While spring may still be bringing us lovely temperatures, the heat of summer is just around the corner. A properly working A/C system keeps you and everyone else in the vehicle comfortable and cool all the way to your destination. Now is the perfect time to have your A/C inspected to see if it needs to be evacuated and recharged. But why does your A/C system need to be inspected, even if it seems to be working fine? Let’s dive deeper into how your A/C works, what kind of problems it can have, and how your neighborhood Chicagoland Jiffy Lube® can help keep it pumping out ice cold air.
How Does An A/C System Work?
Your vehicle’s air conditioning system, or A/C, cools and removes moisture from the air inside of your vehicle using three main components: the compressor, the condenser and the evaporator.
The compressor, driven by the vehicle’s drive belt, pumps the refrigerant through the A/C system. Inside this closed system, the refrigerant is exposed to high and low pressure, forcing it to change states between gas and liquid in order to capture and then release heat. While in a gas state, the refrigerant passes through the evaporator, capturing heat. The refrigerant then moves through the A/C lines and into the condenser, where the refrigerant cools as heat is released outside of the passenger compartment, and the refrigerant returns to a liquid.
Why Do I Need to Have my A/C Inspected and Serviced?
Much like any part of your vehicle, your A/C system needs regular inspections. For the system to work optimally, it must have the proper amount of refrigerant and be free of contaminants. Over time, your refrigerant can become contaminated with dust or water, which makes it work less efficiently. This is one reason to have your A/C system inspected. Another reason is because time, the rubber gaskets and hoses that circulate refrigerant through your A/C system can wear out. This leads to leaks, which allow your refrigerant to escape – and means your A/C won’t be as cold as it is supposed to be. It can also cause wear and tear on your internal system parts, as the refrigerant also acts as a lubricant, keeping all of the parts moving as they should.
What Does an A/C Service Do?
During an A/C service, your Chicagoland Jiffy Lube® technician will visually inspect the air conditioning compressor drive belt, serpentine belt and all accessible components for cracks, leaks and damage. Then the technician will check the operation of the air conditioning compressor. If no leaks or damage are found, they evacuate the refrigerant from the system, vacuum test and recharge the air conditioning system using the appropriate refrigerant according to your vehicle manufacturer’s specification. If a leak is detected, your Chicagoland Jiffy Lube® technician will recommend the next steps that need to be taken before they can service your A/C system.
Don’t let the heat of summer sneak up on you, and make you ride around in a hot vehicle. Stop by your neighborhood Chicagoland Jiffy Lube® location anytime for a free A/C system inspection. Our highly trained technicians will assess your system to see if it is functioning properly – and if it isn’t, they can perform an A/C system evacuation and recharge. Stop by anytime for your free inspection!
Jiffy Lube® recommends following manufacturer recommendations, where applicable, for maintenance schedules and service intervals.
Not all services are offered at each Jiffy Lube® location. Please check with your local Jiffy Lube® service center for specific services offered.
Go to ChicagolandJiffyLube.com for services and locations in Chicagoland, Rockford, Northwest Indiana and Southeast Wisconsin.