Staying Cool in Your Vehicle This Summer

Now that Summer is finally here, many of us are planning to hit the road for vacation. Whether you are planning a short weekend getaway or a two week coast to coast trip, you want to make sure everyone is as comfortable as possible during your travels. Even those of us that have daily commutes, sitting in a hot car is no fun. Is your vehicle’s A/C system up to the task? Here are some ways you can check your A/C system periodically that will help you and your car stay cool.

• Run the air conditioner once a week for about 10 minutes. This will maintain gas pressure to keep the compressor working properly. When doing this, be sure to turn it to its highest fan speed and coolest setting. 
   
• Run the defrost mode for about five minutes. This prevents mildew and cleans out excessive moisture which can lead to unsavory odors in your car.
   
• Use your air conditioner system for short periods of time during the winter months. Yes, this might sound a little unusual, but in addition to cooling your vehicle, one of the air conditioner’s primary functions is to remove humidity from the cabin. It works especially well when you need to remove fog from the windshield to improve visibility.
   
• Check and replace your cabin air filter as necessary. A clean cabin filter with help your system perform at its peak level.
   
• Re-charge your air conditioning system. Every two years refresh the cooling system with gas and lubricant.

However, to get the best results from your A/C system, you should have a trained, certified technician do an inspection and performance test every couple of years. A little time and maintenance spent beforehand will be well worth the investment versus sitting in 90 degree temperatures with no air conditioning to help you keep your cool.