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Pre-Season Cooling Tune-Up

SOP Equipment Updated Jul 24, 2026 · HVAC

Purpose

A focused 45-minute service performed in spring (March - May, regionally adjusted) that prepares a residential cooling system for the upcoming season. Different scope from the broader "Annual HVAC System Maintenance" SOP - that one is comprehensive and timed for fall; this one is targeted at the highest-impact pre-season checks plus the customer-facing diagnostic that gets next-season failures fixed BEFORE the first hot week.

Scope

Applies to:

  • Residential split-system air conditioners (1.5 - 5 ton)
  • Residential heat pumps (cooling mode prep only)
  • Packaged units, residential and light-commercial

Excludes mini-splits (separate SOP with different scope) and any unit > 12 years old (recommend replacement quote alongside).

Responsibilities

  • Dispatcher prioritizes pre-season visits in March - April booking
  • Lead technician runs the procedure + customer briefing
  • Customer is offered any flagged repair quotes at end of visit, not at next service call

Procedure

  1. Customer briefing. "I'm going to spend about 45 minutes prepping your AC for the season. Anything I find that needs attention I'll show you before I leave."
  2. Replace the return air filter. Note size + airflow direction on the field report.
  3. Outdoor coil cleaning. Clear debris, comb fins, wash with a coil-safe cleaner from inside out.
  4. Run cooling mode for 10 minutes to let pressures stabilize.
  5. Measure system performance:
  • Supply / return temperature split (target 18 - 22 °F)
  • Suction + liquid pressures matched to ambient
  • Superheat and subcooling per the metering device
  • Compressor and condenser fan amp draw (compare to FLA)
  1. Capacitor health check. Test µF with a meter; replace any cap drifting > 10 % off label. This is the single highest-ROI pre-season check.
  2. Contactor inspection. Pitted or burned contacts → replace. Cheap part, high-impact failure if missed.
  3. Condensate management. Verify drain pan empty, drain line clear, float switch operational.
  4. Thermostat batteries. Replace anything below 75 %.
  5. Customer walk-through. Show any flagged items (worn cap, marginal contactor, etc.) BEFORE quoting.

Acceptance Criteria

  • 18 - 22 °F supply / return split at design conditions
  • Capacitor µF within 10 % of label
  • No pitting or discoloration on contactor contacts
  • Drain pan dry; float switch test passes
  • Customer signs the field report; any flagged repairs quoted in person

The biggest pre-season tune-up upsell isn't the part replacement - it's the maintenance agreement. A customer who watched you find a worn capacitor in May (before it failed in July) is the easiest contract conversion of the year. Lead with "If I'd missed this, you'd have been calling on July 4th. Here's what a service plan would cover..." rather than a pitch deck.

References

  • ACCA Standard 4 (Maintenance of Residential HVAC Systems)
  • Manufacturer service literature for the specific equipment
  • Manuall internal: Annual HVAC System Maintenance, Replace an AC Run Capacitor, AC Won't Cool - Diagnostic Tree

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