The Difference Between an AC Repair vs AC Maintenance Visit

HVAC systems across the Houston area are put to the test during much of the year, which is why understanding the difference between an AC repair vs AC maintenance visit is so important.

If you compare them to a doctor’s visit, it is easy to understand the difference. An AC repair visit is like going to the doctor when you’re sick. The doctor will run some tests and give you a diagnosis and a prescription to help ease symptoms.

An AC maintenance visit, on the other hand, is like going for your annual health physical. The goal for an AC maintenance visit is to do a comprehensive inspection of your HVAC system, servicing parts that commonly wear out, and documenting any issues to address. It is also a good time to ask any questions you might have about your HVAC system.

What Does an AC Repair Entail?

A repair to your heating or air conditioner is a specialized service call. These visits aim to get your equipment back up and running as quickly as possible.

An AC technician gets to the root of the problem, comes up with a diagnosis, shares the findings with you, and a price estimate on what it will cost to fix. After that has been approved, they may have to retrieve a part, install it to factory specifications, and then test the system to get your HVAC system back up and running normally.

Reasons we are called for an AC repair include the following:

  • AC not cooling
  • Thermostat not working
  • AC making strange noises
  • Rising humidity indoors
  • AC not turning on
  • Leak from the AC condensate drain
  • AC not keeping up with the heat
  • Weak airflow indoors
  • Weird odors coming from the AC

What is an AC Maintenance Visit?

Our Houston area weather averages eight months of warm to hot, humid weather. This is why air conditioning is so important. Freezes and snow, while rare, do occur. By and large, the heat and humidity are the biggest reasons that air conditioning is such a necessity for indoor comfort where we serve home and business owners.

We recommend biannual maintenance visits for your air conditioner or heat pump to give it a thorough inspection and service before extremely hot or cold weather arrives. We service air conditioners in the spring and heaters in the fall. For commercial customers, we recommend quarterly service.

Maintenance visits check the following:

  • System temperatures and pressures
  • Airflow tests
  • Refrigerant levels (in heat pumps and air conditioners)
  • Inspection of ventilation and ducts
  • Cleanliness and lubrication needs
  • Indoor and outdoor coils
  • Condensate drain
  • Electrical parts such as the compressor, fan motors, capacitors, etc.
  • Safety equipment (especially in furnaces and electric heaters)
  • Surge protectors and float switches

Maintenance checks are a great time to ask questions about that west-facing room that never cools well. A mini-split system can also be a good solution there and for renovations. We often answer questions about whole-home air purification systems if allergies are a concern, especially in the fall and spring.

If you’re wondering if a smart thermostat can be reprogrammed to improve efficiency, a maintenance visit is a good time to ask those questions.

Can I Schedule AC Repair and AC Maintenance Together?

 Usually, you can schedule a repair and maintenance visit together IF you plan for that in advance. Both types of visits require a different amount of time. It pays to ask in advance if you think you might want both a repair and a maintenance visit.

If these two visits aren’t on the schedule at the beginning of the day, then it explains why an AC technician may schedule a maintenance visit for another day.

AC repair and AC maintenance visits are pre-scheduled, so AC technicians have multiple customers to visit each day. This explains why slipping in an extra visit on the fly often doesn’t work.

Should I Sign Up for a Maintenance Agreement for my HVAC system?

A preventative maintenance agreement is one that pre-schedules fall and spring maintenance visits on your AC and heating system. AC companies encourage them because it often prevents catastrophic breakdowns on holidays, weekends, and the hottest or coldest day of the year.

Signing up for an AC maintenance agreement often comes with priority scheduling and discounts on parts if you end up needing a repair during the year. The reason AC companies can afford these discounts is because meticulously maintained AC systems do not break down that often if at all.

Well-maintained air conditioners also improve your HVAC system’s longevity and energy efficiency, saving you money in the long run.

Call Us for AC Repair and AC Maintenance in Houston, Texas

If you need reliable AC repair or AC maintenance for your air conditioner or heat pump, contact  the experts at Castle A/C & Heating and book your next visit online. We service all makes and models of air conditioning and heating equipment and serve Southwest Houston, Uptown, Midtown, and South Houston and the Bay Area, including Memorial Village, West University, River Oaks, The Heights, Bellaire, Sugar Land, Katy, Fulshear, League City, Pearland, Nassau Bay, Friendswood, Kingwood, Clear Lake Shores, Seabrook, and Webster. We aim to deliver service fit for royalty – give us a try today!