Air conditioners are important pieces of equipment in any vehicle, especially in the summer months. Whether you’re just going across town or on a road trip, a good air conditioner keeps you cool. But like other parts of your car, air conditioners need attention from time to time to keep them in good condition. Here are five signs to look for so you can prevent it from failing on the hottest of days.
Unit Blows Hot Air
If you turn on your air conditioner and it blows hot air instead of cool air, that’s a significant issue. However, if the air is simply a little warm or cooler than normal, the problem may just be that the air conditioner needs refrigerant put into it. If the air is hot or new refrigerant doesn’t address the problem, take your vehicle in for a service check by trained professionals.
Water in Your Vehicle
Your car has many different fluids in it to keep it in working order. At no time should any fluids, such as water, end up on the inside of the car. Air conditioners actually pull moisture out of the air in the cabin and it drains on the outside of the car. This is why you might see a wet spot on the pavement when you park it. One of the common reasons water backs up into the interior of the car is due to a clogged duct or hose. In cases like this, you’ll find water stains or puddles on the floorboards or underneath the dashboard.
Leaking Refrigerant
If refrigerant starts to leak, it serves as another sign that you probably need to have your air conditioner looked at. Without this fluid, there’s nothing that helps the air conditioner blow out cool air. With that being said, refrigerant leaks are not easy to spot. This is because it evaporates when it hits the air. So diagnosing it is more complex than other problems. Turning the car over to a professional is the smartest thing to do if you suspect this issue.
A Noisy Air Conditioner
Every air conditioner produces a sound thanks to the fan inside of it blowing air out. If you hear a noise other than a fan, that means something else is at play. Uncommon sounds heard include banging or rattling. Since the system is actually built to suck out moisture, small things like leaves or even mice nests get pulled into it by mistake. A worn out condenser or compressor belt are also common causes. Have your auto repair professional take a look at this issue and find the problem.
Bad Odors
When your car’s air conditioner functions as it should, you shouldn’t smell anything bad. If you turn on the air conditioning and smell something similar to mildew, mold might be growing inside the system. This has serious health issues attached to it if it continues. Have it addressed immediately.
Air conditioning is heavenly during warm weather if it’s working properly. Stay cool this summer by looking out for these troublesome symptoms. If any of these signs sound familiar, go to your dealer’s service department as soon as possible.
Photo by Doug Waldron | Licensed under cc BY-SA 2.0
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