Your auto air conditioning system is complex, expensive, and not something you want to constantly have to repair or tinker with. That being said, below are some best practices to ensure your car’s A/C system stands the test of time.
Use The Recirculation Mode Only When Necessary
Many automobile A/C systems have a mode called recirculation, which is designed to extract frontal cabin air and send it back within the system for additional cooling. If there are no passengers seated in the rear, this option will cool the vehicle with greater efficiency, but if there are they will get the hot and stale air while the passengers seated in front will get cooled down, so when your vehicle is full you’ll want to deactivate it.
Always Keep Your Filter Clean
Air filters play an important role in the A/C unit, as they maintain optimal air quality. However, as time passes they are subject to accumulating dirt and debris which will restrict airflow while forcing the A/C unit to work harder than it has to. This is why you’ll want to clean it once each year, and for those that have recent model vehicles, the filter might be situated behind your glove compartment which makes it easier to access than older models. You can hire a professional mechanic if you don’t want to do it yourself.
Deactivate Auto Start/Stop
Late-model automobiles are often equipped with an automatic stop/start function that is helpful in situations where you’re moving through stop then go traffic. Unfortunately, the downside to the feature is that it might sometimes deactivate your A/C system each time the engine stops. If you find that the A/C compressor is continually shutting down then turning back on this creates a situation where it needs to operate harder.
Keep The Settings Low Whenever Possible
The majority of automobile air conditioning systems are designed to operate within the lowest temperatures possible. The best approach for keeping your vehicle cool is maintaining a low setting then adjusting your fan so that it becomes warmer or colder as needed. The standardized setting is approximately thirty-eight degrees Celsius and is optimal because the vehicle uses less fuel.
The problem with choosing higher temperatures is that it forces the vehicle to reheat air then cool it, which requires additional resources. Vehicles that have automated climate control will make their fan and temperature adjustments automatically, which maximizes efficiency.
Don’t Waste Gas
Many drivers have the habit of turning on their car’s A/C and allowing the vehicle to cool for a while prior to driving it. However, the fact of the matter is that your vehicle’s A/C has greater efficiency when moving than sitting still, and the reason is because of engine circulation. The faster your A/C compressor cycles, the more effectively the vehicle can be cooled. If the vehicle’s exterior is quite hot, the fan can be cranked up and you can open the windows in the back for about ten to twenty seconds as you begin moving, and this motion will force out the hot and stuffy air without wasting unnecessary gas.
Why Choose R & Y A/C Compressors?
We have been providing quality automotive air conditioning parts and services to our valued customers since our inception in the auto air conditioning parts market over 30 years ago. We specialize in air conditioning and heating systems for all types of vehicles. Contact us today!