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AC Tune-Ups
Most Summer Failures Were Visible in Spring
The capacitor that strands a family on a 104-degree Saturday did not fail suddenly. It had been testing weak for months. The drain line that floods the hall closet had been narrowing with algae since last summer. The condenser coil that finally pushed the compressor over its limit had been packing with mountain cedar pollen since January. A tune-up is where those things get found while they are still cheap.
Radiant’s maintenance visit is a working inspection, not a glance and a filter change. We measure capacitors against their rating, check amp draws on the motors and compressor, verify the refrigerant charge, wash the outdoor coil, flush the condensate drain and confirm the temperature drop across the indoor coil. You get a plain report of what we found, what is fine, and what is worth watching. If something needs a repair, you get a written price and decide for yourself.
The easiest way to keep it on the calendar is Care Club: two HVAC tune-ups a year, no dispatch fees, 5% off repairs and priority service when the whole city is calling, for $9.99 a month.
Looking for your local team? See AC maintenance in Austin or AC maintenance in San Antonio.
- Measured, not eyeballed Capacitor ratings, amp draws, pressures and temperature split, so a weak part shows up on a meter before it shows up in July.
- A report you can read What we tested, what we found and what it means, in plain language. No scare tactics and no pressure to fix what is fine.
- Priority in the heat Care Club members move to the front of the line during the peak weeks when everyone else is waiting.
Why It Matters
What Skipping Maintenance Costs You
Central Texas puts more run hours on an air conditioner in one season than most places do in two. Neglect shows up faster here.
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Higher bills every summer
A dirty outdoor coil cannot shed heat, so the compressor runs longer and hotter to do the same job. You pay for that every month.
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An early compressor death
Weak capacitors, low charge and blocked coils all overwork the most expensive part in the system. Replacing it often means replacing everything.
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Water damage from the drain line
Our humidity grows algae in condensate lines. An unflushed line backs up into the pan, then the ceiling below the attic unit.
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A clammy house
A system that is low on charge or short on airflow cools the air without pulling out the moisture. The thermostat says 74 and it still feels sticky.
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A warranty argument
Many manufacturer warranties expect documented annual maintenance. A tune-up record is cheap insurance on a claim.
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Waiting in line in July
The first heat wave breaks everything that was marginal, all at once. The fix you skipped in April now comes with a wait.
What We Check
What a Radiant AC Tune-Up Includes
The outdoor unit, the indoor unit and everything between them, tested with instruments rather than by ear.
- Electrical testing Capacitors measured against their rated value, contactor contacts inspected for pitting, connections tightened, motor and compressor amp draws recorded.
- Refrigerant charge Pressures, superheat and subcooling checked against the manufacturer’s numbers. A low reading means a leak to find, not just gas to add.
- Condenser coil cleaning The outdoor coil washed from the inside out so the fins can actually move air and shed heat on a 100-degree afternoon.
- Condensate drain and pan Line flushed, trap checked, pan inspected for rust or cracks, and the float switch tested so it really shuts the system off before an overflow.
- Airflow and temperature split Filter, blower wheel and evaporator coil checked, then the temperature drop across the coil measured to confirm the system is doing its job.
- Thermostat and controls Calibration, wiring and settings verified, including the fan and staging settings that a previous installer may never have set up.
How It Works
What to Expect From a Tune-Up Visit
Plan on about an hour, more if the outdoor coil has not been cleaned in a while.
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Pick a spring date
March through May is ideal, before the first real heat. Care Club members are scheduled automatically for both seasonal visits.
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We test everything
Electrical, refrigerant, airflow, drain and controls, indoors and out, with the readings written down.
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You get the findings
What is healthy, what is wearing and what needs attention now, with a written price for anything that does. You decide.
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Ready for the heat
Coils clean, drain clear, charge verified. If we found a weak part, it is replaced now instead of failing in July.
Current Specials
Save on the work your home needs most.
When Was Your Last Tune-Up?
Two HVAC tune-ups a year, no dispatch fees and 5% off repairs with Care Club.
What Our Customers Say
Don't just take our word for it — hear from our satisfied customers
★★★★★
Alex performed the winter service on my unit. This business along with Alex, are very professional and upfront about everything. To be transparent, this is the maintenance included with the purchase of a unit from them. I was informed about everything to include pictures as proof. I was told that my unit is 100% and very clean and again pictures to prove it. I was reccomended this business by a friend and glad he did. The initial purchase experience was also amazing. I had contacted 5 other businesses to get quotes about a new unit as my upstairs unit failed. 2 were outrageous quotes and I am technically still waiting on the other 3. On every instance of getting a quote, I waited about 1 week. Luckily my house has two units but still, un acceptable especially during the summer. I guess they all had so much business they did not care for mine. When I called this business not only did they come out the same day, I had the new unit installed with in 48 hrs. Oh and let's not forget the quote they gave me was the lowest of all. I can say enough good things about this business. Keep up the great work.
