Heating Tune-Up in Galveston, TX

November. Before the first cold front. That's when Galveston homeowners should schedule a heating tune-up — and the reason is specific to living on the Gulf Coast. Your heating system sits idle from roughly March through November. That's eight to nine months of exposure to salt-laden humidity, Gulf Coast storms, and temperature swings — all while the system does nothing. During that idle time, corrosion works on electrical connections, salt deposits build on outdoor coils, and components that were fine last winter quietly degrade. A $129 tune-up (reg. $225) from Coastal Eco Heating & Air catches those problems before the first 35-degree night exposes them as failures.

What a Coastal Heating Tune-Up Covers

A standard heating tune-up checks thermostat calibration, airflow, electrical connections, and system operation. What makes Coastal Eco's inspection different is the salt-air overlay we add to every single check.

For heat pumps — the most common heating system on Galveston Island — we inspect the outdoor coil fins for salt buildup and corrosion, test the reversing valve to confirm it switches properly from cooling to heating mode, verify the defrost cycle operates correctly, check refrigerant levels, and inspect all electrical contacts and relay points for oxidation. Salt corrosion on contactor points is the number one cause of heating failures we see on the island. A contactor that looks fine in September can have enough oxidation by December to prevent it from making a solid connection.

For electric furnaces, the tune-up covers heating element resistance testing (to catch elements that are weakening but haven't failed yet), sequencer operation, blower motor amp draw, capacitor testing, and a full inspection of the control board for moisture damage or corrosion on circuit traces.

For gas furnaces, we inspect the igniter, flame sensor, gas valve, heat exchanger, and flue system, plus all the electrical components that get the same salt-air treatment as any other system on the coast.

Why the Timing Matters

If you schedule a tune-up in October or early November, we catch problems while there's time to order parts, schedule repairs, and get your system ready before cold weather arrives. If you wait until the first cold front hits and your heat doesn't work, you're now in emergency territory — and every HVAC company in Galveston County is fielding the same calls.

Galveston's heating season is short — December through February, with occasional November and March cold snaps. That compressed timeline means there's a narrow window when all the deferred problems reveal themselves at once. The HVAC industry in the greater Houston-Galveston area sees a sharp spike in emergency heating calls every year during the first real cold front, usually late November or early December. Most of those calls could have been prevented by a pre-season tune-up.

The Salt Corrosion Factor

Inland HVAC companies check for standard wear and tear. On Galveston Island, the primary threat to your heating system isn't mechanical wear — it's chemical corrosion from sodium chloride in the air. Salt accelerates oxidation on every metal surface: aluminum coil fins, copper refrigerant lines, steel fasteners, brass valve bodies, and the tin and silver solder on electrical connections.

During a tune-up, we're not just looking for parts that have failed — we're identifying parts that are corroding and will fail soon. Catching a corroded contactor in November costs you a $25 part and a few minutes of labor during a scheduled visit. Having that same contactor fail at midnight during a freeze costs you an emergency service call and a miserable night.

What You Get for $129

The $129 rate (regular price $225) covers a complete heating system inspection, performance test, and cleaning. If we find an issue, we'll give you a clear diagnosis and repair quote on the spot. If your system is running well, you get the peace of mind that it's ready for winter — with coastal-specific verification that salt hasn't compromised any critical components.

We serve Galveston Island, Texas City, League City, Dickinson, La Marque, and Santa Fe. Call (409) 599-1948 to schedule your pre-season heating tune-up before the first cold front hits.