Air conditioning is undoubtedly associated with summer and high temperatures. right? It turns out that this arrangement in winter is also very relevant.
A lesser known property of air cooled by air conditioning is its dehumidification. Therefore, in the winter season, to demist the windshield, it is worth remembering to turn on the air conditioning, thanks to which we will achieve the desired effects faster.
It is worth remembering about the air conditioning system in the car all year round. In summer, its effect is obvious. In autumn and winter, it helps fight moisture, dries the air and solves the problem of fogged windows.
Turning on the air conditioning in winter is also important for another reason. In the case of long-term non-use, the air-conditioning compressor , and more precisely the oil intended to lubricate the system, precipitates, which means that the first start in the spring will be "dry" for about 30 minutes - before the oil is mixed with the refrigerant again. Therefore, it is recommended to turn on the air conditioning for about 20 minutes at least once every 1.5-2 weeks, even in winter.
Failure to use the air conditioning in the autumn and winter season may lead to corrosion on the friction elements of the compressor clutch and stratification of oil and air conditioning agent. This in turn can damage the system and costly repairs.
Unfortunately, many users also forget that the air conditioning system is not maintenance-free and requires servicing. This is due to the fact that part of the system is rubber hoses, having a certain permeability. It may come as a surprise, but even 12-14% of refrigerant can be lost from an efficient system in one year. It is easy to calculate that after 3 years of inactivity, the efficiency of the system decreases by almost half, and with the decrease in the amount of refrigerant, the lubrication of the system also decreases.
Another important reason why we should take care of our air conditioning is the filtration of the refrigerant from moisture. In the same way - through rubber hoses, a certain amount of moisture responsible for corrosion and damage, e.g. to the compressor, can get in.
In the case of an air conditioning system service, this water evaporates when the vacuum is created and is removed from the circuit. Theoretically, PAG oil with hygroscopic properties is responsible for drying the system to some extent, but the most important drying element is a special filter - dryer, for which the lack of service results in a drastic shortening of its life and loss of properties.
So let's remember about review times:
Acting in accordance with the above-described recommendations will significantly reduce costs in the future. When the air conditioning in our vehicle does not work properly, the possible replacement of the compressor, flushing the systems, replacement of individual elements will cost us hundreds of zlotys.
Turn on the air conditioning on a hot day, set the temperature to the lowest setting, insert a thermometer into the air intake on the dashboard. If you get a temperature of around +8 degrees Celsius, your system is working.
If the air conditioning system in your car is not working properly - it's time for a service.