★★★★★
We needed a new air conditioning system because ours was over 15 years old. I decided to get several estimates from different companies here in San Antonio. Each company seemed to have outrageous prices and wanted to put me into something that was above what I needed. I decided to try one more company, Schmidt Mechanical. I went on their website early in the morning and filled out my information asking for someone to contact me. By the end of the same day, Jared was sitting at our table. I told him specifically what I wanted and what I did not want, since I had gained quite a bit of information from my interaction with other companies. We had a lot of fun sitting at the table and talking about many things, but when he put pen to paper, and gave us three choices of product, service, warranties, etc., we knew right away that Schmidt Mechanical was far superior to other companies in town. We sealed the deal and decided that the following Monday would be installation day. Keeping in mind, that would be one week from the day that we sat down and closed. The very next night, our old unit decided to call it quits and we still had six more nights to go until we get the new system. I called the after hours service line and they sent someone out by 10 o’clock that night, but unfortunately the unit couldn’t even carry electricity to be repaired. They didn’t even charge me for that service call. The next morning I called the company to ask if they had any suggestions on what we could do in the meantime. They put their heads together to come up with a solution. We were very thankful to Keith when he called to tell us they were able to rearrange schedules and carve out time in order to have our new AC unit installed two days later. Schmidt Mechanical - professional, honest, dependable, excellent customer service -- a company you will not regret doing business with. Thank you Team Schmidt!
★★★★★
I would highly recommend Radiant Plumbing. After our 17 year old system broke we bought a new AC unit from Radiant. All the people I dealt with were highly professional, explained everything well and were thorough in their inspection. They were very easy to contact, including a number customers can text with concerns or questions. They kept me well informed through the whole process. They even installed at no cost a portable AC to keep us cool before the installation. The installers, Arturo and Rene, were prompt; they arrived at the exact time we were told, and were very respectful of our home.
Radiant helped us quickly; the AC broke Thursday evening, we scheduled the repairman to come Friday, and Saturday they installed the new unit. I know it isn't always able to happen that fast but it was an extra bonus and relief to finally find an AC company that is actually available and answers the phone, unlike A US Air Conditioning, and is efficient and thorough with no high pressure salesmen, unlike ARS.
Thank you Radiant!
11/4/2020 - update
Had CJ out for the system check and he was very professional, informative, and respectful. He had some recommendations and was able to get us a replacement part for free even though we were just outside the 2yr warranty. It was a very unexpected blessing and I greatly appreciate him and the whole Radiant team.
Radiant helped us quickly; the AC broke Thursday evening, we scheduled the repairman to come Friday, and Saturday they installed the new unit. I know it isn't always able to happen that fast but it was an extra bonus and relief to finally find an AC company that is actually available and answers the phone, unlike A US Air Conditioning, and is efficient and thorough with no high pressure salesmen, unlike ARS.
Thank you Radiant!
11/4/2020 - update
Had CJ out for the system check and he was very professional, informative, and respectful. He had some recommendations and was able to get us a replacement part for free even though we were just outside the 2yr warranty. It was a very unexpected blessing and I greatly appreciate him and the whole Radiant team.
Maintenance Membership
Join the Care Club
Home maintenance for $9.99 a month.
Care Club members get two HVAC tune-ups and a plumbing safety inspection every year, priority scheduling, no dispatch fees — ever — and 5% off every repair.
- Priority scheduling
- Seasonal HVAC tune-ups
- Annual safety inspection
- Exclusive member discounts
- Free dispatch on repairs
- No long-term contracts
AC Maintenance Questions
What do you actually do during an AC tune-up?
We test and measure, then clean and adjust. On the outdoor unit: capacitor value, contactor condition, fan motor and compressor amp draw, refrigerant pressures with superheat and subcooling, and a coil wash from the inside out. On the indoor unit: filter, blower wheel, evaporator coil, condensate drain flushed, drain pan and float switch checked, and the temperature drop across the coil measured. Then the thermostat and low-voltage wiring. You get the readings and a plain explanation of what they mean. If a part is weak, we quote the repair in writing, and you decide whether to do it.
When is the best time of year for AC maintenance in Austin and San Antonio?
Spring, ideally March through May, after cedar season has finished coating the outdoor coil and before the first week of 95-degree days. That timing means the system goes into summer clean, tested and charged correctly, and it means you are not competing for a technician during the heat wave when everything marginal breaks at once. A second visit in the fall covers the heating side, which is why Care Club includes two tune-ups a year. If you missed spring, a summer tune-up still catches problems; it is just better to find them before the system is under full load.
Is Care Club worth it if my system is new?
A new system is when it matters most. Most manufacturer warranties expect documented annual maintenance, and a new install still has a condensate drain that will grow algae, an outdoor coil that will fill with pollen, and a charge that should be verified after the first season. Care Club puts two HVAC tune-ups a year on the calendar for $9.99 a month, with no dispatch fees, 5% off any repair, priority service and member-only deals. It also covers an annual whole-home plumbing safety inspection, which most homeowners never think to schedule until something leaks.
How often should I change my air filter in Central Texas?
Check it monthly and expect to change a standard one-inch filter every one to three months. Go to the short end of that range during cedar season in December through February, in a house with pets, or if anyone has allergies. Thicker four- or five-inch media filters last longer, usually six months to a year. A clogged filter is the single most common cause of the frozen coils and weak airflow we see on repair calls, and it is also the cheapest thing on this page to fix. If you are not sure what size you need, it is printed on the frame of the old one.
*Offers cannot be combined with other promotions or applied to dispatch fees. No cash value. Must present offer at time of service. Call for details.
