What a tune-up includes
A tune-up is a maintenance visit, not a repair visit. The point is to find the part that is going to fail in January while it is still September. Here is what a real one covers on a gas furnace in Arvada:
- Ignition. Ignitor resistance measured (a cracking ignitor reads high before it fails), flame sensor cleaned, burners cleaned and inspected for rust and misalignment.
- Safety. High-limit and rollout switches tested, pressure switch and hoses checked, flame rectification signal read, gas valve operation confirmed, gas leak check at the furnace connections.
- Heat exchanger. Visual and, where the design allows, camera inspection for cracks. A combustion analysis (CO in the flue) on high-efficiency units.
- Airflow. Filter checked and replaced if you provide one, blower wheel inspected, blower motor amps measured, temperature rise across the furnace compared to the nameplate range. Temperature rise out of range is the single most useful number on the sheet; it tells the tech about the filter, the ducts, and the derate all at once.
- Venting and condensate. Flue connections, the sidewall vent on condensing furnaces, condensate trap flushed and drain line cleared.
- Controls. Thermostat calibration and cycle settings, wiring connections tightened, board fault history read.
- The report. A written summary with the readings, anything that is worn, and a price for any repair recommended. You decide. Nothing is done beyond the tune-up without your written approval.
What it costs and what it prevents
Prices verified September 2026| Item | Note | Arvada range |
|---|---|---|
| Furnace tune-up | 45 to 90 minutes, written report | $89 - $200 |
| Furnace and AC togetherTwo visits, spring and fall, or one combined | Common on a maintenance plan | $150 - $350 |
| Filter, if supplied by the tech | Standard 1-inch pleated | $10 - $40 |
| Ignitor replaced during the visit | When the reading says it is near the end | $150 - $300 |
| Compiled from published Denver-area contractor pricing and national cost guides, Q3 2026. Any repair found during the tune-up is quoted separately and needs your written approval. | ||
The math on a tune-up is simple. The two most common January failures in Arvada, the ignitor and the flame sensor, are both caught by a tune-up and both cost more as an emergency call than as a scheduled one. A tune-up also keeps most manufacturer warranties valid, which matter on a furnace under ten years old.
When a tune-up is not worth it
Be honest about the furnace. If it is over 20 years old, has a known issue, or has already had a heat exchanger flagged, a tune-up buys a report you can already guess. Put the money toward the repair-or-replace decision instead. Likewise, a furnace installed last year under warranty needs its first maintenance visit to keep the warranty, but not much else.
When to book
September and October. That is not a sales line; it is scheduling. Once the first hard freeze hits the west side, every truck runs no-heat calls and tune-ups get pushed. Booking early means a real appointment window, a tech who is not rushing to the next emergency, and time to order a part if the ignitor reading says so.
Arvada, Olde Town, Applewood, Leyden, Candelas, and Wheat Ridge. Call the number or send a photo of the sticker through the photo quote to book.