For many car owners, air conditioning is now thought of as an essential function. Not only does it make driving far more comfortable in our hot summers it also proves valuable in demisting windows during the frosty winter months. Tool specialists Sealey outlines its offering in maintaining air conditioning systems.
To keep the air conditioning system operating at its optimal capacity, it is vital that regular checks are carried out, particularly if the system hasn’t been used for a while. Failing to maintain the system effectively can be costly both in terms of system repairs and potential ill-affects to the driver’s health.
It is recommended that a car’s air conditioning is serviced every 12 months to two years. It’s important to make customers aware that air conditioning systems will lose performance over time. Whether the air conditioning is used a lot or hardly at all, air-con gas will continue to permeate through the system. Therefore, carrying out a service at least every two years will keep the gas topped up, and the system lubricated, so the driver will always have a cool blast ready.
When refrigerant gas is lost from the air-con system, a car’s fuel consumption increases. With less gas to use in the air-con system, the car’s engine must work harder to keep the system functioning properly. Eventually, when the system has lost enough gas, drivers will notice the air-con does not expel cold air anymore. Mould build-up in the vehicle’s evaporator is another common issue that can occur with an unused or unmaintained air conditioning system. The evaporator is a key component in the air conditioning loop and allows freezing refrigerant to pass through it. The cold air coming off the evaporator is then blown into the vehicle cabin when the air conditioning is activated. If the driver has noticed an unpleasant odour, then mould in the air-con could be the cause. Sealey’s SCS023 air conditioning refresher eliminates odours from air-con and heating systems, leaving the system clean and free of germs.
The company also offers many valuable service tools for leak detection within the air conditioning system. The VSAC135 pressure test connector kit is designed to suit a wide variety of vehicle air conditioning systems. The kit allows systems to be pressured for the purposes of leak testing prior to repair and re-gassing.
The VSAC002 air conditioning system features a two-way manifold and sight glass for monitoring refrigerant flow. The two gauges are marked for both R134A and R12 pressure readings. The unit is easy to operate, with colour coding on the gauges, valves and hoses.
UV leak detection is a quick, easy and low-cost method for discovering leaks of all sizes and can also be used to highlight invisible leaks, such as air-con gas. To trace the leaks, an appropriate UV fluorescent fluid is added to the system and is then run or pressurised so that fluid will emerge from whatever leaks may be present. Illuminating the area with a UV lamp, such as the Sealey LED3604UV or LED220UV, can quickly reveal all the leaks as they will glow brightly where the UV light meets the fluorescent additive.
