Is Your Car Ready For Summer? 4 Ways To Identify Air Conditioning Problems

The temperatures are going to start going up soon. If the air conditioner in your car isn't working, now's the time to take care of the repairs. One way to assess the condition of your AC is to do a quick checkup. Here are four steps you can take to identify any potential AC problems your car may be experiencing.

Look at the System

If you're like most people, it's been a few months since you had to turn the air conditioner on in your car. If you're worried about having cool air this summer, it's a good idea to take a close look at your cooling system. Look inside the refrigerant compartment. You can do that by locating the sight glass, which attaches to the condenser. If your refrigerant is cloudy, water has contaminated it. You'll need to have your air conditioner repaired before you can use it this summer.

Listen for Unusual Sounds

If your refrigerant appears to be in good condition, listen closely to your air conditioner. With your car running, turn the air conditioner on. If you hear a nice humming sound, your air conditioner is functioning properly. If you hear rattling, hissing, or clanging when you hit the power switch, your AC has problems. If those are the sounds your hear when you turn your conditioner on, don't wait. Schedule a service appointment as soon as possible.

Sniff for Unpleasant Odors

If your refrigerant is clear and you don't have any unusual sounds, start sniffing the air. Odors are another way to identify problems with your car's air conditioner. If you have an air freshener attached to the vents, remove it for this part of your AC check. With the car still on, take a deep breath of the air coming out of the vents. The air should smell fresh. If it smells dirty, musty, or smokey, have your air conditioner serviced right away.

Feel the Air

If everything else seems to be fine with your air conditioner, check the air flow. For this part of the checkup, you'll want to crank your air conditioner up to high. You should be able to feel a good flow of cold air coming from all the vents. If you don't, there could be a problem with the vents or the compressor. Before you're left without AC in your car this summer, have your system serviced by a qualified mechanic.

For further questions regarding auto air conditioning, visit a site like https://www.lakesideradiatorandautorepair.com/.

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