Most car owners don’t give their air conditioning a second thought as long as it’s making cold air. But it’s a complex and expensive system that we should think about before it starts blowing hot air.
The refrigerant in the air conditioner contains a special oil that lubricates and cools the A/C parts. When enough refrigerant leaks out, your air conditioner still makes cold air, but the parts don’t have enough oil to protect them. Soon they will wear out faster than they should, so it’s important to service your air conditioner as recommended by your service center.
Replacing old refrigerants has another benefit: the refrigerant tends to gather moisture and become corrosive. That causes leaks in the system, which can be expensive to repair. Replacing the refrigerant protects other air conditioning components and keeps the system operating at peak efficiency, so it doesn’t have to work as hard to keep you cool.
Even with regular service, A/C parts can simply wear out. Normal wear and tear eventually get to all moving parts.
Addressing early problems can help you avoid extensive repairs down the road. For instance, a common failure is the clutch that turns the compressor on and off. If you can take care of a bad A/C clutch when it first starts having problems, you may be able to save the compressor. If you wait too long, you may have to replace both.
Check your owner’s manual or ask your West Des Moines service advisor at All Pro Servicenter for service recommendations. If you’re hearing strange sounds when your air conditioning turns on or if it just isn’t as cold as it used to be, call All Pro Servicenter for an inspection!
