Our air conditioning plays a pivotal role in being comfortable in your car on short and longer journeys. So, when the car air conditioning is not working appropriately, everyone from the driver to the passengers and even your pet dog will begin to feel the heat.
From keeping you cool and refreshed on the road in hot summer sun to demisting your windscreen in cold conditions, when it comes to comfort and convenience, we rely on our car's air conditioning system more than we give credit for.
Over time, the air conditioning system in your car becomes subject to wear and tear. There are a few common issues that can affect the performance of your air conditioning system:
My Air Con Smells Bad
My Air Con Is Stuck on Hot Air
My Air Con Won't Turn On
My Air Con Won't Turn Off
Why check your Air Conditioning Now?
Even with winter just around the corner, your air conditioning may be more important than you think.
Not only does it keep you warm when the outside temperature is low but it can help with defrosting the car and windows in extreme temperatures too, as the system acts to remove moisture.
As the temperature drops, your air conditioning will be needed more and more frequently to keep you comfortable. If your air conditioning system is faulty it may mean a more uncomfortable winter as well as some performance and maintenance issues that might arise.
How does Car Air Conditioning Work?
Your car's air conditioning system is comprised of five parts:
Refrigerant (the gas)
Compressor (which contains the refrigerant)
Condenser
Receiver
Thermal expansion valve
Evaporation coils
When the air-conditioning system is turned on, the refrigerant (gas) travels to the condenser. Fresh air from the atmosphere passes over the condenser, which causes the gas to drop in temperature and become a liquid.
That liquid passes through a receiver, which filters to remove impurities, before reaching a thermal expansion valve. The valve allows you to control the temperature by adjusting the flow of the liquid. The liquid is then turned into a vapour as it passes through the evaporator coils, which subsequently gets blown into the cabin as cool air. The refrigerant has become a gas again by this point, and returns to the compressor ready for the process to start all over again.
Within this system there is potential for certain elements to falter or leak, especially in older cars.
One of the more common issues in repairing car air conditioning is the refrigerant or gas leaking from the system and therefore not controlling the temperature of the air effectively.
How To Repair Air Conditioning?
Your air conditioning repair requires a professional with experience to check the whole system for leaks or breakages and to fix any issues that may be found.
You cannot repair your car's air conditioning on your own as a mandatory qualification is required to work on air conditioning due to potential hazards of the refrigerant which needs to be handled and disposed of properly.
For the four main problems there are a few common causes and fixes that you can implement:
My Air Con Smells Bad - When turned on if your Air Conditioning smells bad, this may be caused by one of a few issues. Either a build up of bacteria and mould in the air vents, clogged up air filters or a leaky hose, pipe or heater core can all be issues of a bad odour.
My Air Con Is Stuck On Hot Air - Although less of an issue in winter, if your air conditioning is stuck on blowing hot air then, again, there are a few things that may be wrong including damaged cooling fans, broken condenser, internal obstruction, electrical fault or low refrigerant levels.
My Air Con Won't Turn On - From broken dials, switches, valves or an obstruction in the air ducts, not being able to turn on your air con may be a sign of a larger issue in your vehicle.
My Air Con Won't Turn Off - If your air conditioning does not turn off, broken controls, selectors, or shorted blowers could be the main culprits.
What are the different types of Air Conditioning Gas?
There are two types of air conditioning gas used to refrigerated air conditioning systems within the UK.
The gas called HFO-1234yf, produces 98% fewer climate-damaging pollutants than its predecessor, R134a. The new gas was required by law to be used by all new vehicles where most manufacturers made the switch.
If you are interested to know which air conditioning gas your vehicle needs, get in touch.
The Garage, Eccleshall Air Conditioning Service: What's Included?
An air conditioning service can help identify problems, repair and service your air conditioning system.
Our air conditioning check evaluates your refrigerant levels, checks the pressure and quantity of gas that if needed can be topped up for optional performance.
We can also use an anti-bacterial flush for the system which helps to combat odour issues and disinfect the aircon system.
Our air conditioning check and service is gas type dependant, but competitively priced from £70.
Book in your air conditioning check and service by giving us a ring on 01785 851239 or get in touch on our contact page.
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