Air Conditioning Maintenance

In summer, we Oregonians tend forget how cold our winters are and in winter, we tend to forget how hot our summers can be. Now that the sun has arrived we are quickly reminded of how eighty and ninety-degree days are not that uncommon and how warm it can get inside our cars. Here are a few pointers regarding the maintenance of your car's air conditioning and cooling systems that can improve your car's comfort, efficiency, longevity and reduce its environmental impact.

Your car's air conditioning system is a better feature than you realized and only asks for a little attention in return. The rule of thumb with air conditioning is use it or lose it. Air conditioners, like every other automotive system, are designed to be used regularly to ensure their proper functioning. The benefit of a cool breeze on a hot summer day has its obvious appeal but you may not have known that in winter, running your air conditioner while defogging your windshield will greatly speed the process. In this respect, it is truly conditioning the air by dehumidifying it. Many car models turn on the air conditioner automatically when the defroster is on. As with every other system in your car, air conditioning systems need to be serviced. The systems need to be evacuated of refrigerant, placed under vacuum and then recharged with refrigerant and oil to lubricate the compressor. This service needs to be performed approximately every three years. Don't wait until you have a problem to pay attention you're A/C. Moisture and the lack of proper lubricating oil are the main causes of A/C system failure. The evacuation and recharge process helps keep moisture to a minimum and restores its lubrication.