AC Maintenance in Plano, TX
Air conditioners here run from May through October, so April is the time for a tune-up. Tell us about your system, and a licensed contractor who covers Collin County will get in touch.
Tell us about the job
It takes about a minute.
Six months of Texas heat wears on a system
Your air conditioner runs from May through October here, six months straight, with summer afternoons averaging 93 degrees. The compressor and fan motor don't get much of a break in that stretch, cycling on and off through the hottest part of almost every day.
A tune-up checks the parts carrying that load, the refrigerant charge, the condenser coil, the capacitor that gets the compressor started. Collin County also sees its share of hail and wind. A coil that has taken a hit or a cabinet that has shifted won't always show it until the system is working hard to keep the house cool.
- 6 months
- May through October, your air conditioner is on duty
- 93°F
- the average summer afternoon it cools against
- 283 hail events
- in ten years, and hail bends the fins on outdoor coils
- 86 wind events
- in ten years, and wind drives debris into outdoor units
NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
Book your AC tune-up in April, before homes here start needing cooling in May.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
A tune-up checks the refrigerant charge, cleans the coils, tests the capacitor and tightens the electrical connections.
Texas requires HVAC contractors to hold a state license.
That license comes from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, and it belongs to the contractor, not the job. It covers who is allowed to be doing this kind of work in Texas at all, not a sign-off on any particular visit.
For a maintenance visit, that license is what stands behind the person working on your air conditioner. If the technician opens the refrigerant side of the system, checking the charge or the coil, they also need EPA Section 608 certification. That one is federal and applies in every state, not just Texas. The state license covers who can do the work. The federal certification covers the refrigerant itself.
Source: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
- What does AC maintenance include?
- A technician checks refrigerant charge, cleans the condenser coil, and tests the capacitor and contactor in the outdoor unit. Inside, they check the evaporator coil, the blower wheel, and the condensate drain to make sure it's not clogged. They also check the filter and take amp readings on the motors to catch a part that's wearing out before it fails. In Plano, that condensate drain check matters more than in most places, since the system runs for six months straight and has a lot of hours to build up a clog.
- How often does an air conditioner need maintenance?
- Once a year, ideally in spring before the heat sets in. Plano summers push the system hard from May through October, with afternoons averaging 93°F, so a spring check catches a weak capacitor or low refrigerant before it fails on one of those hot afternoons. A yearly visit also keeps the coil clean, which matters for how well the system cools and how long the compressor lasts.
- Is AC maintenance worth it?
- Yes. A yearly check catches a failing capacitor or a dirty coil before it leaves you without cooling on a hot afternoon. It also means a technician is looking at the system after storm season, and Plano has seen 283 hail events and 86 damaging wind events over the past ten years, either of which can bend fins or damage the outdoor unit without it being obvious from the ground. A working system also runs its compressor and motors less hard, which is what actually shortens their life.