Keep Your Car’s Air Conditioning System Healthy This Winter
The colder days have finally set in. For most drivers, this means either cracking up the heating in the car or turning it off until summer rolls around again. Most people don’t realise that not using the air conditioning in their car for a prolonged period of time can cause it damage, as well as other issues. Even if you’re not worried about the air-con in the colder months, you’ll be sorry in the hotter months when you really need it and it’s broken because it hasn’t been maintained in winter.
The good news is that it’s easy to keep your car’s air conditioning healthy in wintertime, you can do it yourself and it takes no time at all. Checking your air conditioning regularly can save you money on expensive repairs in the long run. Here are our tips for keeping your air-con working.
Run Your Air Conditioning In Winter
The simplest thing to do is run your air conditioning in winter. Your air conditioning system runs on parts that are designed to move, with refrigerant and oils that need to be circulated often to keep the parts lubricated. Not using your air conditioning stops the lubrication process, damaging parts and leading to expensive and avoidable repairs. Making sure to run your air-con occasionally throughout the colder months keeps it in good working order.
Reduce Winter Moisture
Moisture builds up in your car quickly in winter. Making sure you use your air conditioning prevents the build-up of moisture from the air, which can get into your air vents and can lead to mould, that is not only a health hazard but will eventually damage your air conditioning system. If you notice a damp smell coming from your air conditioning when it’s turned on, you may well already have a mould infected air-con system, and this will need to be looked at by a mechanic quickly. Keeping moisture out of your car also helps keep the windshield of your car steam-free, making your driving safer in winter when this is a real issue.
Watch Out For Smells
If you notice that there is a funny smell in your car when your air conditioning is turned on, this is an indication that there is a problem with the system and may be in danger of breaking. Watch out for smells in your car and pay attention to the type of smell you find, as this can give you an idea of what is causing it.
Exhaust smells: Exhaust smells coming from your car can indicate a leak in the air-con system, which is the result of a fault and can cause more damage if left untreated. It is also an indicator of a brake fault, which is also urgent and will need to be looked at as soon as possible. Breathing in fumes that have an exhaust smell is bad for you, so whatever is causing the smell will need to be fixed by a technician without delay to ensure your safety.
Gas Smells: Gas smells are often caused by leaking coolant, which is another sign that your air-con system is damaged or faulty and in need of fixing. It could also be an indicator that your air conditioning system needs cleaning, which either needs to be carried out by yourself carefully or arranged with your local mechanic.
Strong Odours: Strong odours are usually a sign that grime or dust is trapped in your air-con system. A build-up of dust and grime can clog and block up your air conditioning unit which strains the system, reducing how well it works and causing damage to parts and pipes. Once your air-con reaches a stage where it cannot be unblocked manually, your car will need to be taken to a professional for cleaning. Dusting and cleaning your air-con regularly can stop a big build-up of dirt and prevent damage.
Services from German Specialists
For more air-conditioning maintenance tips, or if you’d like to have your car’s air conditioning repaired, get in touch with German Specialists Ltd. We offer a variety of services for your car, can give advice on the best products and maintenance of your car, and we can book you in for a car servicing. Give us a call on 0161 476 4422 or fill out our online contact form and a member of the team will get in touch.
