5 things to know about automobile air conditioning

Bowens Automotive in Stoney Creek provides you with expert automotive repairs and services for all your vehicle’s critical operating systems. In a summer with record heat, no system is more important to your driving comfort than your car’s air conditioning (a/c).

There are five things Bowens Automotive suggests you should know about air conditioning. For starters, air conditioning does exactly what it suggests: it conditions the air in your vehicle. What does that mean? Engaging the air conditioning means the air in your vehicle is not only cooled down but also cleared of the sticky humidity that in a small cabin space can quickly become unbearable. In other words, it does exactly the same job as the air conditioning unit in your home.

Another important thing to know is that engaging your air conditioning system while driving takes energy. As your energy consumption goes up, your kilometres per gallon ratio goes down. You’ll need to decide whether your desire to stay cool is more important than your need to reduce gas consumption.

Like all modern automotive technology, your air conditioning system is complicated. Most a/c systems are built with a compressor, a condenser, a receiver dryer or accumulator, an orifice tube and an evaporator. Hoses and refrigerant are also part of the equation. When something goes wrong with your system, there’s a reason it may not be a quick-fix solution for your mechanic.

The refrigerant in your system is vital to its optimum performance and is most likely Freon R-13 if you’re driving a car from this century. Freon, like your motor oil and rad coolant, has a specific purpose — in this case, for use in your car’s a/c system. If you’re driving an older car that’s using the less environmentally friendly R-12 Freon, you can get a conversion kit to replace it.

The final thing you need to know is how often you need to “recharge” your a/c. That depends on how effectively your system is working. If your system is no longer chilling to the comfort and temperature levels you like, you need to book an automotive A/C tune-up. For that, contact Bowens Automotive at 326 Arvin Avenue in Stoney Creek. Call the auto shop at 905-662-1405.