Thursday, September 24, 2020

How to prevent your auto air conditioning from needing a repair


Sydney is a warm city where thousands of motorists are constantly using their auto air conditioning system to combat the heat. However, many use it improperly, leading to damaged systems. Repairing your auto air conditioning can be costly, time consuming and painful. So, you always want to ensure that your air conditioning is performing in top shape. Additionally, practising preventative measures to both maintain the consistent quality of your air conditioning and to prevent it from developing a repair issue is key to extending the life of your system.

Let your air conditioning run for at least ten minutes every week

Regardless of how hot or cold it is, consistently let your air conditioning run for ten minutes every week. Ensure that your settings are on the highest for speed of fan and lowest for temperature. This maintains gas pressure which keeps your car’s compressor working properly and ensures that the hoses, pumps and valves in the car are kept well-lubricated.

After you run your air conditioning, you can run your car’s defrost mode for 5 to 10 minutes. This avoids the build-up of mildew and excess moisture which lend to bad odours in your car.

Get a full service done every two years

Keeping up to date with your car services allows your technician to spot any leaks or damages that can lead to potentially larger and more expensive problems for your air conditioning system. Always ask if your mechanic can check refrigerant levels and to regas your entire system. Some mechanics can skip this step mistakenly however, it is vital in detecting and preventing issues with your air conditioning system. Always ensure that you get your car serviced before Australia’s hottest months. It prevents you from getting stuck with a malfunctioning air conditioning service during one of the country’s notorious heat waves.

Use your air conditioning even when it’s cold

Even if the temperature is cold and there’s no need for air conditioning, try to use it. A little known fact is that one of your air conditioning’s functions is to remove humidity from the car. This is why during the winter you may find that your car windows fog up—there’s a lot of humidity in the air.

If you start practising these measures you will:

  •     Save money from expensive auto air conditioning repair and replacement costs
  •     Prevent uncomfortable car rides in the heat
  •     Avoid being left without a car during your auto air conditioning repair


How do you know when your auto air conditioning needs to be repaired?

Part of understanding how to prevent your auto air conditioning from needing a repair is understanding when it’s malfunctioning. Sounds contrary? It’s not. The reason this is important is because being able to quickly identify when your auto air conditioning is not functioning properly can prevent more damaging and more expensive issues from occurring. There are a few red flags that can signal that your auto air conditioning is on the way out. If any of these occur to your system, we recommend that you immediately visit your nearest auto electrician.

  •     Abnormal odours
  •     Interrupted airflow from the air conditioning vents
  •     Sudden warm airflow
  •     Leakage of refrigerant or oil
  •     Weak airflow (even when turned to the maximum settings)
  •     Abnormal noises
  •     If your compressor clutch does not move


It’s clear that these preventative measures will save you and your car. If you haven’t been practicing these, then head to your nearest auto air conditioning repair technician and check out your system. It could save you in the long run.  

Do you need an auto air conditioning repair technician for your car? There are several companies in Sydney who will be able to help repair and replace your auto air conditioning system.