What you should do yourself (it's not much, but it matters)
The homeowner's share of HVAC maintenance is short, cheap, and genuinely effective:
- Change the filter every 1–3 months — monthly during peak summer and winter, and in homes with pets
- Keep the outdoor unit clear: two feet of clearance, free of grass clippings, leaves, and cottonwood fluff
- In winter, keep snow and ice off the furnace intake/exhaust pipes and the heat pump cabinet
- Keep supply and return vents open and unblocked — closing vents doesn't save energy, it strains the blower
- Test the system before you need it: run heat on a mild fall day, cooling on a mild spring day
- Replace thermostat batteries yearly; test CO and smoke detectors monthly
What a professional tune-up covers that you can't
A real tune-up is a safety and performance inspection, not a filter change. On a furnace that means inspecting the heat exchanger for cracks (the carbon monoxide risk), testing gas pressure and combustion, cleaning burners and the flame sensor, and verifying every safety control. On an AC it means checking refrigerant charge, testing capacitors and electrical connections, cleaning coils, and clearing the condensate system before it overflows.
The payoff is documented: maintained systems run more efficiently, fail less often, and last years longer. Technicians also catch small problems — a weakening capacitor, a slow refrigerant leak — while they're cheap, instead of at 11 p.m. in a January cold snap.
The plan that makes maintenance free in the end
The True Comfort Savings Plan wraps the whole routine into $199.99 a year (or $16.67/month): an annual furnace inspection and maintenance, an annual A/C inspection and maintenance, no after-hours fees ever, 10% off any HVAC repair, and 24-hour priority service.
And the part that matters most over the long run: every dime you spend on the plan is credited back in full toward your replacement system when the time eventually comes. Maintenance that pays you back — literally.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I change my furnace filter?
Check monthly, and change it at least every 90 days — monthly during heavy summer and winter use, or in homes with pets or allergies. It's the single highest-value maintenance task a homeowner can do.
Is an annual HVAC tune-up really worth it?
In Iowa's climate, yes. A tune-up catches failing parts before breakdown season, keeps efficiency from drifting down, verifies safety controls (including heat exchanger inspection for carbon monoxide risk), and preserves most manufacturer warranties, which require documented maintenance.
What does the $44 AC tune-up include?
It's the full professional AC tune-up — regularly $129 — offered to qualifying MidAmerican Energy customers, with MidAmerican paying $85 of the cost. Availability is limited and first-come, first-served each season.
How does the Savings Plan credit work?
Every dollar you've spent on True Comfort Savings Plan maintenance is credited back in full toward your replacement system when you eventually need one. Combined with no after-hours fees and 10% off repairs, the plan effectively pays for itself twice.
Keep Learning