Your A/C System Would Like Your Attention

June 2019

Cover Page

Coolant needs to be changed too. Not as often as your oil does, but still, you will need to change or "flush" the coolant in your car.


Your A/C System Needs a Little Love
Car Care Tips and Insights

How does air conditioning work, anyway?

This gets a little technical, but here’s the basics: Inside your air conditioning system is a compressor which contains a refrigerant. When the air conditioning system is switched on, the gas travels to a condenser. Fresh air from outside the vehicle passes over the condenser and the temperature of the gas drops quickly and causes the refrigerant to liquefy. Now in liquid form, a drier removes impurity before reaching a thermal expansion valve which essentially allows the driver to control the temperature in the car by limiting the liquid flow. Lastly, the liquid is turned into vapour as it travels through evaporation coils and is then blown into the cabin as cool air. Meanwhile, the refrigerant, now back in gas form, returns to the compressor to start the process all over again. Now you’re an expert!

Is Air Conditioning Part of a “Safety” Inspection?

The short answer is “no.” Air conditioning is considered a ‘luxury’ feature and is not critical to the safe operation of your vehicle, so a safety check will not ensure that you’re A/C is functioning properly. Similarly, air conditioning is likely not included in the standard service schedule set out by your vehicle manufacturer. This is a system you need to keep your eyes on yourself because if your A/C is ignored and there’s a major failure from lack of service, then repairs can get expensive in a hurry.

Why does air conditioning stop working?

The refrigerant, or gas, found in your air conditioning unit is critical to the system working properly. It is this refrigerant that flows around the system and provides the cold air in your cabin. However, as a result of this process which involves continually shifting states from gas to liquid and back to gas again, some of this air con gas escapes the system each year. Less gas means less cool air so refilling every few years will keep your air con working in tip-top condition.

Of course, there are other reasons why air conditioning stops working but low refrigerant is the most common and, thankfully, the easiest to fix. If after a recharge, your air con is still blowing warm, it probably means there is a leak and that the refrigerant is escaping.

How often should you recharge your air conditioning?

Opinion varies but most vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation is every two years. Whether you use your car’s air con a lot or hardly ever at all, air con gas will continue to permeate through the system over time so an air con service every two years will keep the gas topped up and the system lubricated so you always have a cool blast ready when you need it most.

Interested in having a professional inspect and possibly service your A/C system? Click the SERVICE REQUEST button below to schedule a time most convenient for you before the weather gets too hot to handle.

Published by DrivingSuccess.ca® on behalf of Myers Auto Group
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