Central Air Conditioning Maintenance in Des Moines, IA
Your air conditioner works hard every summer, and like any piece of machinery, it needs regular care to keep running reliably. A spring tune-up before cooling season begins is one of the smartest investments you can make—preventing expensive breakdowns, keeping your system efficient, and extending the life of your equipment by years. Obsidian Heating and Cooling has been keeping Des Moines homes comfortable for 15 years with professional, affordable maintenance plans. We're a veteran-owned business and Tempstar Elite Dealer, and we believe that preventive care beats emergency repair every time. Let us handle the routine work so you can enjoy a worry-free summer.
Up to 15-Year Warranty
Parts & Labor
Why Regular AC Maintenance Matters
Get Professional AC Maintenance Scheduled
Don't wait for a breakdown. Our technicians will inspect, clean, and optimize your system before summer arrives:
Additional Services:
What Happens During Your AC Maintenance Visit
From initial assessment to final documentation, every step is handled with precision and care. Here's what to expect when you choose Obsidian Heating and Cooling for your AC maintenance.
Pre-Visit Assessment & Scheduling
When you contact us to schedule maintenance, our team asks a few quick questions: When was your system last serviced? Have you noticed any changes in cooling, noise, or efficiency? Is your system under warranty? This helps us prepare our technician with the right tools and knowledge for your specific equipment. We'll confirm an appointment window that works for your schedule—typically one to two weeks before peak cooling season begins (late April or early May in Iowa). Spring scheduling ensures your system is ready before the heat hits.
For customers on our maintenance plan, scheduling is automatic—we contact you each spring and fall to arrange your visit.
Pre-Visit Preparation
Equipment Details Confirmed
We confirm equipment details and service history.
Concerns Discussed
We discuss any concerns or changes you've noticed.
Convenient Scheduling
We schedule at a time convenient for your family.
Tools & Parts Ready
We prepare any necessary parts or tools in advance.
Safety Check & System Inspection
Our technician arrives with a diagnostic kit and begins by walking the system from indoor to outdoor unit. First, we check for any visible safety hazards—refrigerant leaks around the indoor coil, electrical damage, debris near the outdoor unit, or signs of physical damage. Safety always comes first; if we spot a concern, we'll discuss it with you immediately.
Next, we visually inspect the indoor air handler and ductwork for leaks, damage, or blockages. We check that all access panels are secure and that the condensate drain line (which removes water) is clear and flowing. We inspect the outdoor condenser unit for debris, algae growth on the coil, or damage to fins. We verify that the unit is level and that the concrete pad shows no signs of settling.
Safety & Inspection Points
Refrigerant Leak Check
We check for visible refrigerant leaks or damage.
Ductwork Inspection
We inspect ductwork for leaks, disconnections, or damage.
Condensate Drain
We verify the condensate drain line is flowing freely.
Air Filter Review
We review your air filter condition and recommend change frequency.
Refrigerant Charge & Pressure Testing
Proper refrigerant charge is critical to efficiency and system longevity. We attach manifold gauges to the low and high pressure ports on your outdoor unit and measure current pressures under load. We compare those readings to the factory specifications for your equipment. If pressures are low, it indicates a slow leak somewhere in the system. If pressures are high, it can signal blockage or an overcharge from a prior service.
We also measure the temperature differential—how much cooler the air is after passing through the indoor coil. This tells us whether the system is actually removing heat efficiently. If we detect low refrigerant, we use specialized electronic leak detectors to find the source. Small leaks at solder joints can often be sealed; larger leaks in coils may require component replacement, which we'll discuss with you upfront.
Refrigerant Testing
Pressure Measurement
We measure low-side and high-side pressures under operating load.
Temperature Differential
We measure temperature differential across the indoor coil.
Electronic Leak Detection
We use electronic leak detection if refrigerant charge is low.
Readings Documented
We document all readings on your service record.
Electrical Component Testing & Cleaning
The electrical side of your AC includes the thermostat, contactor (the relay that fires the compressor), capacitor (which provides startup boost), and transformer (which steps down voltage). We test each component to verify proper operation. We use a multimeter to check voltage at critical points. We use a dedicated capacitor tester to measure capacitor health—a failing capacitor might show no visible signs but can fail catastrophically during cooling season.
We also inspect all electrical connections for corrosion, loose terminals, or burn marks. Corroded terminals reduce electrical flow and force the compressor to work harder. We clean connections with electrical-safe methods and tighten any loose fasteners. This small work prevents many failures before they happen.
Electrical Testing
Voltage Testing
We test voltage at the thermostat, contactor, and transformer.
Capacitor Health Check
We test the run capacitor with a dedicated meter for early failure signs.
Connection Cleaning
We clean corroded terminals and tighten loose connections.
Thermostat Testing
We test the thermostat's ability to control the system accurately.
