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Car service in Waikerie
The technicians at Waikerie Mechanical provide quality car service and repairs for all makes and models, including commercial fleets, four wheel drives and diesel vehicles...
Read moreIs keeping your cool costing you fuel?
At Waikerie Mechanical, we know just how essential a fully functional air conditioning system is for your driving comfort and overall experience. Especially during those sizzling summer months, nothing beats the refreshing relief of a cool, climate-controlled car.
Waikerie Mechanical (AU26649) are the logical choice to handle all your Car Air Conditioner Regas, Repair, Service or Inspection needs in Waikerie and the surrounding areas...
The Warning Signs
Have you noticed your car’s air conditioning blowing warm air, strange noises coming from the unit, or a musty smell when it’s turned on? These are just a few signs that your air conditioning might need some attention. You might also experience reduced airflow from the vents, an AC that cycles on and off frequently, or a pool of water forming under the dashboard. If these symptoms sound familiar, it’s time to take action before the problem worsens.
Modern cars tend to be quite complex and have an intricate and multifaceted nature to them. The functioning of a vehicle's engine is no longer just the single aspect to be concerned with; now, it has become imperative to consider the performance of your car's air conditioner as well. The mechanism of your car's air conditioner comprises a multitude of components that require consistent and regular servicing or replacement to maintain a dependable and effective operation.
When the refrigerant in your air conditioning system evaporates or leaks out, you are faced with a number of unpleasant consequences that can cause your AC unit to deteriorate over time. One of the most concerning of these is that your air conditioning unit will have to work harder, placing additional demand on your engine and leading to potentially higher fuel consumption.
This is particularly true of smaller, more economical engines that are often found in compact cars or other types of vehicles. Such engines typically generate only a small amount of excess power and therefore struggle when faced with an inefficient air conditioning system. For larger engines which typically produce more power this is not such an issue.
It's crucial to understand that the depletion of refrigerant can lead to the underperformance of your air conditioning system, and it also places more pressure on your vehicle's engine. Therefore it is important to conduct a regular assessment of the condition of the rubber seals for any signs of leaks or decline which could indicate a continuing loss of refrigerant.
Maintaining your car's air conditioning system on an annual basis is crucial in preventing unwanted expenses in the present as well as in the future. Regular servicing of your car's AC system not only keeps passengers safe from the accumulation of hazardous substances, but also enhances its longevity. In addition, a well-serviced AC unit will efficiently reduce fuel consumption, resulting in a considerable amount of savings on fuel costs, especially for those with smaller engines which generally consume less power.
When it comes to safeguarding the health of your loved ones and yourself, there is no room for negligence. As the interior of your car's AC system accumulates moisture over time, it creates an environment where fungi and bacteria thrive.
Waikerie Mechanical care about the environment and have Arctick Authorisation (AU26649) to reliably and responsibly conduct vehicle air conditioning regas, repair, service or inspection.
Book your car air conditioning service with the experts at Waikerie Mechanical today!
Have more questions about Car Air Conditioning?
How do air conditioners work?
A car air conditioner system is composed of four essential parts :
- A belt-driven pump known as a compressor to compress and circulate gas.
- A radiator like unit called a condenser to redistribute heat and condense gas to a liquid.
- An expansion device, which could be a thermal expansion valve (TXV) or an orifice tube (subject to the kind of air-con system used).
- Some systems have an accumulator before the compressor to remove moisture from the refrigerant while TXV systems have a receiver-dryer before the evaporator performs the same crucial task. Both of these parts also store refrigerant.
Car air conditioning is designed to pull the heat from the air within the car's interior area and transfer it outside, leaving only cooled or 'conditioned' air to be redistributed. Hot air is passed across a gas-filled evaporator, where the heat is easily absorbed by the refrigerant (in gas form), effectively removing the heat from the air in the car.
The now heated gas is pulled through the compressor where it is further heated (via compression). The next stage involves the refrigerant being forced through the condenser to extract the refrigerant's heat quickly. The refrigerant, now condensed to a liquid, then moves through the expansion device (either a TXV or Orifice tube), which regulates the refrigerant's flow to the evaporator, changing the high-pressure liquid to a low-pressure mist (gas). A fan blowing over the evaporator's cold fins produces the cold air being blown into the car, and the entire process then begins all over again.
Does the car air conditioner use more fuel?
Yes! Your car air conditioning is using fuel. However, it's actually more fuel efficient to run car air conditioning than it is to have your windows down due to aerodynamic drag. If your air conditioning isn't performing its best, it may use more fuel to run. To avoid this, it's important that you have your air conditioning serviced regularly by professionals, like the ones at Waikerie Mechanical.
What's the cause of the bad smell in car air conditioning?
The damp environment can promote microbes, bacteria and even fungus growth inside the evaporator core. This can lead to nasty smells and possibly even be bad for the health of any vehicle occupants. Although modern evaporator units tend to be more efficient, they have more fins, meaning an increased capability to trap moisture and allow for micro-organism development.
How do I know my car air conditioning is due for a service?
If you cannot remember when your air conditioning was last serviced, perhaps it's time to book in with the team at Waikerie Mechanical. You should also book in if:
- Your air conditioning system is blowing warm air
- There are damp patches or water stains under your dashboard
- Your car air conditioning system smells funny
- Your car air conditioning system is making strange noises
- There is weak air flow from the car air conditioning system
Why does the car air conditioner need to be serviced?
Car air conditioning is designed to pull the heat from the air within the interior area of the car outside, leaving only cooled or 'conditioned' air to be redistributed. This is achieved using a special compound called refrigerant, capable of readily absorbing heat as a gas and quickly losing heat as a liquid.
The compressor needs the right amount of oil in the refrigerant to prevent it from seizing up. Should the air filters be jammed with dirt and bacteria, it will affect the entire system's performance, and it can even cause it to stop working altogether. On top of inhibiting air conditioner efficiency, dirty air filters can cause health problems.
Being exposed to the elements and very diverse operating conditions and being used intermittently rather than being 'Always On' can cause decay of the hoses, connections and seals. A vehicle air conditioning system should be examined regularly to ensure there are no problems or refrigerant loss due to failure or leakage from these points.
Simply by cooling the air in your car under normal running conditions, the air filters get dirty and intermittent use can cause seals to dry and crack, allowing them to leak. Even without leaks, the gas in a car air conditioning system will eventually begin to degrade or evaporate over time. It should be recharged as required to keep the air con system in peak running condition.
How often should a car air conditioner be serviced?
Your automotive air conditioning system needs to be examined once a year for any signs of problems with the seals, hoses and connections and confirm there is no refrigerant reduction over time. Regularly servicing your automotive air conditioner system keeps refrigerant at optimum levels meaning the system does not need to work as hard. This, in turn, protects the system from damage and minimises fuel expenditure.
Can I service my own car air conditioner?
Only qualified mechanics with the appropriate training, like the ones at Waikerie Mechanical, should attempt to service a car air conditioner. Specific licences are required to service or repair some types of car air conditioning systems, especially where re-gas (recharging of the refrigerant) is concerned. Strict guidelines and procedures must be adhered to when handling certain refrigerants, which must always be fully recovered and not allowed to escape into the atmosphere during servicing.
Refrigerant can also pose serious health risks if mishandled. Specialist equipment is also required as the air conditioning system is under extreme pressure and must be pulled into a deep vacuum to remove any moisture, to avoid seriously damaging the system. You can find out more about licensing on the Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) Website.
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