As the summer heats up, you’ll rely more on your auto air conditioning to help you drive in comfort. Depending on the age and condition of your vehicle, you might feel that your air conditioner isn’t working as well as it should. Follow these tips to stay as cool as possible while you drive.

4 Ways to Improve Your Auto Air Conditioning

Force Hot Air Out of the Car First

Many people think they should run their auto air conditioning unit while keeping the car in park or neutral. This isn’t accomplishing anything; in fact, it’s also causing you to waste gas. Instead, lower the windows and run the climate control unit on the fan setting. This will force the hot air out of the car as you drive. After 15 to 20 seconds, roll the windows up and turn the air conditioner on.

Keep the A/C at the Lowest Setting

Believe it or not, turning the air conditioner to a higher setting makes it harder for the unit to keep the air cool. The higher setting forces the unit to reheat the air before cooling it. Instead, keep the air conditioner at the low setting and turn up the fan to help circulate the air.

Avoid Recirculating the Air 

When you use the recirculate function, the system will pull cool air from the front compartment and recirculate it through the system. While the air coming from the vents will be cool, the back portion of the vehicle will remain hot and dry. This will also make your passengers feel uncomfortable.

Check Your Air Filters

Just like any other HVAC appliance, your auto air conditioning unit relies on clean filters to function properly. While a tune-up at your local auto repair shop will involve cleaning these filters, you should check them more frequently. You can find the filters near the far front end of the front-seat passenger area, just past the glove compartment. If they appear dirty, changing them out can help your system perform more efficiently. 

Safe Auto Service is a full-service auto care facility in Meriden, CT. In addition to diagnosing and repairing air conditioning issues, they also provide complete auto repair services. These auto professionals also service clients in Berlin, Cheshire, Durham, Middlefield, Middletown, Southington, and Wallingford. They won’t keep your vehicle any longer than necessary, and they offer complimentary shuttle services to help get you back home if necessary. To learn more, you can visit them online or call them at (203) 237-4311.