Coil Cleaning & Airflow Verification
The indoor evaporator coil and outdoor condenser coil are where actual heat exchange happens. Over a year, dust, pollen, and biological growth accumulate, reducing efficiency. We clean the outdoor condenser coil with specialized equipment—gentle enough not to damage the delicate fins, powerful enough to remove years of buildup. The indoor coil is more delicate, but we inspect it for visible debris and growth and clean it if necessary.
We also verify airflow by testing pressure drop across your air filter and coil. A clogged filter or blocked coil restricts airflow, which can cause the indoor coil to freeze over or reduce cooling capacity. We recommend the proper filter size and MERV rating for your system and discuss changing frequency—typically monthly during heavy cooling periods.
Coil & Airflow Service
Outdoor Coil Cleaning
We clean the outdoor condenser coil with professional equipment.
Indoor Coil Inspection
We inspect the indoor evaporator coil for debris and biological growth.
Airflow Testing
We test airflow pressure drop across filters and coils.
Filter Recommendations
We recommend filter replacement frequency for your specific system.
Documentation, Education & Next Steps
Once the inspection and testing are complete, we sit down with you and walk through our findings. We'll explain what we found, what we cleaned, what we tested, and what everything means in plain English—no technical jargon unless you want it. You'll receive a detailed service report that includes all readings, what we inspected, what we serviced, and recommendations for any additional work.
If we found minor issues, we'll explain whether they need immediate attention or can be monitored. If we identified a developing problem (like a capacitor showing early signs of failure), we'll discuss timeline and cost for repair. We'll also recommend your next maintenance appointment—typically in the fall before heating season—and discuss options for joining our maintenance plan for automatic scheduling and priority service.
Service Completion
Findings Review
We review all findings and explain what we cleaned and tested.
Detailed Service Report
You receive a detailed written service report with all measurements.
Repair Recommendations
We discuss timing for any additional repairs we identified.
Next Appointment
We schedule your next fall inspection and discuss maintenance plans.
AC Maintenance Throughout Des Moines Metro
We provide professional spring and fall maintenance service across the Des Moines region:
Serving Our Neighbors in & Around:
Not Sure If We Service Your Area?
We're dedicated to serving Greater Des Moines and our surrounding communities. Give us a call if you're not sure if we come to you—chances are we do.
Ankeny, IA
North metro Des Moines homeowners trust us for annual AC maintenance and spring tune-ups. We schedule efficiently across Ankeny's residential neighborhoods to serve you within your preferred appointment window.
AC Maintenance in AnkenyUrbandale, IA
We provide maintenance service throughout northwest Des Moines and Urbandale, serving homes of all ages with the same professional standard. Our technicians know the area's climate challenges and housing stock intimately.
AC Maintenance in UrbandaleAltoona, IA
Southeast of Des Moines, we schedule regular maintenance for Altoona homeowners looking to protect their air conditioning investment before peak cooling season.
AC Maintenance in AltoonaGrimes, IA
North of Des Moines, Grimes residents join our maintenance plan for automatic spring and fall service. We maintain fast scheduling to fit your calendar.
AC Maintenance in GrimesClive, IA
West of Des Moines, we serve Clive's established and newer neighborhoods with consistent, reliable AC maintenance service throughout the year.
AC maintenance in CliveMaintain Your Entire Home Comfort System
Beyond air conditioning, we maintain and service all your home comfort equipment:
Heat Pump Maintenance
If you have a heat pump, we service both cooling and heating functions with season-specific tune-ups to keep your system running efficiently year-round.
Heat Pump MaintenanceFurnace Maintenance & Service
Before winter arrives, a furnace tune-up ensures your heating system is ready. Many customers get both AC and furnace maintenance for complete system coverage.
Furnace MaintenanceIndoor Air Quality Service
Keep your filters, UV lights, and humidifiers clean and operating. Air quality maintenance is often integrated with AC service.
Indoor Air Quality ServiceEmergency Repair Service
If something goes wrong between maintenance visits, we're available for same-day diagnosis and repair, 24/7 during cooling season.
Emergency AC RepairGas Piping Inspection
If you have gas-fired heating, we inspect and maintain your gas supply lines and connections for safety.
Gas Piping InspectionFrequently Asked Questions About AC Maintenance
Schedule Your Spring AC Tune-Up Today
Your air conditioner has worked hard all summer. Come fall and spring, it deserves professional attention—cleaning, testing, and optimization to keep it reliable and efficient for years to come. Obsidian Heating and Cooling makes AC maintenance simple and affordable.
Our veteran-owned team has been maintaining Des Moines-area comfort systems for 15 years. We're Tempstar Elite Dealers with direct manufacturer relationships, which means your system gets factory-authorized service at a price that's fair and transparent. Whether you need a single tune-up or want the convenience of automatic spring and fall service through our maintenance plan, we're here to help.
Explore All Air Conditioning Services
See everything we handle for air conditioning systems, or jump straight to a related service.
