Finally, the good weather is here in the UK. Hopefully, it’s here to stay. With the temperature rising and more sun during the day, it means one thing; you’re going to be using the air con in your car a lot more. But have you noticed that it’s blowing out hot air when you turn it on? Buckle up for a sticky journey.
At Cavendish Motor Company, we know how to get rid of this problem for good. This article is going to give you the low down on everything to do with your vehicle’s air conditioning system.
An Air Con Recharge and Why It’s Necessary
Refrigerant is one of the most important components of your air conditioning system. If you don’t have the right quantity, you’ll get blasted with hot air.
The amount of refrigerant you have can naturally be lost over time due to the rubber hoses which are fixed to the aluminium pipes its constructed from.
It can also happen during spells of inactivity, such as through the winter. If you don’t get your refrigerant replaced, it can lead to malfunction. You really want to run your air con all year round to avoid this.
How Air Conditioning Works
Have you ever wondered how your air conditioning works? Well, we’ll let you know in the steps below.
The compressor transports the refrigerant around the system.
Refrigerant starts as liquid and it boils after passing through the expansion valve and cabin air passes over the evaporator.
During the boiling process, the heat from inside your vehicle is absorbed by the refrigerant. You need the right quantity of refrigerant for this to happen.
Refrigerant is drawn into the compressor where the temperature and pressure rise.
Refrigerant passes through the condenser and ambient air from outside blown over the condenser.
Heat is drawn out of the refrigerant and outside the car.
Your car is sufficiently cooled down!
Is Air Con Checked During an MOT?
Unfortunately, air conditioning won’t be checked when your car is in for its MOT. You’ll also find that it’s not inspected by manufacturers during a service either. You’ll need to arrange a special service for it.
This is something we can help you with at Cavendish Motor Company. It’s best to arrange the A/C system check every 12 months. In addition, a service should be at least every 24 months. This is going to make sure that you can rely on your air conditioning system during the hot months of the year.
Why Has the Air Con Stopped?
Most of the problems that occur with your air conditioning system happen because of low levels of refrigerant. Without the correct quantity in the system the heat cannot be removed from the cabin.
Losing refrigerant can happen naturally or it can happen through a problem with the system. A natural loss of refrigerant is one of the easiest problems to rectify, replacing this and can return your system to full health in many instances.
Re-Gas and How Refrigerant is Replaced
A re-gas is the process of refilling the refrigerant. It requires a few steps to be followed for the best results. Let’s take a look at how we do it.
- Performance test to discover temperature differential between cabin and air outside.
- We remove the refrigerant. It’s weighed to see if it’s the right quantity that your car model needed.
- Vacuum leak check.
- Pressure leak check.
- Use of a specialist vacuum pump, removing any moisture present inside the A/C system.
- Future leak detection works by added dye.
- We add oil if it’s needed.
- We weigh in the correct amount of refrigerant.
- Final performance check to make sure the air-con system is now working.
- Air-Con Re-Gas vs Air Con Service
So, you now know what a re-gas is. So, what exactly is involved with a service? Well, it’s important to remember that other components have to be maintained too. So, this is how we do it and keep your car fresh and odour free.
- Inspect the A/C condenser fan to make sure it’s working.
- Clean it out if there’s leaves or debris present. This improves heat exchange.
- We inspect the compressor drive belt thoroughly.
- We lift up the bonnet and check the safety of the A/C pipes.
- We replace the refrigerant receive dryer or the accumulator.
- Examine the pollen filter to prevent pollutants.
- Use a debug treatment in the A/C system in case there is a build-up of grime or bacteria.
This aircon service should happen every 24 months for effective maintenance. This is also going to lower the costs of repairs later on.
How to Keep your A/C system Running Efficiently
Do you want to know the secret to keep your A/C system free from faults? Well, it’s not that hard.
First of all, it’s important to realise that your air conditioning is not just for the summer. Sure, it’s great for cooling you down. But it can also help to dehumidify the cabin, clear misty windows and keep your compressor running efficiently.
You really want to be using it throughout the winter and all year round to make sure faults don’t develop.
If you discover your air conditioning isn’t working, it’s best to give us a call at Cavendish Motor Company. We know everything there is about air-con systems and how to make sure that it runs at its best for you when you are out on the road.
You can arrange a service with today by calling 01670 523200.
