Car Air Conditioning
A regular car air conditioner service or regas will help to ensure optimum passenger comfort, particularly on those hot summer days when you need it the most.
Contrary to what some people believe, an auto air-conditioner system does not simply blow cold air into the car. The Air-con system is actually designed to remove the hot air from within the vehicle cabin and dispel it to atmosphere outside the car.
In order to do so, the airconditioner system relies on a number of components to operate effectively, such as the evaporator, condenser and compressor. Like all mechanical parts, these items are prone to wear and regular system servicing helps to protect them from breakdown.
Tips For Maintaining A Car Air Conditioner
To help maintain the car airconditioner system it pays to run the system for a few minutes at least once a week - no matter how hot the temperature may be. This ensures that the many hoses, valves and pumps throughout the system are kept well lubricated.
Whenever you have the car serviced, make sure you ask the mechanic to check the refrigerant level and regas the system if necessary. The Air conditioner is not always included in a standard log book service, so it can be easily neglected.
It is good practice to get a full air conditioning service at least once a year. Try and do this before the hotter months start, as this will ensure that you are not caught out by a sudden heat wave at the start of the season.
Maintaining A Healthy State For Your Car Air-Conditioning
A car air-conditioning system can be a breeding ground for harmful bacteria and fungus. This is particularly important for sufferers of asthma or allergies.
Your local Repco Authorised Car Service mechanic can provide you with information on special sanitizing treatments that can help to remove these contaminants.
These treatments are designed to protect you and your passengers and also help to remove the musty odour that can be evident from the air conditioner vents.
What Is Included In A Car Air Con Service ?
Just as the climate in Brisbane or Perth may be vastly different to that of Melbourne or Hobart, they way an air conditioner is serviced can also vary.
In most states, a mechanic must be licensed or specially trained to carry out an aircon re-gas or service.
Repco Authorised Service workshops operate in different states and therefore under different legislation for repair methods and mechanic licensing. This means that an air conditioner re-gas in Adelaide may different to a re-gas in Sydney.
Added to this, different cars may also have specific service requirements that are unique to the make of car or the particular model.
Your local Repco Authorised Car Service mechanic will happily explain what is involved for your particular car.
Common Items that may be involved in a car air conditioner service or regas;
- Air vent temperature check
- Reclaiming, recycling or replacement of operating gas
- Replacement or check of receiver drier / filter
- Adjustment of drive belts and pulleys
- Check operation of valves and thermostats
- Leak test of system lines and components
- Inspection of hoses and components
- Cleaning condenser fins
- Deodorize and sanitize system
Protecting The Environment
Refrigerant gas is extremely damaging to the ozone layer and any gas that is irresponsibly released into the atmosphere by repair shops, garages or backyard mechanics can harm the environment and contribute to global warming.
By law, all refrigerant gas must be recycled and Repco Authorised Service applauds the work and efforts of bodies such as Refrigerant Reclaim Australia and other industry bodies who help to ensure that refrigerant gas is recycled in its original form, or if contaminated, destroyed by special methods.
More information on refrigerant gas recycling can be found at the department of environment website
FIND A REPCO AUTHORISED AIR CONDITIOING SERVICE MECHANIC
The following Repco Authorised Service centres can provide expert car air-conditioning service or regas.
