HVAC emergency in Chicago? Call Bernie's Heating & A/C Service now! Same-day service available for all heating and cooling emergencies.
Seasonal HVAC maintenance plans provide scheduled tune-ups that reduce breakdowns and help lower your energy bills.
We've been doing preventive maintenance since 2008. Two tune-ups per year (spring AC, fall furnace) catch problems before they cascade. $179/year gets you both visits plus priority scheduling when Chicago weather gets brutal.
No vague promises. Here's exactly what "maintenance plan" means at Bernie's:
April-May (Before Cooling Season)
September-October (Before Heating Season)
What this ACTUALLY means:
During polar vortex or heat waves, non-plan customers wait 2-3 days for service. Plan customers get same-day or next-day scheduling.
Example: January 2026 polar vortex—200+ emergency calls/day. Plan customers got priority callbacks.
If we find something during your tune-up:
You get 15% off parts (not labor—we're honest). Example: Igniter replacement normally $225 parts = $191 with plan discount.
You still pay for repairs—the plan just reduces the parts cost.
The Math:
Cost: $179/year for both tune-ups (normally $89 × 2 = $178, so we give you a $1 discount—we're honest, it's barely a deal). The real value is priority scheduling. When your furnace dies during a polar vortex, that's worth way more than $1.
We're not going to lie—the plan isn't a huge discount. Here's the actual comparison:
You get: The same tune-ups
You DON'T get: Priority scheduling, parts discount
âś“ Priority scheduling during emergencies
âś“ 15% parts discount if repair needed
âś“ We call YOU to schedule (set & forget)
Why Buy the Plan?
The $1 savings isn't the point. Priority scheduling during emergencies is. During polar vortex, plan customers get same-day service. Non-plan customers wait 2-3 days while their pipes freeze. That's the real value.
Real percentages from our tune-ups (2008-present). This isn't fear-mongering—it's data.
Found in 60%+ of furnaces
What happens: Dust buildup reduces airflow 15-25%, wastes gas, makes furnace work harder
What we do: Pull the blower, clean it (included in tune-up)
Cost: Included in $89 tune-up (or $179 plan)
Found in 15-20% of furnaces 7+ years old
What happens: Igniter cracks during October tune-up = we catch it. Igniter cracks in January = no heat at 2 AM
Prevention cost: $225 replacement during tune-up (plan discount = $191)
Emergency cost: $275+ (plus you're freezing)
Found in 10% of furnaces 15+ years old
What happens: Crack = CO leak into your home. We red-tag the furnace immediately (safety issue)
Reality: Heat exchanger can't be fixed—you need furnace replacement
Replacement cost: $2,500-$5,000 (but you can budget vs emergency)
Found in 40%+ of ACs (small leaks)
What happens: Small leak loses 5% refrigerant/year. Catch it early = $300 leak repair. Ignore it = $1,500 coil replacement
Prevention: We catch leaks during spring tune-up, fix before summer
Early repair: $300 vs $1,500 later
Found in 25% of AC units 5+ years old
What happens: Weak capacitor would fail during first heat wave. AC won't start = emergency call
Prevention cost: $150 replacement during spring tune-up
Emergency cost: $250+ (plus no AC during heat wave)
Most failures don't "suddenly happen"—they're brewing during the off-season. Tune-ups catch them when parts are cheap and you're not desperate.
That's the real value of preventive maintenance. Not the $1 discount—the peace of mind.
Here's what the same repair actually costs when you catch it early vs when it fails mid-crisis:
Scenario: Failing igniter caught in October tune-up
The real win:
Scenario: Igniter fails January 15, 11 PM, 12°F outside
The hidden costs:
The Math Doesn't Tell the Whole Story
Yeah, emergency is only $5 more in this example. But that doesn't include the frozen pipes, the missed work, or the panic at 11 PM. Preventive maintenance buys you peace of mind. That's what you're really paying for.
Timing matters in Chicago. Schedule too late and you're competing with 100,000 other homeowners for the same parts and techs.
Best Time: September-October
DON'T wait for first cold snap:
November: Every furnace in Chicago fails same week. Wait times = 2-3 days. Igniter backorders = 1-2 weeks.
Best Time: April-May
DON'T wait for first heat wave:
June-July: Every AC in Chicago fails during first 95°F week. We get 200+ calls/day. Non-plan customers wait 2-3 days.
Chicago-Specific: Polar Vortex 2019
January 2019: -23°F for 3 days straight. We got 200+ emergency no-heat calls per day. Maintenance plan customers got same-day priority callbacks. Non-plan customers waited 6-8 hours minimum (some waited 2 days).
This will happen again. Chicago gets polar vortex every 3-5 years. Are you ready?
We're not going to bait-and-switch you. Here's exactly what the plan does NOT cover:
You still pay for parts and labor if we find something during the tune-up. You just get 15% off the parts cost. Labor rate stays the same.
You still pay the diagnostic fee if your system breaks down. But you jump the line—plan customers get priority scheduling over non-plan customers.
Manufacturer warranty is separate. The maintenance plan doesn't extend your warranty—though most warranties require annual maintenance anyway.
That's a separate service. We'll quote it if your ducts need cleaning, but it's not included in the tune-up. (Most ducts don't need cleaning—we won't upsell if unnecessary.)
Pick the plan that fits your situation. No long-term contracts—cancel anytime if you change your mind.
$179
per year
Best for: Homeowners with both furnace and AC who want set-it-and-forget-it peace of mind
$159
per year (65+)
Save $20/year. Must show ID at first visit. Same benefits as annual plan.
$149
first year only
Save $30 first year. Try the plan risk-free. Renews at $179/year (or cancel anytime).
We'll call you in September and April to schedule your tune-ups. If you want true set-it-and-forget-it, we can auto-renew your plan each year and just send a reminder email.
Your choice: We don't auto-enroll you in auto-renewal. During your first tune-up, we'll ask if you want it. You can cancel auto-renewal anytime—no penalties, no hassle.
Or call (773) 900-6248 to enroll over the phone
Spring AC tune-up includes condenser coil cleaning, refrigerant check, capacitor testing, and motor lubrication. Fall furnace tune-up includes burner cleaning, ignition testing, heat exchanger inspection, and airflow measurement. Both include standard filter replacement and written report of findings.
The $1 discount isn't the point—priority scheduling is. During polar vortex or heat waves, plan customers get same-day service while non-plan customers wait 2-3 days. Plus you get 15% off parts if we find something during the tune-up. For $1 more than buying tune-ups separately, you get peace of mind.
We call you in September/October for fall furnace tune-up and April/May for spring AC tune-up. You pick the time that works for you. We schedule before peak season when parts are available and techs aren't slammed with emergencies.
We show you the problem (photo if it's hidden), explain what happens if you don't fix it, quote the repair with your 15% plan discount, and you decide. If you approve, we fix it same visit (parts availability permitting). You still pay for repairs—the plan just gets you 15% off parts. We don't "find" problems to upsell—we're hourly techs, not commission salespeople.
Yes. No contracts, no cancellation fees. If you don't want to renew next year, just tell us when we call to schedule. We're not locking you into anything. This is about earning your trust every year, not trapping you in a contract.
Probably not. The plan is designed for homes with both systems. If you only have a furnace, just book the $89 fall tune-up yourself each September. We're not pushing plans—we'd rather you be honest about what you need than buy something unnecessary.
Enroll in our seasonal maintenance plan today. Two tune-ups per year, priority scheduling during emergencies, 15% parts discount. $179/year ($149 for new customers).
No contracts. Cancel anytime. We've been doing preventive maintenance since 2008.