What is included in a heating tune-up?

We clean and test the parts that matter, check the thermostat, wiring, blower and safety controls, and run a full heating cycle. Furnaces also get a burner and heat exchanger check; heat pumps get an outdoor coil, fan and switchover check. You get a plain-English report before we leave.

How often should I schedule a heating tune-up?

Once a year, ideally in early fall before the first cold front. Both furnaces and heat pumps benefit.

Do heat pumps need a tune-up too?

Yes. A heat pump works hard in both summer and winter, and its outdoor coil, fan, switchover and drain all need checking.

Will a tune-up lower my energy bills?

It can, mostly by getting a dirty or out-of-adjustment system back to normal. If your system is already in good shape, don't expect a big drop. The bigger benefits are fewer surprise breakdowns and earlier warning of safety problems.

Do I need a tune-up if my heater works fine?

Yes. Worn parts, loose wiring and a dirty burner usually don't show up until the system fails, often on the coldest day. For gas furnaces, a tune-up is also a safety check.

What's the difference between a tune-up and a repair?

A tune-up is preventive: cleaning, testing and checking. A repair fixes something that's already broken. If we find a problem during a tune-up, we explain it and give you the price before doing any work.

Is it normal to smell something when I first turn on the heat?

A light, dusty smell for a short time is common after months of sitting unused. A gas or rotten-egg smell is not: leave the house and call your gas company or 911 from outside. Call us if any smell lingers.

Heating Tune-Up in Lago Vista, TX

A heating tune-up is a yearly visit where a technician cleans, tests and safety-checks your furnace or heat pump before you depend on it. We do them for homes in Lago Vista, Jonestown, The Hollows and around Lake Travis. The best time to book is early fall, before the first cold front.

Real Texas Plumbing - Heating and Air is a family-owned company with an office on Dawn Drive in Lago Vista. Call (512) 662-2949 or book online.

Texas Responsible Master Plumber License #RMP44420 · TDLR Air Conditioning Contractor License #TACLA22663C · 4.9 stars on Google · Family-owned and operated

What's included in a heating tune-up?

A tune-up covers the cleaning, testing and safety checks that keep your heater running safely all winter. What we check depends on whether you have a furnace or a heat pump.

If your heat has already quit, skip the tune-up and see emergency heating repair instead.

Every heating system

Thermostat: confirm it reads correctly and calls for heat when it should
Air filter: check it, and replace it if needed
Electrical connections: inspect and tighten
Blower and airflow: check the blower motor and the air coming out of your vents
Controls and safety switches: confirm the system starts, runs and shuts off the way it should

Furnaces

Burner and ignition: clean and test
Flame: check that it looks and behaves correctly
Heat exchanger and safety controls: look for visible problems that could be a safety issue

Heat pumps

Heating mode: run it in heat and check the temperature of the air coming out
Outdoor unit: clean the coil, clear debris and check the fan
Switchover and defrost: confirm it changes modes and clears frost properly
Condensate drain: make sure it drains

If something is worn or dirty, we show it to you and tell you plainly whether it needs attention now or can wait. If a system is near the end of its life, we'll tell you that too and explain what heating replacement would involve.

When should I get my heater tuned up?

Once a year, in early fall. Heating sits unused for months in Central Texas, so the first cold morning is when a worn part or dirty burner shows up, and that is usually the week everyone else is calling for repairs too. A tune-up in October or November means problems get found while appointments are easy to get.

What happens during the visit?

We ask how it's been running. We ask about noises, smells, rooms that stay cold, and how old the system is.
We tune it up and run safety checks. The technician cleans what's accessible, tests the parts listed above, and runs the system through a full heating cycle.
You get the results in plain English. Before we leave, we show you what we found, what is in good shape, what is wearing out and what can wait. You decide what happens next, with no pressure.

How much does a heating tune-up cost?

We give you the tune-up price on the phone before you book. There is a $65 trip charge, and it is applied toward the work when you schedule the job. If we find something that needs repair, you get the price before any work starts.

What can I do before my tune-up?

Replace the air filter if it looks gray or clogged.
Clear a few feet around the furnace or indoor unit, and around the outdoor heat pump (leaves, boxes, stored items).
Make sure the technician can reach the unit, especially if it's in an attic or a closet.
Write down anything you've noticed: noises, smells, rooms that stay cold.
If you can, find the age on the label on the unit.

When shouldn't I wait for a tune-up?

If your heater won't start, blows cold air, bangs or grinds, or turns on and off every few minutes, it needs a repair, not a tune-up. See our heating repair service.

Safety comes first:

If you smell gas (a rotten-egg smell), leave the house right away. Call your gas company or 911 from outside. Don't flip switches or use your phone inside.
If a carbon monoxide alarm goes off, get everyone outside and call 911.
A light dusty smell the first time you turn the heat on each season is common and should fade within a short time. If it doesn't fade, call us.

Heating tune-ups in Lago Vista, Jonestown and around Lake Travis

Our office is at 20811 Dawn Dr in Lago Vista, so we're close to neighbors in Lago Vista, Jonestown, Point Venture and The Hollows. We also serve Lakeway, Bee Cave, Leander, Cedar Park, Anderson Mill, Austin and Horseshoe Bay.

Many Lago Vista homeowners already know us from grinder pump service. If you'd like a plumbing check too, ask about our plumbing maintenance.

Why homeowners call Real Texas Plumbing - Heating and Air

Family-owned and operated.
Licensed: Texas Responsible Master Plumber License #RMP44420 and TDLR Air Conditioning Contractor License #TACLA22663C.
No pressure. We explain what we find and let you decide.
4.9 stars on Google.

We make heating maintenance simple, thorough, and stress-free. Our licensed team follows a proven tune-up process that helps your system run safer, more efficiently, and more reliably through the Texas heating season.

Schedule and System Review

We start by learning how your heater has been running, any comfort issues you have noticed, and the age of the system. Then we confirm a convenient appointment window and prepare for the right heating tune-up, whether you have a furnace, heat pump, or packaged unit.

Complete Tune-Up and Safety Check

During the visit, we inspect components, clean key parts, test airflow, check thermostat operation, tighten electrical connections, and look for wear that could lead to breakdowns. We also perform important safety checks and verify your heating system is operating as efficiently as possible.

Clear Results and Next Steps

Before we wrap up, we walk you through what we serviced, what condition your system is in, and any repairs we recommend now or later. You get honest guidance, straightforward answers, and peace of mind knowing your heating system is ready for dependable performance.

Heating Tune-Up in Lago Vista, TX for Winter Comfort

Heating Tune-Up in Lago Vista and the Lake Travis Area