What Does a Furnace Tune-Up Cost? (2022)
Having your furnace functioning year-round is crucial for both your comfort and your safety. That’s why HVAC manufacturers and professionals recommend regular maintenance. In most cases, it’s recommended to have your furnace serviced in fall and your AC serviced in Spring. Some manufacturers, however, recommend that you have your furnace serviced in both seasons. With that being said, how much does a furnace tune-up cost?
As with a lot of things – it depends.
Any company can perform any level of service to a furnace and call it a tune-up. There’s no uniform definition for a furnace tune-up. Some businesses advertise a 22-point, 36-point, or 48-point furnace service and they will all call it a tune-up. So, prices can vary wildly.
At Advantage, we have our definition of what a furnace tune-up should be. In this post, we’ll break down the cost of furnace tune-ups that are comparable to what we offer.
Average Price Range
Prices for a tune-up will vary based on the type of furnace serviced. The price will also change based on how many units in your HVAC system need to be serviced. These are the average ranges collected from across the United States.
- Single Unit (Just the furnace) – $70 to $200
- Multiple Units (Furnace and AC, or 2 furnaces) – $150 to $500
- Annual Service Plans (A subscription for 2 services a year) – $150 to $500 annually
Again, these are averages. That means that there are services offered at a lower cost and services offered at a higher range. This is meant to give you an idea of what to expect but is not an always accurate quote.
What Factors Affect Pricing
Now, let’s talk about what factors might affect the cost of a tune-up. There’s quite a few, so keep each one in consideration. You should be able to figure out what would be a fair price for you once you have factored in these details.
Price Ranges by Furnace Type
Furnaces can use a range of different fuels to create heat. Of course, that means they use different parts to ignite those fuels and that can affect the cost of a tune-up.
- Gas – $80 to $170
- Oil – $100 to $200
- Electric – $70 to $130
At Advantage, we primarily deal with gas furnaces. But if your furnace uses a different fuel, use those ranges as a starting point.
Time of Year
Depending on what time of year it is, your local HVAC company may run specials to discount the cost of a furnace tune-up. This typically happens around the start of spring or fall.
Number of Units
As we mentioned in the first list, the number of units affects the cost of the tune-up. Your HVAC technician will need to perform more labor and use more parts.
Accessibility
If your furnace is hard to reach or is awkward to move around, it could increase the cost of labor. Your technician will have to spend longer working on your furnace or clearing a path to it. Make sure you have 3 feet of clearance to your furnace.
If you live far out in the middle of the country, you might not be in an HVAC company’s traditional service area. The cost may increase to facilitate services in a remote location
Emergency Call
If you placed an emergency call, typically you will need more than just a tune-up. Something has probably failed and will need to be repaired. Let your HVAC company know if you are experiencing a heating emergency and they will schedule an appropriate repair call.
Prior Maintenance
Some companies charge more if a technician has not serviced your furnace in over a year. This is because they will have to perform more work to restore the performance of your furnace. It’s also possible a piece of equipment has failed and will need to be repaired or replaced.
Some companies may charge a flat increase to the normal price. Others might just charge for any additional hours of labor and parts required.
Service Plan
f you have a service plan that covers the cost of tune-ups, your rate will probably be discounted. The average annual cost of a service plan is usually less than the combined cost of the two tune-ups it provides. You may just need to pay for parts depending on the plan.
Are There Furnace Tune-Up Discounts?
Absolutely! There are tons of discounts for furnace tune-ups! Most HVAC contractors will offer them in Spring or fall. If they offer a service contract, that option usually is less than the cost of two tune-ups.
Advantage Pricing
So how much does a furnace tune-up cost with Advantage?
- Single Unit –$129
- Two Units – $199
- VIP Maintenance Program – $169 a year
At Advantage, we try to stay fairly middle of the road. We offer quality service and we’re proud of our work, so we don’t charge bottom-of-the-barrel prices. We also know that regular service is a necessity to keep your furnace running efficiently and to keep your warranty active. An HVAC contractor shouldn’t want to put you in hardship to pay for a necessary service.
Our primary goal is to build a relationship based on trust. If we can earn your trust by taking good care of your equipment, then we did our job.
What Is a Tune-Up?
Any HVAC contractor can call whatever service they perform a tune-up, no matter what is actually involved. However, there are a few bare minimums it should cover. The Department of Energy has a list of what maintenance should be performed on furnaces. The manufacturer will also have guidelines on what is required to keep the warranty active.
Bare Minimum
- Inspect the Flue and Vent
- Change the Filter
- Testing the Pilot Light, Igniter, and Burners
- Checking the Blower Fan, Belts, and Seals
- Analysis and Testing of Combustible Gases or other Fuel Sources
- Checking and Repairing Electrical Elements
- Check Heat Exchanger
- Check and Clear Blockages in the Condensate Drain
- Testing The Thermostat
Most of those numbers require testing multiple points and several smaller steps. This is just to summarize what should happen during each tune-up.
Is a Tune-Up Necessary?
Yes, regular furnace tune-ups are necessary. It’s also not something you can do yourself unless you are an HVAC technician.
Most manufacturer warranties require that furnaces be up to date on their service schedule. If a furnace falls out of schedule or maintenance is performed incorrectly, that can void the warranty.
It’s also been found that furnaces that are regularly serviced run 20-30% more efficiently than those that are not serviced. That means less energy usage and more savings on energy bills.
A tune-up will also decrease the chance of breakdown and increase the longevity of the furnace. Up to 75% of No-Heat Calls in Winter are because of issues that could have been prevented with regular maintenance. That means saving money and time on repairs as well.
Who Are Advantage Heating and Air Conditioning?
We are your local HVAC Experts out of Salem, Oregon. We hope that this post gave you the information you need to know how much you can expect a furnace tune-up to cost. If you have other questions about HVAC systems, check out our other blogs. To learn more about who we are and how we can help you, visit our website and follow us on social media – we’re here when you need us!
