The triple digit heat of summer has officially arrived. Not only do you need to ensure your home’s air conditioning is working, but your vehicle’s AC is just as important. The last thing you want to happen is getting caught in heavy traffic with broken air conditioning. Unfortunately, the last summer car maintenance task many vehicle owners forget about is checking their AC until it’s too late.
If your car is experiencing AC trouble, one quick solution might be an AC recharge. An air conditioning recharge resolves the issue when your car stops blowing cool air. Recharging the AC adds refrigerant to the cooling system, allowing it to continue blowing cool, refreshing air.
Signs Your Car’s AC System Requires Maintenance
It’s not blowing cold air. The most obvious (and uncomfortable) sign your AC system needs a recharge is when it stops blowing cool air at all. Especially if you set your air conditioning to the coldest, lowest degree and still feel hot, you can be sure your AC is on the fritz. Other than an AC recharge, your cabin air filter might be clogged. Inspect the cabin filter first before getting your AC recharged.
Cool AC turns warm quickly. The AC compressor constantly cycles on and off, so it will eventually wear out and break. When this happens, you’ll notice when the air blowing eventually turns warm. The refrigerant is not being maintained properly, so an AC recharge can offer a solution.
Visible leaks. Your vehicle’s AC system can leak refrigerant, which you’ll notice as puddles beneath your car. Another sign includes greasy coating on AC components, which indicates a leak has already formed. When your air conditioning leaks, it will sooner or later stop working altogether.
How Often Should You Recharge Your AC System?
Unlike an oil change or rotating your tires, there’s no set timetable for recharging your air conditioning system. You don’t need to do it every year or even every two years. It’s sort of a “when you know, you know” situation. You take notice of your AC, to determine if it’s working or not. When the AC cools at a lower rate or dips in performance, that’s when you can take a look for yourself or mention it to your mechanic at your next oil change.
How Important Is an AC Recharge?
The AC recharge is important only when your air conditioning is struggling. There’s no need to top off your AC regularly. In that same respect, it’s unfortunately a problem you can’t plan for or be proactive against. You just need to act fast to get it repaired when it starts to struggle, especially if it’s during scorching hot temperatures like we’re experiencing now.
Regular Maintenance and a Trusted Eye Can Help
The best way to stay cool (and warm) all year long is with regular car maintenance from a trusted mechanic. That’s where Loper’s Performance Center can help you. You want an experienced team to consistently be working on your car. We’ll be the first ones to notice any potential problems and act fast to fix them. We want you, your family, and your vehicle to stay safe.
Contact Loper’s Performance for a Free Quote
If you want to improve your vehicle or get much-needed repairs on it, don’t hesitate to contact Loper’s Performance for a free quote. We’re proud to not only be the largest speed shop in Arizona but also a top service center in the Phoenix area. Let Loper’s Performance Center be your one-stop shop for everything automotive, from performance parts to even dyno tuning.