The air conditioner in your car helps you stay comfortable on hot days. However, while it seems like a straightforward system, you may be unintentionally using it wrong. Here are some of the common AC mistakes car maintenance professionals see drivers making.

What Are Common Car Air Conditioning Mistakes?

1. Turning It on High Immediately

If you leave your car parked under direct sunlight, you’ll likely come back to an oven. To combat the heat, you may immediately turn the air conditioner on full blast. However, when you do this, the system pulls air from inside the cabin, cools it, and blows it back. Because the system has to work so hard to cool the air down, it puts immense pressure on the parts. If you repeatedly do this, your AC system will need much more car maintenance than normal. Instead, open the windows or doors to let out hot air before turning up the AC. 

2. Not Turning off Recirculation

The recirculation setting can come in handy to cool the cabin quicker. However, once the temperature is comfortable, return the air conditioner to the outside air setting to ensure even cooling and prevent moisture, and any resulting mold, from building up within the system.

3. Forgoing Maintenance

Drivers often forget to include the air conditioning system in their car maintenance to-do list, which may lead to AC failure and driving in sweltering conditions. Avoid this situation by regularly having the condenser cleaned and inspected for broken parts. Also, have the cabin filter replaced every 15,000 to 25,000 miles, and periodically inspect for refrigerant leaks, especially if the air doesn’t feel as cold as it used to. 

If you encounter any trouble with your air conditioner, visit Fantastik Auto Repair in Honolulu, HI, for car AC repair. Their experienced ASE®-certified technicians are capable of handling all essential car maintenance and repairs, for which they provide a one-year or 12,000-mile warranty. Visit their website to view their full list of services, and call (808) 842-3777 today for a free estimate.