Air Conditioning Service
Your air conditioning should be checked for proper operation and refrigerant charge at least once a year. Refrigerant is very hard to contain in an automotive system. The reason is your air conditioning compressor operates at different speeds due to engine RPM. The rest of the system is comprised of many dissimilar materials that expand and contract at different rates and along with the movement of the engine, this allows a minute amount of refrigerant to escape. This is normal and is why the system should be checked for low charge. Checking the amount of refrigerant is very important because the refrigerant in the A/C system carries the refrigerant oil through the system to lubricate moving parts and seals. Insufficient refrigerant can damage the compressor, expansion valve and seals resulting in very costly repairs. Many assume that vehicle air conditioning systems are not used in the wintertime. However, every time the defroster is turned on your air conditioning compressor engages to dry the air before directing it to the windshield. Waiting until your air conditioning is needed during warm weather to determine that the system is low on refrigerant may be too late to avoid unnecessary damage.
Air Conditioning Service includes:
- Test system for proper refrigerant charge
- Inspect all visible A/C components for leaks
- Performance test A/C operation
- Add refrigerant and dye as needed
- Clean condenser fins as required
- Inspect and adjust A/C compressor drive belt
- Test antifreeze for proper mix
