What the fall heat pump tune-up actually covers
Heating-mode operation puts stress on a different set of components than cooling. The fall visit spec specifically targets those components — every item below is a heating-mode specific test that wouldn't happen on a spring AC tune-up.
- Reversing valve operation verification — switch the system to heat mode, confirm the valve actually shifts (it sometimes sticks after 6 months of cool-mode operation)
- Defrost board cycle test — force a defrost cycle, verify the outdoor fan stops, the reversing valve switches, and the cycle completes within manufacturer spec time
- Auxiliary heat strip continuity and amperage draw test — burned-out elements show up as 'cool-air-from-vents-on-cold-mornings' calls otherwise
- Sequencer / contactor verification on the auxiliary heat circuit — heat strips need to engage in correct sequence, not all at once
- Outdoor temperature sensor check — heat pumps use this to time defrost cycles; a bad sensor means the outdoor coil ices up in cold weather
- Refrigerant pressures in heating mode (different from cooling-mode pressures) and refrigerant charge verification under heating load
- Balance-point thermostat programming review — making sure the temperature where aux heat engages is set correctly for the home's heat loss
- Heating-mode temperature rise measurement (typical spec is 18-25°F across the indoor coil)
- Crankcase heater verification on the outdoor compressor — required for proper cold-weather startup
- All cool-mode tune-up items still apply (capacitor, contactor, electrical tightness, condensate, coil cleaning) — they aren't redundant; they re-verify in fall what was good in spring
- Salt-air corrosion inspection on outdoor heat pump (every coastal home), with attention to electrical compartment moisture intrusion which causes most winter no-heat calls in coastal areas
- Written service report with heating-mode measurements alongside spring's cooling-mode baseline
First-cold-snap warning signs
When the first real cold front rolls through Baldwin County and the heat actually has to perform, these are the symptoms that mean call us before the temperature drops further:
- Cool air blowing from vents while the thermostat says HEAT (reversing valve not switching, or aux heat not engaging)
- Outdoor unit covered in ice that doesn't clear within an hour (defrost cycle failure)
- System runs constantly but house never reaches setpoint (refrigerant charge issue or oversized aux heat lockout)
- Burning smell on first heat-mode startup of the season (dust on idle aux heat strips — usually clears, but stays = call us)
- Loud rattling or grinding from outdoor unit in heating mode (compressor or fan motor issue)
- Auxiliary heat appearing to run continuously instead of as backup (balance point misconfigured)
FAQs
- When should I schedule my fall heat pump tune-up?
- Aim for late September through October. Baldwin County's first real cold front typically arrives mid-November to mid-December, and you want the tune-up done before the first hard cold-snap night exposes weak heating components. Comfort Plan members get automatic seasonal reminders.
- Why is the fall tune-up different from the spring tune-up?
- The reversing valve hasn't moved since spring; defrost boards haven't been tested in heating mode for 6 months; auxiliary heat strips have been idle since last winter. The fall visit specifically tests heating-mode operation — components that look fine on a cool-mode spring visit can still fail at the first cold snap.
- Do mild Baldwin County winters mean I can skip the fall tune-up?
- No — and the mild climate is exactly why people skip and regret it. Mild winters let weak components survive year-round operation in cooling mode, then fail spectacularly the one week the heat actually has to work. Most fall tune-up findings are 'this would have left you cold on Christmas Eve' moments.
- What if I have a gas furnace instead of a heat pump?
- Gas furnaces need a separate heating tune-up: combustion analysis, heat exchanger inspection (cracks vent carbon monoxide into the home), igniter and flame sensor cleaning, gas valve test, draft inducer check, and pressure switch verification. ACExperts services gas furnaces too — schedule the same way and we'll route the right service.
Schedule before the first cold front
Comfort Plan members are automatically queued for fall scheduling. Non-members: book by mid-October to beat the cold-snap rush — once temperatures drop, every contractor in the county pivots to emergency response.