On hot days, a properly functioning air conditioning in your car is indispensable. It is important to give that system some attention now and then. Then you keep it fresh in your car – and you can read that in two ways.
First, let’s explain how the system works. The air conditioning in the car is a closed system with a compressor, evaporator, condenser and fan as the main components. The engine-driven compressor circulates the refrigerant in the system. The condenser is a heat exchanger and cools the refrigerant so that it condenses and becomes liquid. This liquid refrigerant goes to the evaporator, where it evaporates back into gas. Evaporation extracts heat from the environment (just spray some deodorant on your arm, it also gets cold when the gas evaporates), so that the evaporator cools down in no time. This also lowers the temperature of the passing outside air that is blown into the passenger compartment by the fan and that therefore creates the cold air that we feel. The refrigerant flows back as gas to the condenser and the process starts again there.
Refill
However, an air conditioning system usually loses about ten percent of its refrigerant per year. And that must be topped up every now and then, because otherwise the effect will be less. In addition, it is a means of transport for the oil used to lubricate the compressor. If only vapor passes through it, at some point the compressor breaks down and that is an expensive joke. During an air conditioning check, the refrigerant is replenished through the garage via valves on the pipes. Henk van Hoef of Bosch Car Service has another interesting insight: “If your air conditioning ever leaks, the first suspect is the condenser. It is located in the front of the car, just behind the grille and is therefore sensitive to flying stones. ” What can also happen is that it is still fresh in the car, but does not smell fresh. Even then, you should have a look at your air conditioning system. Dust and moisture can get stuck on the evaporator and it gets terribly musty over time. If this affects you, visit your garage for an evaporator cleaning. Then it feels and smells fresh again!
Need an air conditioning check?
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