A car expert has revealed the common mistake that could leave motorists sweating it out this summer. Many drivers look to their air conditioning for much-needed comfort when they take to the roads during the hotter months.
But failing to maintain the system properly leaves it at risk of breaking down just when it is needed most. Andrew Jervis, CEO of leading online car repair platform ClickMechanic, said: “As summer begins, we are already experiencing prolonged spells of hot weather and there’s no doubt more will come over the next few months.
“Many of us will be spending a lot of time in our cars during the warmer weather and air conditioning can be such a relief when we need to cool off. However, many drivers fail to re-gas their air conditioning systems often enough, leaving themselves at risk of it breaking down unexpectedly.
“And it doesn’t just mean that it won’t blow cold air during summer, but it can make it more difficult to demist windows in winter, too. It can also make vehicles less fuel efficient as the engine has to work harder and can lead to pipe damage, too.”
Most vehicles will have an air conditioning system as standard, allowing it to give off cool air when needed. It does this by manipulating refrigerant between a liquid and gaseous state, absorbing heat and humidity from the vehicle.
The first sign of it not working is usually that it fails to produce cold air as expected, or that the windows aren’t demisting. Regassing an air conditioning system is a fairly quick task to do and can cost between £50 and £150, depending on the make and model.
ClickMechanic is the market-leading platform that connects car owners who need repairs, servicing and inspections to the UK’s best mechanics. And it has already seen an increase in air conditioning enquiries in recent months, with a 175 per cent increase from April to May and another 170 per cent rise between May to June.
Mr Jervis added: “Air conditioning systems need to have the old refrigerant gas removed and replaced with new refrigerant every two years or so, depending on the model of the vehicle. It’s important to be aware of the key signs that it might not be working as it should, and then it’s a fairly simple task to get it sorted.”
