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.
What’s the difference between AC repair and AC maintenance?
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.
Don’t you feel like you were just hanging up your lights for the holiday season, baking cookies, and pulling on those extra layers? We know—we feel the same way—winter really rolled by fast. Spring is here and summer is right around the corner. You want to make sure that you’re getting the best service from your air conditioner this summer and air conditioning maintenance is the way to do this.
You want to make sure that you’re getting the best work possible
in Riverside, CA. We live in a hot climate that needs a great air conditioning
system to keep it comfortable. We’re going to make sure that you get the comfort
that you need in your home.
Even though modern technology is often viewed with awe and admiration, it’s still prone to error. Air conditioning (AC) systems are especially imperfect, regardless of their quality or the precision of their installation.
At RKM Heating and Air Conditioning, we specialize in preventative services centered around heating and air conditioning systems, including central air conditioning systems as a key part of whole-home comfort. By employing us, you can ensure that the air temperature in your home is always ideal with help from professional AC maintenance services.
In this article, we discuss 4 reasons why AC maintenance is so important for modern homeowners, emphasizing how preventative care is critical for avoiding undesirable consequences.
Introduction: The Role of AC Maintenance in Your Home
When it comes to keeping your living space comfortable, few things are as essential as a well-functioning air conditioner. Regular air conditioner maintenance is the key to ensuring your air conditioning system delivers cool air efficiently, especially during the hottest months of the year. By taking care of your AC unit, you not only improve its performance and extend its life, but you also reduce the risk of unexpected repairs and high energy costs. A properly maintained air conditioning unit helps maintain the desired temperature in your home, keeps your air clean, and ensures your system runs smoothly. In this article, we’ll explore why air conditioner maintenance matters, share practical maintenance tips, and explain how regular maintenance can save you money while keeping your home comfortable all year long.
Understanding How Your Air Conditioner Works
To truly appreciate the value of air conditioner maintenance, it helps to understand how your air conditioning system operates. At the heart of your AC system are several critical components: the compressor, condenser coils, evaporator coil, and blower motor. The compressor pressurizes the refrigerant, which then travels through the condenser coils in the outdoor unit, releasing heat to the outside air. The cooled refrigerant moves to the indoor evaporator coil, where it absorbs heat from your home’s air, creating that refreshing cool air you rely on. The blower motor then circulates this cooled air through your ductwork and into every room. Each of these parts must function properly for your system to deliver efficient cooling. Regular maintenance ensures that coils stay clean, refrigerant levels remain optimal, and the entire system operates at peak efficiency, preventing heat buildup and keeping your home comfortable. Experts recommend two maintenance checks per year, in spring and fall, to ensure your air conditioning unit is ready for peak usage seasons.
Essential AC Maintenance Tasks Every Homeowner Should Know
Keeping your air conditioning system in top shape doesn’t have to be complicated. There are several essential air conditioner maintenance tasks every homeowner should be familiar with. Start by changing your air filter regularly, this simple step helps maintain good airflow and improves air quality. Dirty filters reduce airflow and system efficiency in air conditioning units, making it harder for your system to cool your home effectively. Don’t forget to check and replace the batteries in your thermostat to ensure accurate temperature control. Inspect the condenser coils in your outdoor unit and clean away any debris or dirt that could reduce efficiency. It’s also important to check refrigerant levels and look for any signs of leaks or water damage around your AC system. For more thorough care, schedule annual AC maintenance with a licensed HVAC professional. A trained technician will inspect electrical components, test the compressor, and make sure your system is running at peak performance. By staying on top of these maintenance tasks, you can address issues promptly, avoid costly repairs, and keep your air conditioning system working efficiently all season long.
We don’t have seasons in the Inland Empire the way the rest of the country does. Our winters are extremely mild and our summers are long and hot. Heaters tend to see us for a few short months in the winter — usually during our cool nights — and air conditioning season starts sooner and sooner every year it seems. We’re not even officially into spring yet, and chances are you’ve had to run your air conditioner a number of times this year already.
Winter doesn’t really hit us here in the Inland Empire: not the way it does back east, certainly. But the weather is cooler and pleasant, which means we rarely have the need for our air conditioners during this part of the year. That makes now an excellent time to get your system ready for the spring. Warm weather arrives sooner every year, it seems, and if your air conditioner is ready to go, you can be assured that it will run efficiently all summer long.
We don’t have seasons in the Inland Empire the way the rest of the country does. Our winters are extremely mild and our summers are long and hot. Heaters tend to see us for a few short months in the winter — usually during our cool nights — and air conditioning season starts sooner and sooner every year it seems. We’re not even officially into spring yet, and chances are you’ve had to run your air conditioner a number of times this year already. 
Winter doesn’t really hit us here in the Inland Empire: not the way it does back east, certainly. But