A/C Services in Manchester, NH

What is Auto Air Conditioning?

You might be surprised to learn exactly how your auto air conditioning system works. While it’s commonly assumed that the AC generates cool air, that’s not quite the case. Actually, it blows hot air, with all the heat removed through a peculiarly complex, multi-step process. In a nutshell, your auto air conditioning works by condensing the refrigerant (Freon), which in turn raises its temperature. This passes through a dryer, where contaminants and moisture are removed, then into an accumulator where it’s slowed down further, leading to a loss of both pressure and temperature. The evaporator then cools down that air further still before the ventilation system pushes it out—and you experience it as a blast of chilly air!

How Your Auto Air Conditioning Works

Contrary to popular belief, your auto air conditioning doesn’t simply create cool air. Actually, the process is quite a bit more complicated and multifaceted than that. It begins when the compressor condenses your vehicle’s refrigerant—raising its temperature and sending it to the condenser, where it begins to lose heat. Passing through a dryer, the air is stripped of pollutants and airborne contaminants. In the accumulator, it’s cooled further still, and also depressurized. It eventually makes its way to the ventilation system, where it’s cooled down completely, and is released into your cabin as nice, refreshing air.

How Often is an AC Recharge Needed?

The good news is that you won’t need to have serious work done to your AC very often. Indeed, most drivers go through just about 15 percent of their refrigerant per year, and other problems happen only after many miles have been accumulated. With that said, preventative maintenance helps you spot potential issues and minimize their impact—so scheduling a routine AC service call at Meineke in Manchester NH is recommended.

Why Get an AC Check?

You should invest in a regular auto AC check because the AC is important—simple as that. It’s important because it provides you with a comfortable ride, especially during the blistering summer months. It also enables you to demystify your windows during winter. What’s more, your auto air conditioning enhances air quality in your cabin, removing any stray contaminants in the air. These are all important functions that you can preserve through some basic auto maintenance.

How to Know When it’s Time for an AC Check

The question is, when is it time to get an AC check? For starters, you should get one any time you notice that your auto air conditioning isn’t working the way it’s supposed to. If there’s no cool air coming out, that obviously spells trouble. Moreover, it’s prudent to get an AC check as part of regular preventative maintenance—say, at the same time you have an oil change or tire rotation. This will help you spot any small problems before they turn into big ones.

Do You Know How Your Auto Air Conditioning Really Works?

How well do you understand the workings of your auto air conditioning system? Many drivers are surprised when they learn that their auto AC doesn’t simply push out cool air, but rather it starts with warm air, cools and depressurizes it, filters out its contaminants, and then—at the end of a multi-stage process—it finally pushes that cool air into the cabin of the vehicle. If that sounds like a laborious undertaking, well, it is. The auto air conditioning takes on a lot of wear and tear. It goes without saying, then, that regular maintenance is a must.