.
- Written report with photos: borderline parts get flagged with a photo. You decide whether to address now or watch.
A standalone AC tune-up runs 60-90 minutes and $99. The diagnostic + electrical work is what makes it more valuable than just cleaning, you catch a borderline capacitor before it fails on a 100° Saturday. It's the visit that prevents the emergency call.
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 | 60-90 min |
| Standalone price | $150-$250 | $99 |
Which one do you actually need?
Most homeowners need the tune-up, once a year, every spring. It's cheaper than the standalone cleaning ($99 vs $150-$250) because the tune-up is structured as a loss-leader; we'd rather spend an hour with you and earn the relationship than charge cleaning rates and skip the diagnostic work that prevents bigger problems.
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
For Clear Advantage members ($25/month or $300/year), both seasonal tune-ups are included at no extra cost. That's the spring AC tune-up + cleaning, plus the fall heating-side equivalent. Standalone services like coil cleaning, drain cleaning, or off-cycle visits get a 10% member discount when needed.
For most Pearland homes, the membership pays for itself within the first year on bill savings + repair discount alone.
Schedule a tune-up? Same-week scheduling spring and fall. 281-992-7866 or book online.