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 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 knowing the difference between the two.
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.
AC Repairs: The Call to Fix a Problem
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.
Maintenance: When Your AC Needs a Tune-Up
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.
Replacement: When Nothing Else Works
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!
Contact RKM Heating and Air Conditioning today to schedule an appointment with us. Done Right, Priced Right.