The Spring Cooling Visit
Book the AC check in March or April, before the first hot week books every technician in Rutherford County. The visit covers coil cleaning, refrigerant and electrical checks, capacitor testing, condensate drain clearing, and a full cooling run test. The drain matters here: a clogged condensate line in a humid La Vergne summer can shut the system down or spill water where it damages floors and ceilings. See our AC maintenance page for the full checklist.
The Fall Heating Visit
Book the heating check in September or October. For furnaces, that means ignition and flame sensor checks, heat exchanger inspection, and safety controls testing. For heat pumps, it means defrost operation, reversing valve checks, and backup heat testing, so the first cold night is boring. Catching a weak ignitor in October costs a planned visit. Finding it at midnight in January costs an emergency one.
What Happens If You Skip Years
- Small parts fail at the worst time: Capacitors and ignitors rarely fail on mild days. They fail under peak load.
- Efficiency drifts down: Dirty coils and weak airflow make the system run longer for the same comfort, and your bill shows it.
- Safety checks get skipped: Furnace heat exchangers and gas connections need eyes on them on a regular cycle.
- Warranty paperwork gaps: Many manufacturers expect documented maintenance. Keep your visit records.
| When | Visit | Key checks |
|---|
| March to April | Cooling tune-up | Coils, capacitor, refrigerant, drain, cooling test run |
| September to October | Heating tune-up | Ignition, flame sensor, heat exchanger or defrost, safety controls |
| Every 1 to 3 months | Homeowner filter change | Filter size matched, airflow arrow correct |
| Monthly in summer | Quick outdoor check | Unit clear of grass and debris, no ice, no new noises |
Heat pump homes in Carothers Crossing and older furnace homes in Heritage Valley both fit the same calendar, because both systems work hard in both seasons here. If you cannot remember the last visit, that is your answer: book one now and start the cycle from a known point.
