Baby It's…Hot Outside. Keep Your Vehicle's Air Conditioning In Peak Performance
Following these simple tips will keep your cool system running in tip top shape during the heat of the summer.
Worn Belts
Air conditioning systems are complex machines working in conjunction together to make sure that occupants stay cool and comfortable in the summer sun. The most obvious sign of impending doom to your air conditioning system can be diagnosed with someone with no car knowledge. Simply consult the owners manual and find out where your air conditioning belt is, which is a belt that keeps the system running. As it should be visual to the naked eye, any wear on the belt should be immediately obvious. If it is starting to shred or looks otherwise wrong it should be replaced immediately before worse problems come up down the line.
Pump Up The Power
Notice that your air conditioning isn't as cool as it used to be? Chances are your system needs more freon. This is a totally normal thing to happen as the freon is naturally depleted after a few years. Its a very easy job for an auto shop to add more freon and the bonus of paying someone else to do it is they can have a look at the rest of your system to make sure that it is in top top shape while recharging your freon. Alternatively, professionals and budding mechanics can use a simple do-it-yourself kit to add more freon to feel an added sense of self accomplishment.
Use It When You Need It
Your car is just like an employee, overworking it will lead to added stress and eventual failure. As the air conditioning takes up a lot of power from your engine, it can wear things down if you use it inappropriately. When your car is turned completely on, your alternator is continuously running to recharge your battery which provides the power for your air conditioning system. Using the A/C system, especially quite a bit when the car is turned on accessory mode will deplete battery power and your car may not have enough power to start.
Smell The Roses
Just like how we try to save other things by using them less, the same applies to the air conditioning system. Turning it off for a day and cracking the windows on a beautiful day will mean the system will have the power and lifetime to run itself during an extra day during the heat of the summer. Rolling down the windows and turning off the A/C preserves the system. Please use it responsibly.
Love It Or Lose It
Similar to how people start their engines every once and a while on stationary cars to make sure the engine runs, the same should be done with the A/C system. No matter what the weather, run your A/C system for at least five minutes every few weeks to make sure it is working and more importantly in order to prevent buildup of moisture and mildew. These are killer things for your system and should be appropriately safeguarded against.
Robert Mathius is a Chicago suburb native who currently lives in Tinley Park. He has a passion for the automotive industry in addition to journalism and works to blend his two passions in his writing. Additional automotive reporting by Robert can be found on Examiner.com.