How Often Should You Service Your AC?

The simple answer: once a year, every spring. That's it. One professional tune-up per year — before the cooling season starts — is all a well-maintained central air conditioner needs.

But most Toronto homeowners either skip it entirely or only call when something breaks. That's backwards. Here's why annual service matters, what it actually includes, and why skipping it ends up costing more.

Why Spring? Why Not When It's Already Hot?

You want to service your AC in April or May — not when you turn it on for the first time in late June and discover it's not cooling properly. By then, you're competing with every other homeowner who waited. Technician schedules are full, parts may need to be ordered, and you're sweating through it.

Spring service catches problems while there's still time to fix them before you need the system. Refrigerant is low? Topped up. Capacitor weak? Replaced before it fails at 11pm on a July heatwave. Coils dirty? Cleaned so the system runs efficiently all summer.

What Does an AC Tune-Up Actually Include?

Not all tune-ups are equal. Here's what a proper annual AC service should cover:

• Inspect and clean evaporator and condenser coils
• Check refrigerant level — add if needed (R-410A or R-22 depending on system age)
• Test and clean electrical connections and contacts
• Check and test the capacitor (a common failure point)
• Inspect and lubricate fan motors and bearings
• Clear condensate drain line (prevents water damage and mold)
• Check thermostat calibration and operation
• Measure system airflow and temperature split
• Inspect refrigerant lines for insulation and damage
• Written system health report with findings

If someone offers a "$49 AC tune-up" and it takes 20 minutes, they're not doing all of this. A thorough tune-up takes 60–90 minutes and costs $100–$200 depending on what's found.

How Much Does AC Service Cost — and Is It Worth It?

A professional AC tune-up in Toronto runs $100–$200. An emergency no-cooling call in July — diagnostic fee plus after-hours rate — easily runs $300–$600 before parts. A compressor replacement runs $1,200–$2,500. A full unit replacement is $4,000–$9,000+.

Annual service is the cheapest insurance you can buy for a major appliance. Beyond preventing failures, a well-maintained AC runs 10–15% more efficiently than a neglected one — which shows up on your hydro bill all summer.

Signs Your AC Needs Service Now (Don't Wait for Spring)

• Not cooling as well as it used to
• Running longer cycles to reach the set temperature
• Unusual sounds — rattling, buzzing, grinding
• Ice forming on the indoor unit or refrigerant lines
• Water pooling around the indoor unit
• Higher hydro bills without obvious explanation
• Turning on and off frequently (short cycling)

What About Ductless Mini-Splits?

Same rule applies: once a year. Ductless systems have washable filters that need to be cleaned every 1–3 months by the homeowner (easy — just pull the filter and rinse it). The annual professional service covers everything else — refrigerant, coils, electrical, and drain pan.

The Bottom Line

Service your AC every spring. Book it in March or April before the rush. Make sure your technician does a complete inspection, not a quick visual check. And get a written report of findings — that way you know exactly what condition your system is in and what, if anything, needs attention.

Alderwood Mechanical offers AC tune-ups across Toronto and the GTA starting at $149. Our technicians do a full inspection, leave a written report, and will tell you honestly what your system needs — no pressure to replace anything that doesn't need replacing. Book your spring tune-up by calling 437-229-8618.