We are right in the middle of some of the hottest summer months that Wisconsin has to offer. Our vehicle air conditioners have become a top priority not only for comfort, but for safety as well. There are some visual and manual procedures that you can do at home to ensure your air is running to the best of its ability.
Air conditioning in vehicles that operate in colder climates, just like here in Wisconsin, need to run at least once a week during the colder months when we don’t use air conditioning for around 5-10 minutes. This will circulate the oil, keep the seals lubricated, and prevent drying out, which will cause Freon to leak. Running the air conditioner periodically will also dry out the chambers and reduce the chances of possible fungus and mold that can cause unwanted odors.
Besides occasionally running the air, you should inspect your air conditioner or have your mechanic do it at your next routine oil change. If your condenser is restricted, the air will not work as well. It can be cleaned pretty easily with a hose that has a high-pressure nozzle.
The next thing you or your mechanic may want to check is the engine fan; this can be mechanical or electrical. If you have an electric cooling fan attached to the radiator, it is always running when the air conditioner is on. If the fan is not running, it can result in high pressure, which can burst the hoses and cause the loss of Freon and oil. Some systems can have two electric fans, but only one needs to be run when the air is on. If you have a mechanical fan that has a thermostat, they are supposed to tighten up and spin faster when the air comes through. The fan should spin freely. When the engine is hot, you should feel resistance as you are rotating it. If it is loose and spins freely when the engine is hot, you probably have a defective fan clutch.
Checking the fan belt is done visually if you’re a DIYer. Check out the bottom of the belt for any cracks. If cracks are found, the belt should be replaced.
It can be easy to check the operation of the air. Turn on your car and place the temperature in the coldest position and the fan speed switch in the highest position. The clutch will come on and off every 20 to 30 seconds, which is normal. If the clutch cycles on and off quickly every few seconds, this is a good indicator that the system is low on Freon.
Air conditioning in cars can lose 10% to 15% of Freon in a year. This is why you want to utilize our mechanics here at Schmit Bros. Every air conditioning system has an exact amount of Freon that should be in the system. Often you can see a leak because when Freon leaks out it, also brings oil with it.
If a system is just low on Freon, it is a bad idea to just add to it without knowing what you’re doing. There is no way of knowing how much Freon is in a system and if you add too much, you risk damaging the compressor or can cause hoses to burst. Beware of the do-it-yourself recharge kits that can be purchased from parts stores. There may be other reasons besides the loss of Freon causing an air conditioner to not work.
When an air conditioning system is operating, you can see water dripping from under the vehicle. This is condensation coming off the evaporator and is perfectly normal. If you find water running on the floor of the passenger side and not under the vehicle, this can mean that the condensation drains may be plugged.
It’s a good idea to get an inspection and a service done of your air conditioning system before you get to the heat of summer. As stated above, there are many preventative measures that you can take to make sure your air stays in tip top shape for the hot summer months. Let us know at your next service appointment here at Schmit Bros if you’re in need of some help with your air conditioning!