AIR CONDITIONING MAINTENANCE

As we all know, air conditioning, with its controlled, in-car ambient temperature, can help motorists stay cool, comfortable and alert at the wheel, throughout the year, reducing driver error caused by fatigue or frustration. Aiding efficient demisting of windows, it also gives drivers a clearer view of the road, potentially reducing the risk of accidents due to poor vision.

It's worth noting that your vehicle's air-conditioning system can harbour waterborne bacteria if not regularly maintained. These can not only create an unpleasant stale smell inside your car but be harmful to your health once inhaled when you switch on your air-conditioning unit. Possible signs may include light flu-type symptoms.

Not regularly servicing the air-con system could mean that it fails in the heat of the summer. Repairs usually turn out to be a lot more expensive than a service, and as with most things, prevention is always better than the cure.

While most vehicles are now fitted with air-conditioning as standard, the system is rarely included in the manufacturer's servicing schedule. Unless air conditioning systems are serviced correctly - by specially trained and fully qualified technicians - with the pressurised refrigerants and lubricants inside safely filtered, cleansed, recycled and reinstated for optimum output, strain on the compressors driving them can increase the load on the engine. This in turn can cause premature wear and tear leading to reduced vehicle performance, increased fuel consumption and higher vehicle emissions.

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