Is It Time to Give Your Van's Air-Conditioning Some Attention?
Summer is in full swing so there is a good chance your van’s air-conditioning system is getting a good work out to ensure your cab is kept nice and cool during these balmy months.
Once a luxury item on a vehicle’s option’s list, air-conditioning is now commonplace among cars and vans alike.
More than that, today vans are equipped with the latest in climate control technology that helps you regulate the temperature more intricately or even allows the passenger to have an entirely different setting the driver.
However, air-conditioning – as with most parts on a car – does have a tendency to degrade over time.
Indeed, you may notice your cab isn’t as cool as it once was, or the air being blown from the vents isn’t as powerful. Worse still, you may have even noticed a smell emanating from the dashboard.
If so, it might be time to get your air-conditioning system checked by a mechanic to check for any faults.
How Does Air-Conditioning Work?
Air-conditioning systems work by using the controlled evaporation and condensation of a liquid refrigerant.
Because a liquid is used in the air conditioning process it can result in moisture build-up, which facilitates the growth of bacteria, mould and mildew.
It's also easy for dirt and debris to collect inside the system, clinging to the moisture produced. This in turn will circulate a nasty stench around your air-conditioned van whenever you turn it on.
How To Keep Your Van’s Air-Conditioning Blowing Cold
Don't let this put you off - with proper maintenance and a cleaning routine, you'll always have a fully functional, fresh air conditioning unit.
Dry Out the System
Prevention is often the best cure. Ideally you need to is limit the amount of moisture left in your van's air-conditioning system for long periods of time. Just before you arrive at your next job, turn off the air con and blast the 'regular' fans on full.
What you're essentially doing here is 'blow drying' your system. This won't eliminate the moisture, but it will help alleviate the problem.
Dust The Vents
Air vents aren't really given much thought when it comes to vehicles, and as such they are one of the most common places for dust and dirt to accumulate.
If you don't give them a good clean, then this debris will enter the air conditioning system. Use a soft brush and vacuum to clean your air vents as regularly as you are reasonably able.
Replace The Filter
Part of an air conditioning system is an air filter. Its purpose is to trap debris, pollen and exhaust gases that would otherwise make their way into the air conditioning unit.
Neglected, these filters can get clogged, reducing their efficiency and contributing to any adverse odours.
The filter is usually located behind the glove compartment, under the dashboard or under the bonnet.
Refer to your vehicle's manual to understand how to locate, remove and clean the filter. If you're still having difficulty, take your van to a local garage where a professional mechanic can resolve the issue for you.
Use a Dedicated Treatment
There are air conditioning treatments available which are designed to clean the system easily.
Common treatments include sprays; these are either sprayed directly into the air intake and vents prior to starting up the air conditioning system which will then pull the product through, or sprayed slowly inside the vehicle as the unit is running.
Both will clean the system and leave a fresh, pleasant fragrance inside your van!
Get Your Air-Conditioning Repaired or Re-gassed
It’s possible your air-conditioning has degraded to such an extent that it has led to a leak in the system.
Mechanics will discover this by injecting a fluorescent dye into the system before checking where any leaks may have surfaced. If so, a repair will be relatively simple.
There will also be the option to re-gas the system. Gas escapes over time and means air-conditioning won’t be as effective as before – while you may need to do this on several occasions if you don’t want a full repair, a single re-gas should be good enough to last the entire summer.
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