This is an important question, even if it seems like something that our customers might know intuitively. Sometimes, no matter what is going on with the internal workings of your air conditioner, you call our team to schedule an appointment. The difference between whether it’s a maintenance call or a service call can sometimes feel trivial, but knowing the key differences between AC services can save you time and money.
But the truth is there’s a very big difference between these two types of appointments. When you call us, we can try to make the best call for what you need in the moment, but we think all of our customers would be better off learning how AC maintenance helps.
AC Repair vs. Maintenance: Key Differences Explained
AC maintenance is routine, preventative care performed once or twice a year to clean, inspect, and tune up your system so it runs efficiently and avoids problems.
AC repair is a reactive service needed when your system malfunctions, such as not cooling, making strange noises, or failing to start, and requires parts to be fixed or replaced.
Do you need air conditioning repair in Irvine, CA? Or perhaps a maintenance appointment would be a better choice? Keep reading to learn the answer, understanding the difference between AC repair and maintenance can help you make the right call.
What Is AC Repair? Fixing Performance Issues
Let’s start with the most obvious answer to the problem. AC repairs are required anytime you notice something wrong. If your air conditioner is making a strange noise, is malfunctioning, or even starts to break down, that’s when you call our team for AC service.
A “service call” and “repair appointment” are basically the same thing in our industry. This entails an HVAC technician scheduling time to come to your house and fix the system so it starts to run again. That’s the main objective, and it usually involves diagnosing the problem, fixing or replacing broken parts, and testing the system to ensure it works optimally. If your system’s cooling is weak or inconsistent, it helps to understand the common reasons why AC systems underperform.
AC Maintenance: Preventive Tips to Extend System Life
So, what do you do if your air conditioner doesn’t have any glaring issues but it could be working better? This is where maintenance comes in.
Maintenance is something you schedule on a yearly basis, regardless of how well your system is working already. The point of maintenance is to clean, tune up, and maintain your air conditioner so it continues to work as effectively and efficiently as possible. Efficiency is the key part of this, since an unmaintained air conditioner can lose up to 5% of its efficiency every year it forgoes maintenance. This means you’ll end up paying for more consumed electricity if you skip this service.
Even if you think your air conditioner is working just fine, it could need a cleaning and a tune-up in order to continue working this well for the next year. Especially for heat pump owners, these systems require maintenance twice a year, which is important to consider. If you’re unsure what that involves, here’s what happens during an AC maintenance visit so you know exactly what to expect and why it’s valuable.
AC Replacement Signs: When Repair Isn’t Enough
So, what if repairs don’t get the job done and maintenance doesn’t seem like the correct choice? What then? This can sometimes be the case when you face multiple, frequent repairs that don’t seem to get to the root of the problem, or you’re struggling with a system that’s 10+ years old.
In these cases, you can rely on a replacement to do the trick. This is when we simply remove your old unit and replace it with a brand-new one that works more effectively and efficiently. This can fix nearly any problems and can leave you with a clean slate, as long as you schedule maintenance for the years ahead! If you’re evaluating your options, this guide to replacing your AC system can walk you through what to consider and how to prepare.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: What is the difference between AC repair and AC maintenance?
Answer: AC maintenance is scheduled, preventative care done once or twice a year to clean, inspect, and tune up your system so it runs efficiently and avoids problems. AC repair is a reactive service you call for when your system malfunctions and needs parts fixed or replaced.
Question: When should I schedule AC maintenance?
Answer: You should schedule AC maintenance even when your system seems fine to keep it running efficiently, catch small issues early, and reduce energy costs. Heat pump systems may need maintenance twice a year.
Question: When do I need an AC repair service?
Answer: You need AC repair when your air conditioner isn’t cooling properly, makes unusual noises, fails to start, or shows other signs of malfunction that affect performance.
Question: Can regular AC maintenance prevent costly repairs?
Answer: Yes, regular maintenance helps detect and fix minor problems early, which can prevent major breakdowns and expensive emergency repairs later.
Question: How often should I get my air conditioner checked?
Answer: Most experts recommend at least one maintenance visit yearly for cooling systems, with older systems or heavy use sometimes benefiting from twice‑yearly checkups.
Contact RKM Heating and Air Conditioning today to schedule an appointment with us. Done Right, Priced Right.