Air Conditioning (AC) Service & Repair at Riker's Automotive in Orlando, FL

Keep Your Cool: Air Conditioning Service at Riker's Automotive & Tire

Riker's Automotive & Tire is able to repair and replace vehicles that use the following refrigerants:

• 12a - older vehicles
• 134a - most common in the United States
• 1234YF - latest market replacement, used on newer vehicles

Most of us know that our vehicles need regular preventive maintenance like changing the oil and filters, rotating the tires and refilling the washer fluid. But did you know that your air conditioning system needs routine maintenance as well? Taking care of your air conditioning system can extend its life and prevent costly repair bills.

Why does your air conditioning system need routine maintenance? First, the refrigerant contains an added lubricant. As the refrigerant circulates through the air conditioning system, its parts are lubricated. This constant lubrication keeps the parts functioning well. But over time, this lubricant is used up, and without it, the parts will eventually seize up and fail. Funny thing with an air conditioning system, though—the air conditioner will continue to pump out cool air even without the lubricant, so you won’t know the system is sick until it actually dies. So good car care includes regularly checking the refrigerant in your air conditioning system and replacing it if needed.

The second reason your air conditioning system needs preventive maintenance is that air and water can get into the system. Air, water and the contaminants they contain will reduce the efficiency of the air conditioning system and can cause corrosion of the system’s parts. Keeping the air conditioning system clean will extend its life and keep you from losing your cool.

How often should your air conditioning system be serviced? It varies from vehicle to vehicle. Check your owner’s manual for the manufacturer’s recommendation or you can call or stop in to Riker's Automotive & Tire. 

Here’s a good piece of auto advice that will extend the life of your air conditioning system: You should run your air conditioner in the winter every once in a while. This circulates the refrigerant, which lubricates the seals. That way, they won’t dry out during cold weather.

Your air conditioning system doesn’t just cool the air in your vehicle; it dries it out as well. So if you have trouble with a foggy windshield, flip on your air conditioning on the defrost setting. You may be surprised at how quickly it takes care of the problem. Of course, some vehicles can’t run the air conditioner and defroster at the same time; you should check your owner’s manual or with the vehicle’s manufacturer if you are uncertain whether this feature works in your car or not.

So, after learning about preventive maintenance for your A/C, you might now be wondering if your air conditioner is in trouble. Two early warning signs of a failing air conditioner are (1) the air just isn’t getting as cold as it used to and (2) there’s a strange noise when the air conditioner cycles on. If you notice either of these symptoms in your vehicle, you should take it in to be serviced as soon as possible.

Just some good auto advice to keep you cool and keep you on the road!