It’s quickly heating up in northern Colorado, and the last thing you want is your air conditioning to go out! Unfortunately, the air conditioning system is just like any other system in your car and can wear down or require a bit of maintenance. Here’s a few things you can check if you think your A/C just isn’t working how it used to.
- Need a recharging? If your A/C isn’t as cold as you’d like, it may need to be serviced. The refrigerant can deteriorate over time and need to be recharged. To check if this is the case, turn the A/C on to the highest setting and listen for the compressor clutch to turn on. You should hear it click once to turn on, but if it keeps clicking, the system needs to be recharged.
- Still not cold enough? The air is very dry in Colorado, and so using the outside air setting can keep your air colder. Switch it to the circulate mode when you’re driving in more humid states.
- Smelly? Sometimes when you kick on the A/C for a first time after a few months, you’re greeted with cold air … and what smells like gym socks?! You may have a dirty cabin filter or a moldy evaporator case. Getting these replaced should fix that smell.
- Starts cool and then gets warm? This could be caused by multiple issues, including a clogged expansion valve, a faulty compressor clutch, a blown fuse, or even leaks. Leaks especially can be very damaging to your vehicle, so it’s best to have your car checked by a Houska mechanic.
Assessing the air conditioning system in your car can be tricky, especially since there are so many factors that affect its performance! If you’re feeling just a little too toasty in your car this summer, give us a call at (970) 482-0156 so we can help you get that air conditioning seeming brand new again!