Yes – in Stockton’s long, hot summers, servicing your air conditioner once a year is worth it. A single annual tune-up keeps your AC running efficiently through 100 F afternoons, lowers your energy bills, and cuts the odds of a breakdown when you need cooling most. In a climate this hot, twice-yearly service is often even better.
That said, timing matters. The best window to book AC service is spring or early fall, before the Central Valley heat peaks and HVAC crews get slammed with emergency calls. Waiting until midsummer usually means higher rates and longer waits, while skipping service altogether can quietly void your manufacturer warranty. Here’s how often to service your AC, what a tune-up covers, and what it typically costs.
You can save money on an AC tune-up by having it done in the spring or fall. Many HVAC companies offer annual servicing plans that’ll give you discounted rates on your tune-up.
How Often Should I Service My Air Conditioner?
It’s advisable to service your air conditioner at least once per year. However, you should have it serviced twice per year if you live in an area that’s warm most of the year.
By the end of the warm months, your AC will have accumulated dirt and debris that block airflow into the AC, and the parts might be lacking proper lubrication or have suffered minor damage that needs to be repaired. These problems only get worse as your AC unit sits idle during the cool months.
Annual AC servicing will get your air conditioner back up to speed and prepared to handle daily use when the warm season comes around again.
When to Schedule AC Maintenance
Spring and fall are the best times to schedule AC maintenance.
If you want to avoid breakdowns in the summer, you should have your AC serviced well before the summer months begin. Servicing rates are also higher in the summer for that very reason – HVAC companies are very busy fixing broken air conditioners that weren’t serviced.
During the warm season, you should also change your AC’s air filter once per month. This is a simple task that doesn’t require an HVAC specialist.
Why Avoid Winter and Summer Maintenance?
You should avoid having your AC serviced in the winter and summer. Here’s why:
- Summer Maintenance Problems: Don’t wait until the summer to have your AC serviced. As soon as your air conditioner begins receiving heavy, daily use, any of the problems that have accumulated in the off-season – from blocked air filters to degraded parts – can significantly increase the risk of your AC unit breaking down. AC servicing and AC repairs are also more expensive during the high season.
- Winter Maintenance Problems: In cool temperatures, the oil that lubricates the different motors inside your AC unit thickens and doesn’t circulate properly when being used.
How Long Does AC Maintenance Take?
On average, AC maintenance takes between 1-2 hours when you’ve enlisted a licensed HVAC technician.
The time it takes to service your AC depends on:
- How accessible your AC unit is (technicians will need more time if your AC unit is hard to reach)
- Type of AC unit (more complex AC systems require more maintenance time)
- Whether repairs are needed
- Size of your home
- Time that has passed since your last servicing (technicians may have more to do if your AC unit hasn’t been serviced in more than a year)
Benefits of Getting Your AC Serviced Twice a Year
AC servicing saves you money on repair and utility costs.
AC maintenance is relatively cheap, especially if you have it done in the spring or fall. It’s far more expensive to repair your AC when it breaks down due to neglected maintenance. AC repairs can cost $500 or more. Long-term neglect can even reduce the lifespan of your AC. Replacing your entire AC unit costs thousands of dollars.
A neglected AC unit will also not run as efficiently and will have to work harder to cool your home, consuming more energy and costing you more money.
Why You Should Get Your AC Serviced at Least Once Per Year
You don’t need to have your AC serviced multiple times throughout the year. Just a single yearly AC tune-up yields the following benefits:
- Higher efficiency and lower energy costs
- Longer lifespan for your AC
- Lower risk of costly repairs / breakdowns
- Maintaining your AC warranty
Higher Efficiency and Lower Energy Costs
AC maintenance will ensure that your air conditioner is running at top performance and using as little energy as possible. AC servicing can improve your air conditioner’s efficiency.
Dirt and debris build up on your air conditioner all year long, blocking airflow and making your AC unit work harder to cool your home. An HVAC technician can clean up your AC and make sure it’s getting maximum airflow.
