How to Keep Your AC Cool and Heater Warm Through the Seasons

How do you make sure you keep your AC cool and your heater warm through the seasons? Mavis Tires and Brakes  has some tips for you - so read on and find out more.

LC image - How to Keep Your AC Cool and Heater Warm Through the Seasons
How Do the AC and Heater Systems Work?

To fully understand how to maintain your vehicle's cooling and heating systems, you first need to learn a little more about the way they work (and, even more importantly, the way they are connected to each other).

Although it may seem odd to someone who is not familiar with the build of an AC/heating system, your car's heating capacities are seamless with its cooling ones. In short, when you turn on a cold engine, the coolant moves through the hoses into the heater core. There, the air travels through the core in a continuous line, gets heated with the help of a fan, and is then ejected into the vehicle's cabin through the air vents.

Your coolant temperature is firmly connected to the temperature of the air that reaches the cabin. The warmer the coolant is, the warmer the air in the car will be. Considering that overheating is the most common heater-related issue encountered by drivers, it is important to recharge your refrigerant as soon as it becomes too warm.

There is a close link between the way your car is heated and the way your car is cooled down, so maintaining the entire system is essential, no matter the season. And comprehensive AC check for your vehicle can be achieved with the experts at Mavis Tires and Brakes. 

The AC Maintenance Basics

A wonderful innovation for the hot days of summer, the AC tends to be completely forgotten as soon as the first snowflakes fall. Still, it is essential to remember to maintain your AC, too - otherwise, you might wake up in a full-on hot July without a properly functional AC system in your car. Not only would this be uncomfortable, but it could turn into an expensive affair, as well.

What are some of the absolute essentials to remember about car AC maintenance?

  1. Regardless of the temperature outside, it’s recommended that you turn on your AC on a frequent basis to help you ensure all the parts of the system function in optimum parameters. After all, those hoses, valves, and intricate parts of the AC need to be put to work if you want to make sure they are properly lubricated.

  2. In addition to ensuring the right functioning of your AC, turning it on during the winter months is also beneficial for the car itself. Using the AC in the cold months can help you get rid of the humidity in the car, and it can also improve the visibility when the windshield is affected by fog.

  3. When you have the car serviced, remember to check the AC’s refrigerant level. If necessary, be sure to recharge the gas (and do this even if it's wintertime and you are unlikely to use the AC). In general, AC systems should be recharged every two years, so it is recommended that you do this on a regular basis.

  4. Get your car's AC serviced at Mavis at least once a year, preferably before the summer (so your AC system is 100% functional by the time the warm weather kicks in).

  5. Remember that AC systems may contain contaminants. This is especially important for those who suffer from allergies or asthma, but it can affect just about anyone else. Therefore, it is advisable that you regularly sanitize your AC system to remove all the potential contaminants.


Mavis Tires and Brakes

When relying on Mavis, you can be sure that your heating and AC system will be in perfect working condition. Visit your local Mavis and schedule a service to have a service professional inspect your heating and AC system.