HVAC technicians will also remove clogs from the drainage pipes and add lubricant to the moving parts inside your AC unit. Clogs and poor lubrication also restrict the efficiency of your AC unit and cause it to consume more power.
Air Conditioner Maintenance Improves the AC Lifespan
Most AC systems have a lifespan between 10-15 years. If you neglect regular maintenance, you could significantly shorten your AC’s lifespan. It’s the same thing that will happen to your vehicle if you don’t have it regularly serviced by an auto mechanic.
Clogged filters and drainpipes, insufficient lubrication, and cracked parts will cause your AC unit to work harder and for longer periods of time, which causes more degradation of your AC components. You can avoid this by scheduling just a single AC servicing per year.
Lower Risk of Air Conditioner Breakdowns and Repairs
AC servicing is a great opportunity to do preventative maintenance on your air conditioner. HVAC technicians can catch minor problems before they erupt into big problems that cause your AC unit to fail. The most common problems are:
- Clogs: Clogged air filters can damage your coils or cause your AC unit to overheat. Drain pipe clogs can cause flooding in your AC unit, damaging its components, creating bad odors, and creating too much humidity in your AC system that can discolor your walls and carpets.
- Bad Circuitry: HVAC technicians can fix wires that have loosened over time. Loose wires can prevent your AC unit from turning on.
- Friction: If the moving parts in your AC unit don’t have enough lubrication, then they’ll create too much friction and damage your motors.
Qualified HVAC technicians are excellent at identifying these issues during a servicing and making quick, minor repairs that prevent much bigger and costlier repairs.
Maintain Air Conditioner Warranty
Most air conditioners are covered by a warranty that will cover repair costs if your AC breaks down. These warranties have a catch: you need to schedule regular maintenance on your AC unit with certified AC specialists. You could spend hundreds to thousands of dollars in repair costs if your AC breaks down, but your warranty is voided due to neglected maintenance.
On most warranties, you can find this stipulation under the “Eligibility Requirements” or “Exclusions” sections. It’s designed to make sure you did everything you could to prevent a breakdown.
What Annual HVAC Maintenance Includes
HVAC technicians will do the following during an annual servicing:
- Cleaning dirt and debris from the fins, fans, coils, and condensers
- Replacing air filters
- Inspecting drains and clearing clogs
- Testing the thermostat
- Inspecting the circuitry
- Inspecting the mechanical components to make sure they’re working properly
How Much Does AC Maintenance Cost?
Annual HVAC maintenance costs between $75 and $220 on average.
AC repairs on average cost between $300 and $700 when your AC breaks down – or even more. It’s much cheaper to schedule AC maintenance once or twice per year than having to pay for repair costs.
You can save money on your AC servicing by enlisting in an annual HVAC service plan.
Should You Enlist in an Annual HVAC Service Plan?
Save money with Greener Solutions Heating & AC. Sign up for our annual HVAC service plan and make sure your AC gets the care it needs to get you through the hot season. We’ll give you special rates and make sure that your annual servicing doesn’t slip from your mind.
HVAC service plans include:
- Seasonal inspections
- AC unit cleaning
- Air quality inspection
- Air filter replacement
- Adding refrigerant and lubricant
- Thermostat inspection
Our annual service plan also includes a discount on emergency repair services.
Contact Greener Solutions Heating & AC to Schedule Your Annual HVAC Maintenance
Greener Solutions Heating & AC offers an annual AC maintenance plan for homeowners in Stockton and the Central Valley. Our service plan is the most cost-effective way to prepare your AC for the warm months and keep your energy bill as low as possible. Contact us today to learn more!
With Stockton summers regularly pushing past 100 F, a yearly tune-up is one of the best ways to keep your AC efficient and your energy bills in check. When you are ready to get ahead of the heat, schedule your annual service with Greener Solutions Heating & AC.